DIAGNOSTICS
POC devices: Revolutionising disease detection and diagnosis Dr Radha Rangarajan, Chief Technology Officer, HealthCube explains how Point-of-Care (POC) devices, that are simple to use, rapid and cost effective can fill the gap in disease detection and diagnosis
E
arly diagnosis can make the difference between life and death for many. Nearly 1 million Indians die due to complications from diabetes every year. Despite knowledge of the dangers of diabetes, most people discover their condition by serendipity, rather than systematic testing. A wound that doesn’t heal, frequent urinary tract infections, or sudden weight loss are all tell-tale signs that prompt testing and diagnosis. For many, the condition has already progressed significantly at this stage, requiring aggressive treatment. How can one improve early detection and prevent complications and loss of life?
beyond testing, to providing individuals with a remote healthcare ecosystem. Periodic self-testing combined with monitoring by physician scan be an effective way to identify and address a problem early. The American Heart Association suggests that data obtained from home monitoring of blood pressure can help physicians decide the appropriate treatment for their patient, without the need to test in a clinic. This is the paradigm shift in disease diagnosis that digital medical devices are ushering in.
Early detection goes beyond devices While devices may be at the heart of disease detection, artificial intelligence driven algorithms can greatly expand the boundaries of detection.
Point of Care devices are leading a paradigm shift Point-of-Care (POC) devices, that are simple to use, rapid and cost effective can fill the gap. Rather than asking people to go to a laboratory, these devices test at home or in a doctor’s clinic. The convenience of on-site testing and instant results make these devices a powerful weapon in the hands of physicians and public care experts. However, conventional wisdom in healthcare circles holds that POC devices such as glucometers or electronic blood pressure machines can be used for monitoring health parameters but not for diagnosis. The pandemic has shown that such devices combined with other “smart” features can enable diagnosis, prioritising those who need confirmatory testing in a laboratory. The new generation of POC devices are digitally enabled, which means that not only do they provide a test result, but also save data and share results
How far can this model extend?
Devices and analytics have a long way to go to achieve this goal! But the success of these new technology driven paradigms depends heavily on the quality, accuracy and usability of systems with a doctor. The doctor has the option of reviewing and monitoring the condition over
time. The device may also remind the individual to test themselves at some interval or
get a more advanced test done, through in-built analytics. Thus, POC devices have gone
It is conceivable that in the future, we will all have handheld monitors akin to gadgets from the sci-fi series, Star Trek, to find out what is wrong with our health. Devices and analytics have a long way to go to achieve this goal! But the success of these new technology driven paradigms depends heavily on the quality, accuracy and usability of systems. With all three in play, digitised diagnostic can be a powerful pathway to healthy living. Dr Andrew Weil, a physician dedicated to health promotion and disease prevention says, “If we can make the correct diagnosis, the healing can begin. If we can't, both our personal health and our economy are doomed.” Let connected diagnostics lead the way.
EXPRESS HEALTHCARE
27
May 2022
