2019 Vol.6/ Issue-2
www www.insightscare.com
THE
10
COMPANIES
BOOMING IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
Dr. John Moller CEO
NOVOTECH A Catalyst for Growth and a Better Tomorrow
THE TOMORROW OF
HEALTHCARE
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he landscape of healthcare has noticeably changed compared to what it was a few years ago. The global expenditure of healthcare has been on a spree, rising at the rate of 5.7 percent annually, between the years 2017 to 2022. This growth is driven by various factors including the rise in the population of people in older age groups, increased chronic disease rates, new demands of the care receivers and newer approach of care givers, and many more. Based on the scenario of the global healthcare industry in 2019, we can predict a few possibilities that will drive the market in the years to come. The two big trends that have emerged in the past few years are the shifting of this industry towards personalized, outcome-based care and the developments in diagnostic and preventive care. These trends will continue to gain popularity and many new startups as well as well-settled business players are seen to focus on them. The advancements in healthcare have come with huge investments and there is a rising need to bring in better solutions at affordable prices. Many new researches and funding for drug development and treatments, along with technological advancements, are seen and are expected to increase further. The future holds a promise for various disruptive innovations to make this a reality. We will also owe it to mergers and collaborations among various healthcare and nonhealthcare organizations to attain financial sustainability. Technological innovation is another key factor driving the steering of tomorrow for healthcare niche. With emergence and wide-spread acceptance of developments in wearable devices, remote healthcare, telemedicine, patient management apps, digital healthcare, and more, myriads of companies are seen to invest in these areas. The consumer demands have changed with their increased role in the system and therefore, the focus should be shifted to patient engagement and building of more personal relationships. Additionally, technologies like AI, VR, 3D printing, medical imaging, etc. have entered the healthcare sector and are assisting the providers in offering more accurate and enhanced care to the patients. With increase in the number of changes the industry is witnessing, there is increase in the need of regulatory policies and compliances as well. Other than that, patient data has become the new currency in healthcare. Along with this comes the need of cyber-security for protecting the highly sensitive and critical healthcare data. Additionally, the trend of health food habits and self-care has grown tremendously. The industry will be focusing on these aspects as well. The stakeholders of healthcare, including providers, investors, and consumers, have newer demands and the ecosystem is, therefore, shifting towards better and sustainable solutions. The industry is expected to grow further, market as well as development wise. Preventive care, financial sustainability, digitalization, and so many other popular factors may take us towards an enhanced, affordable, and accessible tomorrow!
Aishwarya Nawandhar Editor
Editor’s Column
Cover Story
10
NOVOTECH
16
22 CXO
Interview with Insights Care
A Catalyst for Growth and a Better Tomorrow
Sanomics
Industry Insight
Improving Healthcare with Innovation and Compassion
What Digital Startups Need To Succeed In The Healthcare Space
CONTENTS
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David Health Solutions
Accutest Research Laboratories
SpineMark Corporation
Movement as Medicine
The Preferred CRO Partner for Healthcare Companies
Transforming Care Delivery Through Exceptional Care Services
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36
In-house Opinion
Novel Discoveries
Social Media Marketing A Necessary Trend to Pick for Healthcare Professionals
Articles
Top Health Tech Innovations in 2019 that are Breaking the Barriers
Market Leaders Driving Development in Care Industry
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evelopment is a continuous process in any sector. It brings in more comfort, more precision, and more enhanced way of living. Almost all the industries have and will continue to witness extensive developments in their respective niches and healthcare sector is not aloof of this process. The health and medical industry has grown through the years with technological and device developments, pharmaceutical advancements, process enhancement, and more. It owes this to various organizations and people that have dedicated their resources and expertise to improve several areas of healthcare.
Acknowledging the remarkable contribution of the leading companies in the care sector, we bring to you the special issue of “The 10 Companies Booming in Healthcare Sector”. This edition portrays the inspiring stories of the listed pre-eminent organizations that are shaping the future of healthcare through innovation and dedication. Featured on the cover is the internationally recognized leading regional full-service contract research organization (CRO), Novotech. The company has been delivering CRO services in the Asia-Pacific region for more than 23 years. Apart from the engaging cover story, the issue encompasses the prominent leaders of the industry including David Health Solutions, a world leader in rehabilitation solutions for musculoskeletal problems; SpineMark Corporation, a premier global spine service company for the development of Spine Destination Centers and Spine Research Organizations (SRO); Accutest Research Laboratories, a top-notch independent and internationally accredited India-based Contract Research Organization (CRO); an interview by Sanomics, a fast-growing company contributing relentlessly to the future of healthcare with novel gene therapy solutions; Youshow AI tech Development; Pacific Healthcare; Paradigm Pharma; Teleme Technology; and Meditech Solution. This edition also includes few interesting articles by our in-house editors and industry expert. So, walk through the pages and enjoy a good read!
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Senior Editor Anish Miller Managing Editor Ashwini S. Deshpande Executive Editor Aishwarya Nawandhar Contributing Editor Shambhavi Mhetre Visualiser David King Art & Design Head Amol Kamble Art & Design Assistant Poonam Mahajan Co-designer Paul Belin Art & Picture Editor Karan Gaikwad Business Development Manager Peter Collins Marketing Manager Marry D’Souza Business Development Executive Mark Williams Sales Executives Pooja, Amy, John Technical Head Jacob Smile Assistant Technical Head Pratiksha Patil Technical Consultants David, Robert Digital Marketing Manager Alina Sege Assistant Digital Marketing Manager Prashant Chevale SME-SMO Executives Manoj, Gemson Research Analyst Eric Smith Circulation Manager Tanaji sales@insightscare.com
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Dr. John Moller CEO
Cover Story
NOVOTECH A Catalyst for Growth and a Better Tomorrow
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A leading regional CRO in the Asia-Pacic region and the Biotech sector, offering full service clinical trial services
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he cost of research for new drugs has almost tripled over the last 25 years and new models are emerging to face these increasing expenses. Multinational pharmaceutical companies are deriving an even larger share of their revenues from biotech acquisitions or external discovery, and an increasing focus is put on clinical development operational improvements and optimization.
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Speaking of what sets them apart in today’s highly competitive global world, Dr. John Moller, the CEO of Novotech, said, “Novotech is focused on delivering world-class clinical services in the Asia-Pacific region for the biotech sector. We offer the very latest in Oracle and Medidata technology, and all our projects are measured on quality of service and customer satisfaction throughout every stage of our engagement.”
Novotech is internationally recognized as the leading regional full-service contract research organization (CRO) in Asia-Pacific and is dedicated to supporting biotech companies in their drug development by tapping into the benefits of the region. With a focus on clinical monitoring, it has been instrumental in the success of hundreds of Phase I - IV clinical trials in the Asia Pacific region.
The customers of the company value its leadership as a regional CRO specialist, who can understand local cultures, customs, regulations, and have developed deep relationships with the key investigators in the region. Novotech follows a unique strategy for all its clients’ projects. When discussing a new potential project with a client, the company brings in its senior clinical staff, country managers, and potentially investigators into the discussions as early as possible. Through this, it ensures that the sponsor can gain the confidence that their project will receive the attention they may not otherwise have with global CRO players.
Headquartered in Sydney, Novotech has been delivering CRO services in the region for more than 23 years. It has offices in twelve countries, including two customerfacing offices in the US, and more than 550 staff to accommodate increased demand from international biotech companies for specialist clinical services. Strong Focus on Asia-Pacific with a Global Reach Novotech delivers clinical development services across all clinical trial phases and therapeutic areas. These include feasibility assessments, ethics committee and regulatory submissions, data management, statistical analysis, medical monitoring, safety services, central lab services, report write-up to ICH requirements, and project and vendor management. The company’s strong Asia Pacific presence allows them to run clinical trials in all key regional markets. It also has worldwide reach through the company’s network of strategic partners. Full Service for Biotechnology Companies Novotech is known as the leading regional CRO in the Asia-Pacific region and the biotech sector. The company and its employees have won numerous awards and recognitions in the CRO industry over the last several years and has been dedicated to delivering consistently high-quality service for its clients. In addition, the company ensures that the customer satisfaction is closely and objectively monitored across a range of KPIs throughout the lifespan of each project.
In addition to this, Novotech has a significant focus on appointing and retaining the best people and is strongly passionate about developing its employees. In fact, in the year of 2018, 30% of the company’s employees were promoted. Focused on Client Satisfaction Novotech has implemented a systematic mechanism of monitoring customer and investigator satisfaction across a range of items. It has invested in new technology and established clear processes to systematically reach out to its customers after key milestones for each project. The company finds this initiative very important as it nurtures relationships with its clients to address potential issues well in advance and ensures continuous improvement in the services it provides. Validating the success of this approach is Novotech’s excellent levels of client satisfaction - mostly 8 and 9 out of 10 - and especially project communications which consistently scores above 9 out of 10. Following are some feedback comments from from Novotech clients. “We’re delighted with the way our project was managed. The structure of having the study team together with the governance team was effective. The team was very
” We maintain and monitor the quality of service and client satisfaction at every step of our engagement
” responsive, and issues were resolved within expected timeframes.” - Senior Clinical Project Manager of a Swiss Biotech company Key Highlights of 2018 Novotech’s acquisition of Australia specialist CNS last year was one of the major milestones in its journey. This acquisition has further strengthened Novotech’s presence in the region and has allowed the company to offer all clients a ‘BioDesk,’ capability that provides early stage product development advice including toxicology, CMC and FDA/EMA regulatory consulting.
clients, investigators and partners, and brand development initiatives. The organization also made an important investment in relation to technology improvements with the next generation of Oracle’s Trial Management system. Novotech has further reinforced its position of leading CRO for the biotech sector in the Asia-Pacific region in 2018 with a very strong performance in key markets such as ANZ, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea where Novotech estimates its market share has increased to over 30% in key territories. Foundational Values
Moreover, Asia-Pacific was the fastest growing region for biotech-sponsored trials again last year, with an increase of about 35% compared with 2017. In the year 2018, Novotech maintained its focus on bringing in and retaining the best people, nurturing relationships with
Values are the roots of any company. The core values lay the foundation of an organization and helps define its vision and shape its culture. Novotech abides by the following values:
Performance Passion – According to Novotech, an attitude of making it happen drives a dedicated focus on engagement, quality, accountability, and performance results Ÿ Open Engagement – Novotech’s style of working recognizes the value of everyone involved Ÿ Uncompromised Integrity – It follows the belief that one should never to hesitate to say or do the right thing Ÿ Unlocking Talent - Novotech seeks and nurtures people with exceptional talent Ÿ
Novotech’s Take on Latest Developments Novotech believes that clinical data quality is considered the key priority for 2019. According to a recent survey conducted by J.P. Morgan amongst life sciences’ investors this is especially true given the increasing complexity of trials and trial designs. Novotech has driven an increasing investment in upfront clinical development strategy, including the use of carefully designed protocols. These include multi-arm, multi-stage designs with adaptive randomization. According to Novotech, an efficient approach to clinical trial design will have the greatest impact in containing the escalating cost of drug development. It also believes that the effectiveness of clinical trials also relies on the
selection of the right investigators and excellence in CRO study management. The company, therefore, invests heavily in building formal partnerships with major hospitals and medical specialist sites through formal site partnership agreements, as well as site management services which facilitate rapid start-up activities and patient recruitment to meet the sponsor’s goals. Bringing in More for a Better Tomorrow With biotech companies investing in more complex and global programs, Novotech sees that biotech sponsors are increasingly considering locations outside of the US for their trials, such as Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific. The company’s clinical staff numbers have grown by more than 20% in Asia over the last quarter of 2018 and 50% over the last twelve months. This growth in the number of staff members is fuelled by demand for a regional CRO with international accreditation and reputation, combined with local knowledge, partnerships, and expertise in the region. Furthermore, the company’s initiative of integration of capabilities, such as BioDesk, will bring tremendous support to biotech companies looking for global regulatory services.
Interview with Insights Care
Mr. Sy Ming Yiu CEO
SANOMICS Improving Healthcare with Innovation and Compassion
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he healthcare industry is looking for better answers to diagnose and treat various life-threatening diseases we hear of today. One of these diseases that the industry is trying to combat since long is cancer. Although there have been various advancements related to cancer treatment, no specific solution is reached yet. By far, the best possible solution comes from gene therapy. Apart from cancer treatment, gene therapy has showed a lot of potential to improve the treatment of number of deadly diseases. Sanomics is a fast-growing company, which is contributing relentlessly to the future of healthcare with novel gene therapy solutions. It is remarkably revolutionizing cancer treatments for the patients with safe and efficient liquid-based and tissuebased genomic tests. To know more about the story of this ingenious company, we at Insightscare bring to you an exclusive interview with its CEO, Mr. Sy Ming Yiu, Stanley. 1. Tell us in brief about Sanomics Limited. Established in Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation in 2015, Sanomics Limited is a Hong Kong based biotechnology start-up that specializes in liquid biopsy and tissue-based genomic diagnostics for cancer patients, so as to help doctors decide personalized cancer solutions for patients. Since 2015, Sanomics’ service covers 20 countries and regions and it has completed more than 7,000 patient cases over the world. Sanomics (Thailand) Limited was founded in October 2018 in Bangkok, which is the first Hong Kong biotechnology start-up launched in Thailand. Focusing on lung and women cancer, Sanomics’ comprehensive cancer genomic screening services covers both somatic mutation and germline mutations, adopting Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR), Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology to complete Comprehensive Genomic Profiling (CGP), and Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Real-time PCR).
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2. What were the motivating factors that led towards the inception of the company? “Patient first” is absolutely the most motivating factor. An accurate genomic test result is critical for helping doctors to design a personalized treatment for cancer patients. We strive to provide the genomic tests which are of higher quality, cheaper price, and quicker turnaround time to help cancer patients to save time and medical expenses. 3. Which is your flagship product? Also, tell us how Sanomics stands tall and differentiates itself from others in this competitive world. Requiring only 20ml of blood and 2 working days of turnaround time, p-EGFR® liquid biopsy test detects the EGFR gene mutation which causes lung cancer. Comparing with traditional tissue biopsy which is an invasive operation, costly, and time consuming, p-EGFR® is non-invasive, affordable, and quick. Since the launch of p-EGFR® in August 2015 in Hong Kong, it has become the market leader in Hong Kong within just 8 months. What makes Sanomics stand out is our dedication to execution. We always emphasis the innovation of Sanomics is in execution. Ranging from test request, specimen collection to release report, we try our best to keep the process as simple as possible, so that physicians’ precious time can be spent on treating patients instead of dealing with clumsy procedures. For example, we simplify the process of requesting Sanomics’ tests to 3 steps only and keep our form and test report in 1 page to save time of physicians. Also, we launched Sanomics Portal mobile app for doctors to keep posted. 4. What are all the products and services that Sanomics Limited provides? The pEGFR® test screens for the presence of Exon 19 deletions, Exon 21 L858R, Exon 20 T790M, C797S mutations in blood specimens using droplet digital PCR technology. This test is useful for assessing and monitoring whether TKI therapies would be effective mostly for lung cancer patients.
The pBRAF V600ETM test screens for the presence of BRAF V600E mutation in blood specimens using droplet digital PCR technology. The test targets lung, thyroid, colorectal, and melanoma and it is useful for assessing whether the indicated therapies would be useful. It is suggested that if the test results are positive, dabrafenib, and trametinib can be used as targeted therapy.
Guardant360® identifies somatic mutations of 73 genes, proven to be clinically relevant, and reports on microsatellite instability (MSI) status through the detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in blood specimens using NGS technologies. The test is suitable for patients with advanced solid tumors. The report would present targeted treatment options including approved therapies and therapies undergoing late-stage clinical trials, as well as immunotherapy options. The test would be performed in the US.
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BRCA Zoom® identifies germline mutation of BRCA1 and BRCA2. The test is suitable for patients who have been diagnosed with breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer; people with family history of the above mentioned cancer and other cancer high-risk groups. Each person carries BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These two genes are mainly responsible for repairing damaged DNA and maintaining stable cell growth. If a person carries a mutation of the BRCA gene, the risks of developing breast, ovarian, prostate cancer or pancreatic cancer in a lifetime also increases. Also, the family members of that person would also have a possibility of carrying the mutated BRCA genes.
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OncoSnap® is a pioneering tumor tissue profiling test which screens for clinically relevant somatic mutations of 130 genes in solid tumor tissues by using NGS technologies, and offers FDA-approved therapies undergoing clinical trials. Able to detect single nucleotide variations (SNVs), insertions and deletions (indels), selected fusions and copy number alterations OncoSnap BRCATM is a pioneering NGS-based tumor tissue profiling test which screens for somatic mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in solid tumor tissues. This test is useful for assessing patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer on whether they could be benefited from selected PARP inhibitor treatments.
OncoSnap NonetTM screens for 9 genes in tumor tissue samples, intending to aid physicians to identify multi-genetic biomarkers for potential treatment options for primary diagnosed non-small-cell lung cancer patients.
PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx is a qualitative immunohistochemical assay using Monoclonal Mouse Anti-PD-L1, Clone 22C3 to detect PD-L1 protein in FFPE tissue specimens using EnVision FLEX visualization system on Autostainer Link 48. It detects PD-L1 expression with a dynamic range of tumor-positive (TPS) 0-100% and combined positive score (CPS) 0-10+. Cancers include lung cancer, gastric cancer, urothelial cancer, cervical cancer, etc.
EmbryoSafeTM screens all 24 chromosomes of IVF and ICSI embryos to detect pathogenic chromosome copy number changes, including aneuploidy, mosaicism, unbalanced translocations, and microduplications/microdeletions (> 10 Mb).
5. With respect to your distinctive products and services, how have you helped bring positive developments in the healthcare industry? Sanomics contributed to provide genomic tests to help doctors decide personalized cancer solutions for patients. We keep providing solutions to tackle with the pain points in current cancer management process. For example, Sanomics is the first local private company in Hong Kong to adopt liquid biopsy, a non-invasive cancer screening technology that spares patients from the painful tissue biopsy, a traditional procedure of collecting tissue samples from tumors. Another example is that tissue samples often run outs before answering all the clinical questions that guide treatment selection, therefore, by launching OncoSnap NonetTM , this test can screen for 9 genes in tumor tissue samples to make best use of tissue. 6. Are there any social activities that your company organizes to uplift healthcare space? To raise the public awareness of adopting genomic test in cancer management, Sanomics organizes workshops and seminars for healthcare professionals and general public. We also co-operate with our strategic partners, such as
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AstraZeneca and Bio-Rad to organize large scale symposium, to discuss about the latest development of genomic diagnostics and provide a platform for intellectual exchange in the healthcare industry. 7. Tell us some interesting things about your leader (CEO, CFO, COO or any other personality which you want to highlight in this issue). “Keep moving, keep thinking and keep solving”, this is the common value that we share in Sanomics. 8. Mention the notable awards and accreditations Sanomics has received so far. So far, Sanomics has won 19 awards. Some highlighted awards include: 2018 The Top 50 Innovative Biotechnology Enterprises in Guangdoug-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area by ZDVC Research Institute, KPMG & Guangdoug Medical Valley Innovative Business Gold Award 2018 by The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Hong Kong Economic Times Caring Company Award by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service 9. Can you share with us your upcoming projects? Big data will be our next step. Big Data is everywhere in our daily life, actually DNA big data can also be digitalized to assist scientists and doctors to analyze and make advances in cancer treatment. Currently, there is no existing DNA database of Asian cancer patients. To address the need for building Asian cancer patients’ big data, we initiate to establish a DNA Big Data Centre in Hetao district at Lok Ma Chau. By doing so, we aim to attract more genetic related start-ups to set up their offices in Great Bay Area, so as to create an ecosystem of biotechnology companies in Great Bay Area. The initial design of this DNA big database is by subscription base. The meta data of the database will be open for public access. However, to get full access, users must register and pay certain amount of subscription fee, as well as unveiling their data model to sustain the platform. The three main roles of the owner of this DNA Big Data Centre are - first, to provide basic legal support and protection to the DNA data supplying and demanding sides; second, to set up a rating scheme and payment scheme for DNA data transaction; and thirdly, to be the DNA big data manager. The idea of this Asian DNA big data base is like a combination of Asian DNA eBay and DNA cloud. We believe that more valuable studies and commercialized applications of DNA data will be generated once this Asian Big Data sharing platform has been launched. We foresee that ultimately this will enhance the overall life quality and improve the cancer solution for Asian.
Fig.: Important Milestones in the Journey of Sanomics | June 2019 |
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Tania Martin-Mercado Chief Technology Ofď€ cer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tania Martin-Mercado, PhD, is the Chief Technology Ofď€ cer of YGEIA, a digital healthcare company focused on home healthcare and chronic disease management. She holds various degrees in IT, healthcare, as well as biotechnology and is seasoned with a lot of experience at various prestigious posts throughout the years. Being a curious soul and always been fascinated with technology, Tania has been a part of various healthcare innovations.
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Industry Insight
WHAT DIGITAL STARTUPS NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE HEALTHCARE SPACE e hear a lot of buzz in the industry and in the marketplace about the latest in digital healthcare. From artificial intelligence, machine learning, remote patient monitoring and wearable technology to home monitoring and data, data, data – digital healthcare has morphed into one of the most transformative healthcare trends.
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startups need to have patience – something that is unattractive to some investors, causing digital healthcare startups to rush into product development too quickly. Instead, involving key stakeholders early in the development process and fully understanding the concerns and perspective will allow these startups to impact the healthcare space where it matters most – patient care.
While this is one of the most exciting times to be in the digital healthcare market, startups focused on this space need to make sure their product and service have three-fold impact: Improved patient outcomes, reduced cost of delivery, and quality of care. Cost, quality and patient experience often go unnoticed or ignored in favor of technical functionality. The latest and greatest digital healthcare technology will fail if the patients don’t understand how to use it, providers can’t implement it into their workflow, and payors won’t reimburse for its use.
The Medical Futurist published a fantastic article earlier this year that highlights why healthcare startups fail. Forgetting about the patient, not including the provider, difficulty creating clinical value and overclaiming what the technology can do area just a few of areas discussed in this article.
By starting with a patient-centered focus, digital startups will find they may need to slow down and get a better understanding of the healthcare industry, which operates differently than the tech world. There are more stakeholders in healthcare that need consideration: doctors, patients, insurers, regulators; each of these stakeholders holds a unique perspective on the technology being adopted. Healthcare is complex because patients are complex. As digital startups focus on one area, such as a particular disease, they may stumble onto the multiple factors that contribute to that disease, what insurers do and don’t cover related to that disease and its symptoms, and more variables that directly or indirectly affect their product or service. The development of a product or service requires research into clinical practice, medical study, patient and doctor interviews, and several focus groups. Digital healthcare | June 2019 |
Another area often overlooked by digital healthcare startups is the need to integrate. Healthcare data is massive, and there is no “central repository” to draw from. By understanding and embracing the need for shared services, integration with other startups or providers in the healthcare industry can foster innovation and better meet patient need or demand. Instead startups may focus on siloed solutions that make it difficult for providers to implement into their practice, thus not offering value to the patient. By understanding how patient data is viewed from a provider and payor perspective, digital healthcare startups will find out how their product or service will be most useful. This is such an exciting time to be in the healthcare space. The satisfaction of making a positive impact in communities by improving patient care is why many startups dive into the healthcare space. By taking a few of these points into consideration, digital healthcare startups will find their endeavors bearing fruit.
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eadquarter in Helsinki, Finland; David Health Solutions Ltd. is a rehabilitation solutions provider for musculoskeletal problems. Established in the year 1981 by Arno Parviainen, the CEO, the company has its operations on a global platform. The company is transforming spine and orthopedic care with a data-driven, device-based exercise therapy solution that is directly in consensus with the latest guidelines. It promotes exercise and cognitive support as the first line treatment for most chronic musculoskeletal problems. Exercise combined with the body’s ability to regenerate is a powerful tool. Unfortunately, it is underutilized in healthcare. However, times are changing. What DHS found out over 30 years ago is becoming the norm now. Indeed, its solution used to be the last remedy in the toolbox; now, it is the first. Decades ago, Arno was convinced that the best way to treat musculoskeletal pain was targeted and controlled exercise therapy using specially designed devices. Having started small, David Health Solutions has now set up more than 350 centers around the world using its intelligent solutions for spine and orthopedic care. The Journey of Innovation & Intelligence
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Several years were spent on intense research and development in building biomechanically optimal training devices for each joint. David Health Solutions quickly found out that with this approach it was possible to start movement and training, even for the patients suffering from severe pain. The key was to design devices that were gentle for the joints, but demanding for the muscles. The company visualizes becoming the torchbearer in one of the biggest changes in healthcare, covering the most costly and debilitating healthcare problem. “In anything we do, the well-being of the patient is always the most
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important factor. No technology alone can solve these problems unless there are unified minds at all levels to bring the benefits to the patient,” asserts Arno. The company is strictly a ‘school medicine’ company, meaning that it makes no unsubstantiated claims and bases its philosophy on data and science. Therefore, to keep up with technology, it is now developing an AI system that can learn from the hundreds of thousands of patient cases to provide better and more individualized care for each patient. David Health Solutions works on the core value of ‘patient wellbeing’, this is also the reason it is transforming itself from a device company to a service company. “This is the only way we can ensure the best quality and operational efficiency. We have centers under the “Nordic Health” brand, either owned by us or under our management in Finland, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and now coming to USA. Our first Nordic Health Spine and Ortho Center will open in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in partnership with neurosurgeons. The next ones will open in California and New Jersey,” says Arno. There is a great need for integrated services providing the whole continuum of care, believes DHS.
curves, guaranteeing safe and pain-free training experience. Its cloud based, state-of-the-art IT system guides and motivates the patient and simultaneously collects all relevant data automatically for easy reporting. Every device is also a testing device for strength and mobility. Based on these test results, the software will automatically provide individualized training weights and movement ranges. All parameters of the exercise are digitally controlled this way. Nordic Health clinic, which is equipped with the full system, is frequently visited by the staff of the clinic for exercise and preventative care. “It is great to see everyone, from our COO to our Marketing Associates, so enthusiastic to utilize the technology for both rehabilitation and preventive care,” he says. The company’s medical rehabilitation system is unique because it is the only fully equipped solution in the market. The DAVID product portfolio includes intelligent devices that specifically target the spine, hip & knee, and shoulder joints. This is great news for rehabilitation clinics because the practice can offer
Distinctive Services and Solutions The David Exercise Therapy Solution utilizes specially designed devices with joint-specific isolation and loading
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patients care for a variety of musculoskeletal problems with a turn-key solution that has been validated in a number of studies and in use in hundreds of centers.
concentrate on the more difficult cases, while the technology guides the other patients through the program. “Up to six patients can be treated by one therapist,” says Arno.
Distinguishing Itself from Others Typical services in this area are run by therapists on a one-to-one basis, using poor and outdated tools. This is a very consuming work for the therapists and the work is typically quite random. There are no standardized and structured programs and due to high costs, most programs are cut short before the patient is well. DAVID’s innovative solution uses advanced training technology and cloud-based software for guidance, control, and data-gathering. This has dramatically changed the role of the therapists from manual workers to that of a coach, expert, and motivator. After a few sessions with the therapists, a patient learns to use the system independently and is empowered to take care of his/her own health. This frees the therapists to
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This has also opened a completely new market for medical centers, the on-going prevention care with a membership model. Most of the patients that went through the program are willing to continue once a week in the maintenance program. This requires very little personnel resources and provides steady income stream for the clinic. Awards and Appreciations The company and Parviainen have been awarded tens of different patents in connection to technical solutions and methods. The company’s production has an ISO 13485 certificate which is GMP in Europe, covering production of medical devices. All the devices are also separately medically certified. The praise it receives form its
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customers speaks leaps and bounds of the company’s excellent service. “We at St. Lucas in Bruges, Belgium, adopted the use of device-based back treatment already in 1998. Due to the evidence of its efficacy, a national insurance code was issued for this method. In December of 2015, we moved to a new phase in our operation when we changed to a fully integrated DAVID Solution with automatic adjustments, patient guidance, and tracking of all critical variables. Our experience is that patients are more motivated, results seem to be better, and integration to the hospital’s electronic patient record system saves a lot of administrational work.”−Dr. Marc Soenen, AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital “Having been a neurosurgeon for over thirty years, I have always maintained the desire to explore conservative, non-operative options for my patients. In 2015, we became acquainted with the DAVID Spine Concept. We have been so impressed with the DAVID Solution that we are on our third set of DAVID Spine equipment and have now integrated DAVID’s hip and shoulder therapy as well. It is rewarding to see that active rehabilitation can dramatically change people’s lives for the better and help them avoid surgery.” −Luke Knox M.D. F.A.C.S, Northwest Arkansas Neurosurgery Clinic Bright Future of DAVID The fact that device-based exercise therapy is going to gain ground in the medical world is already clear. National level insurance reimbursements and contracts with health ministries in different countries are a proof of that, believes Arno. “When people become more familiar with these ideas and have a chance to personally try in practice how the system works, attitudes will change,” he says. The company strives to improve its operations and offerings to continue to provide the world’s most comprehensive solution for musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The next major jump forward will be when David Health Solutions will put its AI engine in clinical use. This system will provide the most accurate and individualized care of any system available. It will consider all background factors of the patient, like diagnosis, pain level, education, psychological profile, test results, and so on. It will well understand that musculoskeletal problems are complex, and not only physical, and therefore it is critical to incorporate all success and failure factors in the program. To know more, visit www.davidhealth.com
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Mr. Arno Parviainen
CEO & Founder
“Life is a Marathon” Arno Parviainen knows the power of exercise firsthand. A er mul ple injuries in water skiing, cycling, and tennis, he could have been disabled with any of those incidences. But he was fortunate to know the possibili es device-based training can offer. The most serious injury caused a caudaequina with total nerve block and paralyzed his calves. It took him five years of persistent training and running before he was able to run same distances and at same speeds as before the accident. His experience is well documented in his blog: “Life is a marathon”. Parviainen has a degree in economics, but his knowledge in how to build biomechanically correct devices is very rare in the industry. He started his interest a er travelling in the US at the age of seventeen and got acquainted with devices in the market there. He built his own set of devices at the age of eighteen and from there on his passion has been to develop technologies that can help pa ents suffering in back and joint pain.
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In-house Opinion
Social Media
Marketing A Necessary Trend to Pick for Healthcare Professionals
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oday, we don’t know if we are conquering the digital world or the digital world is conquering us. Living in an era like this, we need to ensure we are abreast with all the trends and developments that directly aect us. One trend that has moved all the industries and all parts of the world is the extensive use of social media. The millennial generation has embraced various social platforms with open arms and it is now a major part of their lives. On the top of this generation is the next, generation Z. Generation Z, also known as the iGeneration, is immersed in technology. They spend most of their time on social media. It has, therefore, become very important for all types of businesses in all the sectors to leverage the technique of social media marketing to attract the millennials and genzers. This will not only increase the sales but help you build a chain of loyal customers.
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Healthcare industry is also affected by this trend, but it lags behind in exploiting it to the fullest. Let’s understand what benefits it brings to you. The idea of searching and following a doctor on some social platform would seem absurd if you thought about it a few years back. But, time has changed and so has the trend. When it comes to health, although people won’t shop around, they will still look for the best. Advertising everything that a provider has to offer on a platform reaching anyone and everyone is a great idea to mark him/her in the minds of people. Additionally, users, all around the globe, surf their social media feeds number of times a day. If one makes sure to update their account regularly, users are likely to come across their post number of times. This leaves an impact on the users. Where else can one make their presence felt so frequently? It also allows a company to connect with their patients in real-time. And this can be done from anywhere and everywhere!
Start a Campaign, Use Hash tags It is a very good idea for a healthcare company to start its own campaign on social media. The campaign can be about anything from awareness about a disease to encouraging audience to share their success stories to starting a social initiative and calling out audience to join in. Using hash tags to promote such campaigns brings a lot of benefits. Say for example, a company starts a campaign for the patients of aids, calling out people to share the success stories of themselves or their loved ones in conquering aids. Hash tag like #companynameforaids can be used by everyone joining in the campaign. This helps improve the company’s branding alongside a good cause. Interactive Communication Clients/patients do not usually indulge in the interactive communication with the healthcare providers. On a social platform, this can be initiated. This will help the patients feel more close to the company and hence, build a long, trustful relationship. Leverage Infographics
With social media, you can ensure customer-centricity. Putting up health tips and staying in touch with the patients through social platforms are some ways to do this. Moreover, healthcare providers can put up about the practices, services, and products that they provide and the stories of how they have helped others for better. This will help them build a sense of trust in the clients as well as the audience visiting their account. Other than this, social media marketing comes with a lot more advantages. To stand out and make it fun, here are a few ways that will help. Educational Posts A healthcare brand can educate their clients or patients through their social media feed. This can include posting health tips, a video of successful surgery carried by a hospital, awareness and precautions for particular disease, short description of a new device or technology, and many more. Being connected with the brand, the patients will look out for such tips and probably implement them as well. Not only will it help the brand in building better relationship with its clients, but also help improve the patients’ lifestyle.
Infographics can help one provide highly informative content in very short time. Without taking up a lot of the audience’s time, a company can portray its strengths with the help of infographics. A step further is infographic videos. They say a lot of things in matter of seconds. Also, the combination of an audio, video, content, and colors is easier to remember and leaves a high impact on the viewers. These are just some of the ways to leverage social media for marketing by healthcare brands. The scope for ideas is wide, as when it comes to creativity, the sky is the limit. It is the need of the hour to walk with the trends of the world and use them for your benefit. Social media marketing brings in a vast opportunity for healthcare companies to brand and advertise their strengths and connect to the clients better.
- Aishwarya Nawandhar, Editor
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| June 2019 |
Accutest Research Laboratories The Preferred CRO Partner for Healthcare Companies
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he healthcare industry in India has caught pace and is moving ahead with continuous developments. CROs are playing a major role in this and have witnessed a positive growth in the past few years. Through outsourced R&D services to the pharma, clinical device, and biotechnology companies, CROs bring in the promise of further developments in the healthcare space. From clinical research to product development, these companies provide the processes and services on contract basis. One of the leading companies contributing to the future of Indian healthcare industry through its comprehensive services is Accutest Research Laboratories (I) Pvt. Ltd. Headquartered in Navi Mumbai, Accutest is a top-notch independent and internationally accredited Indiabased Contract Research Organization (CRO). Incepted in 1998, it oers bestin-class services along the whole drug development process to pharmaceutical, generics, and biotechnology companies. The company operates out of three facilities viz. Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Baroda. Accutest has emerged to be the undisputed leader in BABE segment for over two decades now.
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Dr. Satish Sawant Founder & CEO The Sculptor of Accutest Dr. Satish Sawant, the Founder and CEO of Accutest, is a very down to earth technocrat and a cricket enthusiast. He has completed his doctorate in analytical chemistry. He has spearheaded and shaped the incredible journey of Accutest as one of leading CROs in the industry through his sheer grit, farsighted business strategies, and zeal to consistently add value to research industry. His business acumen has rightly led him to exploit the huge
demand in the market for BABE studies conduction as a mandatory regulatory requirement for the generic pharma manufacturers. Dr. Sawant has been instrumental in manifold growth of Accutest by setting up a friendly and inclusive work culture, which does not compromise on quality while serving the clients with utmost integrity and eďŹƒciency. Journeying to the Top The idea of Accutest Research Laboratories was on the mind of Dr. Sawant since he completed his Ph. D in Pharmaceutical Sciences. After serving Indian pharma industry for about 15 years in the areas of drug research related to pharma testing using various modern chromatographic techniques, Dr Sawant set on a path to turn his long cherished dream into reality. In 1998, Accutest entered the industry as a small startup. Initially taking up small projects, the company gradually consolidated its position in the CRO industry. When Accutest had started making its mark, there were not many USFDA accredited laboratories available to outsource clinical research requirements for pharma organisations. Pharma market was opening up and Indian Pharma Industry was gearing up to launch their products in developed countries like US and Europe. Thus, in 2004, the company got the approval from USFDA. After this initial step, there was no looking back whether it was to add new facilities, increase capacities or subsequent audits and approvals from prominent regulatory bodies across the world. Under steady leadership of Dr Sawant, Accutest kept on innovating itself by adding range of diverse services. Accutest and its leadership have consistently been recognized for its success and constant good work with prestigious awards and accolades throughout its journey of 21 years so far. | June 2019 |
Accutest has undoubtedly emerged to be the preferred CRO for first-to-file studies. The company also focuses on Phase II-IV clinical trials services for drug development companies in India and abroad. It conducts clinical trials as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed in-house, in accordance with ICH GCP guidelines and Indian GCP to accomplish and efficiently cater to requirements of its clients. Accutest Biologics, its subsidiary, is a one-stop solution for analytical and bio-analytical services from early stage characterization to the late stage clinical evaluation of biologics. Bioanalytical services include Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Immunogenicity assessment of biologics, bio-therapeutics, biosimilars, vaccines, and non-biological complex drugs using high-end assay formats like ELISA, MSD, and GYROS. It also provides in vitro activity/potency and bioassays services for evaluating the biological activities besides toxic kinetics and related services. What sets It Apart? Being in clinical research field for 21 | June 2019 |
years now, Accutest is setting a niche in the industry with its unmatched expertise and services. The success stories of Accutest and accreditations from global regulators, like US FDA, WHO, EMA, ANVISA, DCGI, MCC and other prominent authorities, stand as a testament to its unwavering commitment to international quality standards and operating procedures. Recently, the company received the prestigious OECD GLP certification by NGCMA. Accutest is the first and only independent biologics testing facility in India to be honored with this international accreditation. The company constantly strives to reinvent itself, along with providing advanced services to its clients. Incredible Team Accutest takes great pride in its dynamic team, which understands customer requirements and gives optimal solutions. Dr. Sawant asserts, “We have a rich pool of well qualified and dedicated professionals, these are our assets. Their rich experience and involvement during clients’ drug development program gives clients the confidence to outsource their clinical development needs. Timely delivery, our regulatory history, global reach, staff and our ability to work hand-inhand with the clients are some of our value propositions which set us apart from other competitors in the market.” Perfect R&D Partner Accutest is the partner of choice for generic drug manufacturers looking to execute BA/BE studies with a high degree of quality and speed, at competitive prices. It has one of the largest data banks of 41,000+ volunteers along with strong regulatory track records. The company’s state-ofthe-art infrastructure comprises of more than 400 beds, 38 LCMS-MS, and 700+ validated methods, enabling it to serve the clients with ease and quality. Acutest is rendering numerous benefits to its clients by catering to their complete, complex, and cross functional service requirements, under one roof with ease and expertise.
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We offer an umbrella contract-based R&D services to our industry partners with a focus on quality and quick turnaround
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Eclectic Services Accutest provides services across various verticals like Bioavailability/Bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies for Generic Industry, Clinical Development Services (CDS) for New Chemical Entities, and Bioanalytical Services to Biologics/Biosimilar drug molecules. Speaking about all that they offer to the clients, Dr. Sawant says, “At Accutest, we assist Pharma industries in their drug development life cycle by evaluating its safety, efficacy, ADME character, and quality aspect before the product is certified as appropriate for marketing. As a CRO, we become a part of the pharmaceutical organizations in their research program to evaluate medicines for their quality and test on human population for the safety, effectiveness, and blood levels of the drug after they are consumed.”
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SpineMark Corporation Transforming Care Delivery Through Exceptional Care Services
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pine injuries can be life altering and fatal in some cases. A great deal of perseverance and dedicated physical exercise is required to recover from spinal injuries or surgeries. One such organization that is built around the needs of spine patients is SpineMark Corporation. Headquarter in San Diego, California, the company was established in 2011. Its patient-centric, transparent, and outcome-accountable services are what set it apart from its counterparts. The model of SpineMark’s spine centers of excellence are built around the needs of patients. The centers advocate for their patients and cater to the patients’ needs. The service protocols for patients include an integrated delivery system with a team of multispecialty providers, including personnel for diagnostic, operative, non-operative care, and holistic or conservative care modalities. Every SpineMark center starts with the physician and surgeon champions, who recognize the need for collaboration, a facility partner, and algorithms from the least to most invasive type of care. This is based on failure along a cascading chain of modalities, team conference staffing of patients, clinical research activities, and a clinical
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Marcy T. Rogers President & Chief Executive Officer operating committee of four or more members of the team who provide clinical oversight. A nurse navigator and an intake coordinator are recruited to provide coordination of care and follow up. A medical “gatekeeper” is recruited to manage new and established patients through their care needs and the system itself. Outcomes data and process measures as well as transparency are the key components of SpineMark’s system for patient care.
Thought Leadership Marcy T. Rogers, M.Ed., is the President and Chief Executive Officer of SpineMark. Rogers has built her executive career in the healthcare industry through the development of niche surgical centers of excellence fueled by innovation and clinical research. A proven leader, she has built trust and rapport with physicians, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and medical device manufacturers in spine, orthopedics, biologics, and interventional pain. She has dedicated over 30 years of her life to delivering results. Through alliances, partnerships, and collaborations in the field of spinal care, Rogers is getting things done. Her destination center model integrates and aligns stakeholders in the delivery of spine services, and she has successfully demonstrated solid financial results as well as strong returns on investment for the hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and physician groups she has managed and counseled. She has consulted and worked with over 300 hospitals and surgery centers on their musculoskeletal and neurological service lines, formation of new centers, or expanding facilities on its campuses in the US and abroad. Through her recognitions and endeavors, Rogers has established herself as a key opinion leader in the field of spine among her clients, professional colleagues, and peers. The Vision of SpineMark The company strives to create a new standard of care for patients suffering from back pain. “Currently there is no standard of care and the field of spine is fragmented at best with many different providers labeling themselves as spine experts as naturopaths, chiropractors, spine surgeons, interventional pain specialists, neurologists, et al.,” says Rogers. SpineMark is working towards building a network of dozens of sites | June 2019 |
The organization’s values are always focused on the least invasive “do no harm” approach to treating patients. This starts with 4-6 weeks of conservative care, which includes interventional pain procedures to minimally invasive spine surgery. These are the first choices if supported by the patient’s condition. “We want the patient to have the right procedure at the right time by the right doctor(s). That is our mantra,” asserts Rogers. Distinctive Services and Solutions SpineMark is the premier global spine service company for the development of Spine Destination Centers and Spine Research Organizations in partnership with medical professionals, hospitals, and industry medical manufacturers. Its centers provide excellent medical, operative, non-operative, and ancillar services, all delivered under one integrated delivery system. This reduces patient chaos, cost, and duplication of procedures. The establishment of clinical research units at each site, as well as mainstreaming minimally invasive spine surgery procedures at numerous sites of the organization, is the most distinct feature of its service. The company’s model is built on diseasebased medical management and is measured for quality. Communication is the key to success, believes Rogers. Thanks to the use of a nurse navigator and intake coordinator, patients never fall through the cracks. Speaking about the nurse navigator support system, Rogers says, “We support patients through our services, model, management of their distinct needs throughout the course of | June 2019 |
treatment by using nurse navigators to guide them through various phases of care.” SpineMark also often links new patients with existing patients who have been treated by its team and have similar pretreatment or surgical issues. Hence, its post-operative patients are the greatest advocates for proving SpineMark’s model. SpineMark holds itself accountable through outcomes and quality data collection, transparency, and a focused approach on the identification of the somatic origin of the pain. Diagnosis is key; surgery is always the last resort. Bright Future for SpineMark “We are looking to expand our sites throughout the US and abroad, with centers locally, regionally, and nationally,” says Rogers. There are 1.8 billion people disabled by back pain. The company wants to be a resource to as many of these patients as possible. Advancement in Spine Treatment “The new development in spine treatment has been ‘through clinical research’,” asserts Rogers. Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques are finally taking the field by storm and are becoming mainstream. “A few years ago, this was not the case,” she continues. Technological advances in robotics, instrumentation, fixation, and implants combined with cell and gene therapy biologics is changing the treatment of spinal conditions. Today, one can perform complex spine procedures - both lumbar and cervical fusion - arthroscopically, reducing rehabilitation and recovery, and allowing patients to return to normal function in little time. Spine treatment is becoming more holistic and non-invasive with the advancement in technology. SpineMark, with its clinical research units, is making sure it keeps up with the innovation.
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Our diagnostic, conservative care, holistic, operative, non-operative care, and clinical research units are set up to participate, so that we are always advancing care through research
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across the US and outside the US, including in Kuwait, China, and Europe. The company works towards standardizing the treatment of patients suffering from back pain via a treatment protocol, quality service, positive outcomes, efficacy, and quality data.
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Novel Discoveries
Top Health Tech
Innovations IN 2019 that are
Breaking
t h e
Barriers
“Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation.” - Dean Kamen
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very day, new technologies are emerging. Humans are using all their brains to invent something new, something unique, and something that helps mankind. With all the recent advancements, technology in the healthcare and medical sector has geared up as well. The embedding of articial intelligence and IoT is now done extensively in the healthcare sector. Various new techniques are being invented that help society to grow in a self-sufcient manner. From electric cars to generating electricity through nuclear energy, humans are advancing in all aspects. Health has always been on the top priority for a person so it is essential that he/she is treated within time and with perfection. Due to innovative minds, there have been various upgrades in the eld. There are treatments for many diseases and disorders which were not thought of a few years ago. Various instruments and facilities have become affordable to the healthcare service providers like hospitals and clinics. Researchers are trying hard to provide everything for better treatment of the public. Various medicines have been used to treat diseases successfully and many diseases have already been eradicated from the earth. New types of equipment have helped the doctors in various complicated surgeries. In the following year, there have been many new innovations for the betterment of the lives of people. Here are a few notable technological innovations: | June 2019 |
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3-D PRINTING Surgeries are very complicated and involve a lengthy process. Precision is very important and practicing it beforehand is highly crucial. Doctors use 3-D models for practicing the surgeries. The 3-D printing machine models are made in accordance with the patient’s anatomy. In recent times, few important developments in 3-D printing have come in external prosthetics, cranial or orthopedic implants, and custom airway stents. It has also been helpful in surgical planning as well in complex open heart surgeries. There are researches being carried out to print human tissue that will make organ transplants possible.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The biggest problem in making a drug for a rare disease is the huge data of the patients and their compliance. Many researchers and pharmaceutical companies are taking the help of AI to organize the data from the medical records and nd commonalities with the diseases. AI has been a huge plus point for doctors and general practitioners as it helps to collect and nd the data of the patients whenever required. This technology is transforming all areas of the healthcare industry, from work process control and diagnostics to process automatization, productivity-enhancing, and enhancements in diagnostics accuracy.
RNA-BASED THERAPEUTICS Recently, RNA-based therapeutics are being used where RNA is modied or replaced before it forms into a protein. It allows the clinicians to detect any genetic abnormality beforehand and treat the problem by replacing it accordingly with functioning or non-functioning proteins. Advancement in RNA therapeutics may even lead to solving the problems of rare diseases like Huntington’s disease, neurologic disorders, and several forms of cancer.
NEW IMMUNOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES Basically, immunotherapy is a treatment for cancer. In this type of treatment, white blood cells are increased in the patient’s body so as to ght against various diseases. A variety of experiments are being carried out in combination with joint therapy and engineered T-cells that can prove to be effective against a wide range of tumor cells.
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ROBOTIC SURGERY Robotics has been administered in various medical treatments. Nanobots are being administered in bloodstreams of the patients that can diagnose and prevent diseases. Movement disabilities can be monitored by exoskeletons with the assistance of physical therapy. One of the major innovations of 2019 is robotic surgery. Now, robots can be useful in performing various procedures during surgery. A robot can perform tasks and provide medical assistance like giving an injection and gathering information. There are supporting robots that manage to courier medical instruments and other related supplies.
TELEHEALTH With everything being digitized, there was a need to monitor a person’s health through digital services. Now, this has become possible. Doctors can monitor their patient's health even from a distance. The doctor can make a primary conclusion from analyzing the report that is generated digitally. This way, the expenses of the patients are reduced to a great extent.
HEALTH WEARABLE As it is said in a famous quote, ‘Precaution is better than cure’, it is important to maintain a healthy life. People have started to understand that being healthy is really helpful in avoiding any future diseases or disorders. There are various companies that have invented unique health wearable that help a person track his/her own health. One can monitor the heart rate, glucose level, physical activity, and also sleep timings with these. This way, the person can analyze where he is lacking and work on it, accordingly.
GENOMICS A person’s identity is from his/her genes. Even, what disease can affect a person is decided by the genetic make of the body. Biotech companies have come up with technology that can be helpful in decoding individual genomic makeup and aid in enhancing the diagnosis and treatment for various genetic and nongenetic diseases. These companies are further trying to develop a personalized treatment with the help of this technology. In 2017, CRISPR, a gene editing tool was used to successfully edit human embryos in which hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a complex heart disease, within 42 embryos was eradicated. Technology has been proving to be working hand in hand with the healthcare industry for the betterment of the quality of care provided. Every day, the world witness’s new developments and with this mankind is moving towards more accurate and affordable treatment options.
- Shambhavi Mhetre, Editor | June 2019 |
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