Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | July 14, 2023
Technology in the 21st century is the fuel that drives innovation and ease in almost every industry today. The healthcare sector isn’t far behind. In fact, the medical industry has taken the concept of the Internet of Things and took it to a new level altogether to reimagine the use of medical technology.
Imagine multiple devices like phones, cameras, GPS sensors, and computers interacting with each other through a seamless transfer of data. Now consider wearable medical devices. The exchange of critical medical information through a web of real-time data networks activates near instantaneous responses from doctors, nurses, and medical services. The aim is to anticipate the need for medical attention long before it is needed and remedy the concerns before they reach a critical stage.
That is exactly how the future of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is shaping out to be.
How IoMT is Redefining Everyday Health?
IoMT is a next-generation solution that embeds cutting-edge monitoring and analysis of individual healthcare journeys through medical devices. The smart watch is the most recognizable wearable medical device that is used by millions of people daily to keep tabs on their vitals.
For instance, the Apple Watch series 6 maps blood oxygen levels, sleep patterns, ECG levels, and also reminds the user to wash their hands after returning home.
The market for healthcare IoT products is vast and is constantly expanding. The Tango Belt is a leading example of smart wearable technology that is revolutionizing elderly and disability care. The belt is designed to sense falls and deploy airbags to soften the impact. In addition, it alerts caregivers in the event of a fall. The belt also uses data analytics by collecting mobility data that is then synced to a smartphone app for displaying metrics.
Technologies that Empower IoMT
With the diverse tasks that medical devices must perform, applications exist across a wide spectrum, from artificial intelligence to 5G networks to the cloud.
Consider a pacemaker, for instance. Modern pacemakers are embedded with a multitude of technologies that communicate with each other to send critical patient data to physicians. A pacemaker is a bioelectronic implant that is placed in the chest to control the heartbeat. But a smart pacemaker goes a step further. It is equipped with wireless bluetooth technology that communicates with the patient’s wearable medical device. The smart device or phone will then transfer this data to physicians for check-ups and even alert doctors in the case of anomalies.
To Round It Off
IoMT will subsequently power all medical devices and usher in a future where technology forms the backbone of healthcare service delivery. Although wearable medical technology has been around for decades, the development of a streamlined communication channel between them has redefined their use. Smart medical devices are no longer just an aid but a source of vital individual medical data as well as a way to anticipate care and medical attention.
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Health Technology, AI
Article | July 18, 2023
With their speed and maneuverability, drones have long captured attention for their potential to deliver shopping orders and photograph the world from above. But the machines can also serve a medical purpose by shuttling drugs, defibrillators and other equipment to emergency sites or care facilities. Improvements in battery life, GPS navigation and artificial intelligence functions are making drones a more practical option in healthcare, says Dr. Daniel Kraft, faculty chair for medicine and neuroscience at Singularity University, an executive education program that also serves as a business incubator and consultancy service. Theft is also a concern, says Will Stavanja, chief technical officer at AirBox Technologies, which is testing its DroneX fleet for medical deliveries in the Caribbean. “Right now, most drones land, drop the package and leave,” says Stavanja, whose team has developed smart mailboxes for secure delivery. Addressing that risk will be key to determining whether drones can handle sensitive cargo. “You want a very high degree of certainty,” Kraft says. “It’s one thing if you lose a urine sample or a blood sample; you can get another one. It’s another to lose an organ.”
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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | August 21, 2023
Workers in the healthcare industry are among the most burned out demographics following the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, a report by Medscape on physician burnout and depression in 2022 calculated a five-percentage point increase in burnout overall, from 42% in 2020 to 47% in 2021. Critical care physician burnout was also found to increase from 44% to 51% last year, placing them at the top of Maryville University’s list of physician specialties with the highest cases of burnout. This is closely followed by rheumatology physician burnout, which was 50% in 2021. At the bottom of the list, emergency medicine physician burnout still came in close at a rate of 44%.
Burnout can result in, among other things, exhaustion and a loss of concentration, which can be dangerous in healthcare. With that, advancements in technology have been made to help mitigate stress and reduce the chances of burnout in healthcare.
Maximum Tasks, Minimum Efficiency
Reports show that many technological advancements in the healthcare industry actually aren’t appropriate for managing physician workloads. This is due to the range of tasks physicians need to perform, from creating treatment plans to managing EHRs. Our previous discussion on EHR-Generated Messages highlighted how the misapplication of this algorithm had actually led to these inboxes getting clogged. This has primary care physicians spending more than half their workday interacting with EHRs that only remind physicians to order certain tests, instead of dealing with critical messages from patients or colleagues. This has been counterproductive in terms of efficiency, leading to more burnout symptoms and the tendency to reduce clinical work hours. It is therefore important that technology integrations consistently consider the broader picture of the tasks of physicians.
Tech Developments for Reducing Burnout
Shifts in the industry have thus begun to focus on the quality of efficiency and physician assistance, rather than the quantity of technology available. Here are some notable examples of technology that has become finely integrated within the healthcare industry.
Ambient Technology in Clinical Documentation
Ambient computing streamlines the clinical documentation process by using artificial intelligence to respond to human behavior and needs. This provides front-end speech and computer-assisted documentation, reducing the time needed for physicians to work on admin tasks, and thereby minimizing burnout. Smart hospitals have started leveraging this through sensor-based solutions, and experts from Michigan University believe usage must be made easier and simpler to use for the provider if the healthcare industry is to further leverage ambient computing for CDI. As of 2021, adoption has only started to take off, especially in the revenue cycle.
Computer Modeling in Vaccine Development
The traditional process of designing novel vaccines usually lasts 10 to 15 years and can cost between $200 million and $500 million. However, a feature by News Medical highlights the recent development of COVID-19 vaccines, which uncovered the capabilities of computational modeling systems. This showed an ability to predict which parts of a pathogen may be recognized by the immune system’s B cells and T cells. This allows rapid identification of vaccine targets from a genetic sequence, which reduces the years required for preclinical research. Physicians are thus able to respond faster to vaccine developments, and reduce the overload of health systems during any future pandemics or epidemics in the long term.
Patient Placement Technology
The shortage of physicians is a common setback in the industry, one that staff at the Rice County District Hospital in Lyons, Kansas mitigated using patient placement technology. Patient placement technology coordinated care for patients inside the 25-bed, level 4 hospital, as well as those needing to be transferred to another facility. By integrating local EMS and other transport services with health systems, manual telephone calls were no longer necessary. Hence, physicians were able to quickly and effectively get patients the care they needed while managing time-critical diagnoses. This maximizes the limited resources available without stretching out the workforce. Physicians are able to focus solely on their patients, knowing that the time-consuming logistics are being efficiently handled by technology. The industry needs to continue to look into the practices of reducing burnout among physicians, more so as we continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. By emphasizing physician wellness and efficient technology, we can continue to assure the health and productivity of healthcare workers into the future.
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Article | April 22, 2020
Remember Big Hero 6's beloved Baymax? The lead character’s personal pudgy robotic healthcare companion was much loved and adored by the audience. We might not have wondered back then but the fascinating machine had actually been powered with Artificial Intelligence, programmed to scan a human body for any illnesses or injury while also examining the environment, offering treatment and even catering to the emotional requirements of the patient.
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