FUTURES BAROMETER

HEALTH CARE MATTERS – YOUR TAKE ON THE FUTURE

By Claire A. Nelson

INTRODUCTION

The challenges of providing healthcare to all are difficult to solve. There have been many efforts in recent years to mitigate the problems and provide more efficient systems. However, most of such systems focus on a specific problem and do not deliver a holistic framework that solves the larger issue of providing high performance, affordable, secure, robust, scalable, and efficient healthcare applications. Industry 4.0 technologies like Deep Learning and AI can provide high performance systems; blockchain and encryption with public-private signature management can provide secure communication with high data integrity. The main challenge lies in the ability to integrate all these technologies to provide a single solution that caters to all the needs and requirements of the healthcare industry. Healthcare has been on the verge of transformation for years, if not decades. However, the COVID 19 pandemic has broken down longstanding barriers and accelerated digital health at a pace few could have imagined. Healthcare is moving toward a consumer-centered model where people can shop for care and share data with an endless array of apps and services. Those who are managing a chronic condition seem more eager to embrace new technology. SDG (3) on Health aspires to ensure health and wellbeing for all, including a commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other communicable diseases (including COVID?) by 2030. It also aims to achieve universal health coverage and provide access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines for all. Will we make it?

According to the website Medical Technology Schools, many of the most interesting new technologies in medicine need to be used together. Attempts to do so already exist in companies like Forward and One Medical, which are using a concierge-like approach to primary care, putting technology to use in a way that providers get more quality time with their patients. The Covid-19 pandemic forced healthcare into the future, and, as a result, several promising medical technologies have been tested on a massive scale. The question now is how these technologies can be used in a

post-pandemic world. These are the top ten according to Medical Technology Schools (dot) com. What is your take?

Please rank the following signals of change as to whether you agree or disagree that they will continue to increase in use and contribute to achieving better health care for more people by 2030:

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

1. ADVANCED TELEMEDICINE Telemedicine took a great leap forward during the Covid-19 pandemic. Forced into functionality, many of telehealth’s regulatory barriers have been removed. Going forward healthcare organizations will be focusing on how best to integrate telehealth services with existing physical ones. Virtual visits will continue to be used as a way to increase access to primary care and urgent care, as well as to improve collaboration with clinics, long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, and mental health services.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

2. NEW METHODS OF DRUG DEVELOPMENT Some of the relaxed regulatory procedures around drug development will fade with the Covid-19 pandemic, but innovative approaches to testing and collaboration could continue. An alliance between several pharmaceutical companies—including Gilead, Novartis, and WuXi AppTec—has already begun collaboratively exploring new antiviral treatments and sharing preliminary data. The FDA has released guidelines for virtual trials, opening up a new frontier for the development and testing of new drugs. Once Covid-19 is relegated to the history books, this trend will continue leading to more affordable drugs globally.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

3. DATA-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE Health data collection and applications continues to accelerate and become more widespread, increasing potential for improved treatment options and patient outcomes. The biggest barrier, lack of interoperability, is being addressed by Google Cloud, which launched its healthcare interoperability readiness program. It aims to help payers, providers, and other organizations prepare for the federal government’s interoperability regulations by providing access to data templates, app blueprints, security tools, and implementation guidelines. Stakeholders will adapt and increase utilization of this cloudbased resource.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

4. NANOMEDICINE Nanomedicine has applications in imaging, sensing, diagnosis, and delivery through medical devices. Researchers are finding new ways to use nanomedicine to target individual cells, such as cancer nanomedicine i.e. Phase I trial of using gold nanoparticles to target drug delivery to tumors; and nanotech that fights viruses and bacteria. Nanotech will become more widespread in use as companies find markets for these devices.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

5. 5G-ENABLED DEVICES The biggest drivers of cutting-edge technology—AI, IoT, and Big Data— need a reliable and lightningfast internet connection. 5G, will result in expanding use of telemedicine, expanding access to care for millions. More connected devices, with more authentic data streams, will increase care options. Next-to-zero latency, 5G-connected sensors and medical devices can capture and transmit data nearly instantaneously. Result should improve patient monitoring, and patient outcomes. But patients won’t have to wait long to see a change: experts say 5G-enabled devices will rapidly bring on a new healthcare paradigm,

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

6. TRICORDERS Tricorders palm-sized devices that could quickly and accurately monitor a wide array of vital signs, while also performing simple diagnostics have been relegated to science fiction, until now with a roll out of a very real tricorder, known as DxtER, which can be used by the patient, in their own home, without any medical training. DxtER diagnostic engine pulls patient data from multiple sources and runs them through algorithms that recognize 34 different health conditions, including stroke, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and diabetes.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

7. A LAB ON A CHIP Researchers recently developed what they call “a lab on a chip” based on CRISPR enzyme Cas12. About half the size of a credit card, it contains a complex network of channels smaller than the width of a human hair and can deliver a coronavirus test’s results in under 30 minutes. The test can be modified to detect other infections, by recalibrating the CRISPR enzyme for a different genetic marker. With a lab on a chip, testing can be done more quickly, safely, cheaply.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

8. SMARTER PACEMAKERS Remotely monitoring pacemaker devices is an essential part of their functionality. Traditionally, that monitoring has been far from optimal, relying on complex interfaces that the patient may not fully understand. By enabling pacemakers with Bluetooth technology, they can be linked with smartphone-based mobile apps that patients better understand and utilize, that will improve remote monitoring, and, as a result, patient outcomes.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

9. HEALTHCARE’S DIGITAL ASSISTANTS Digital assistants via natural language processing and ambient listening have natural applications in the capture, analysis, and utilization of health data. Designers of the two largest electronic health records (HER) systems, began integrating voiceenabled virtual assistants on their software. One AI startup has launched a new voice assistant that can listen to, and understand, a physician-patient conversation, without being prompted through voice commands.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

10. WEARABLES WITH A PURPOSE Fitness trackers have been on the rise for years. The next trend in wearables for medical technology includes e,g. diabetes patients, wearable continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) track of one’s blood sugar levels in real time. This allows users to see the immediate impacts of food and exercise and shape their lifestyles accordingly. It can also catch cases of hyperglycemia immediately.

Highly Disagree (-2); Disagree (-1); On the Fence (0); Agree (+1); Highly Agree (+2)

SOURCE: https://www.medicaltechnologyschools.com/ medical-lab-technician top-new-health-technologies

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