By Andriana Moskovska, content curator and contributor, Legaljobsite.net.
With every technological advancement, we’re working toward a mostly digitized healthcare system. And, if the current results are anything to go by, the future is bound to be an exciting one. That said, though, we’ve still got a long way to go.
Healthcare is slowly embracing AI and other technologies to improve services to clients. Six out of 10 healthcare companies already use some form of internet of things (IoT).
We could do better when it comes to incorporating AI, but at least we’re making some progress. In this post, we’ll look at how higher levels of digitization will improve the healthcare industry.
More Digitization Means More Personalized Service
It seems paradoxical, but our current drive toward better efficiency has ignored the human aspect. Doctors today receive a lot of information, most of it digital. Their concern is that by needing to analyze these reams of data, they’ve got less time to deal with their patients.
Digital measurement standards being applied often leave doctors frustrated. They feel that they have to work toward standards that have little relation to the overall quality of work.
Artificial intelligence could change that. Not only can AI speed the diagnosis of conditions, but it can also provide a more rounded analysis of a doctor’s performance. AI can assess a range of factors quickly and easily.
Using AI can make it possible to assess how rules affect doctors at the ground level properly. That could lead to more rules that make sense once implemented, which, in turn, could lead to the scrapping of onerous regulations that get in the way of successful patient outcomes.
Digitization Can Fill Healthcare Data Gaps
If we look at the way that healthcare systems collect data, we see huge gaps. Most of the time, data is only collected when patients interact with the system. That is when they’re ill and need to see a doctor. This leads to a system of reactive treatments.
A genuinely useful healthcare system, though, should be able to predict potential health risks, give patients advice on how to manage those risks, and to collect as much data as possible when the person is feeling well.
We’ve had a range of monitoring tools for some years now. Fitbits, home blood pressure checkers, daily blood glucose monitoring kits are all examples of monitoring tools most of us have access to. Many of these tools can now be connected online. That leaves us with a wide range of options that can give our healthcare system a far more complete picture of our health.
Your Fitbit, for example, logs how many steps you walk on any given day. Your blood pressure kit can point out times when your blood pressure is particularly high.
Information that the machines can’t provide, such as how much food you ate, or how you’re feeling, could be entered into an app built for the purpose.
Many people drink alcohol for varied reasons and on different occasions. For some people, alcohol is part of their dinner. Others drink because they enjoy how alcohol makes their brains a little fuzzier. For some people, alcoholic beverages relax constant worries in their minds while making things funnier.
However, alcohol consumption may start as a simple way to have fun and relax but end up being a serious problem. Today, many people are battling alcoholism after starting with a glass of wine at dinner or occasional drinking. And, the addictive nature of alcohol makes quitting a major challenge for most people.
But, it gets to a point where a person decides to quitting drinking without AA information at AddictionResource. This can be due to varied reasons including health problems and the desire to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, there is no easy moment to get sober. However, a global pandemic presents a moment when a person can get sober. Here are some of the reasons why people should try to get sober during quarantine.
Immune System
Research indicates that alcohol affects the immune system negatively. It particularly makes the body more susceptible to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and acute respiratory stress syndrome. COVID-19 is a dangerous respiratory disease.
Therefore, drinking alcohol can compromise the immune system when a person needs it the most. Getting sober during quarantine is, therefore, important to ensure that a person has a strong and effective immune system at the time of coronavirus pandemic.
Relationships
Most people in love relationships are better when sober. Drinking loosens up the tongues of most people. As such, some people say bad things when drunk and blame it on alcohol when sober. Unfortunately, this makes life hard for partners, especially at this time when they have to stay at home.
Quitting alcohol can, therefore, improve the relationships of some couples. Life is already hard during quarantine when some partners have to be together 24/7. As such, picking unnecessary fights due to alcohol influence can only make life miserable for such couples. On the other hand, quitting can improve the life of partners because they can engage each other meaningfully.
If your skin itches, breaks out or has other unusual symptoms, it’s often difficult to discern the cause. If the problem persists, then it may be a chronic skin condition. The best thing to do is to see a dermatologist because there are more than 3,000 possible diagnosis options.
Here are some possible ways a dermatologist could help you:
Tell you about your skin type so that you can build a skincare routine.
You need to know your skin type before you can select the right product. Is it dry? Is it oily? Do you have sensitive skin? Unless you know your skin type, you won’t know how to shop in a cosmetic aisle or may use an online skincare hack that makes your skin worse.
Suggest at home-treatments for skin problems that don’t respond to medication.
If you do have a chronic issue that won’t respond to medication, you might benefit from home phototherapy, which can effectively treat a variety of conditions, such as severe eczema, vitiligo, and psoriasis.
Give you guidelines on how to take care of your skin.
Here are some general guidelines that dermatologists suggest for all skin types:
Wash your face twice every day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Get enough sleep at night. While the average amount of sleep a person needs is about eight hours a day, everyone is slightly different. You will know if you’re not getting enough sleep if you show signs of sleep deprivation.
Avoid toxic environments, such as places with heavy tobacco smoke or chemical pollutants.
Exercise regularly — 30 minutes at least three times a week.
A skincare routine consists of cleansing the skin, moisturizing twice a day, using an anti-aging skincare product, and wearing sunscreen when you go outdoors.
Cleansing: While it’s important to wash your face every day, don’t overdo it. Twice a day is enough. Also, don’t wash your face until it is squeaky-clean because this will also wash away the natural, protective oils on your skin. Use a mild cleanser, either one for your specific skin type or one that works for all skin types.
Anti-aging products: There are many effective serums for reducing signs of aging. They usually contain peptides, growth factors, and vitamins C and E.
Sunscreen: Since most skin damage occurs due to sun damage, skincare experts recommend wearing sunscreen with at least 30 SPF. Apply it at least 15 minutes before heading outdoors.
If the idea of creating your own skincare routine is overwhelming because you have no idea what products to buy or how to follow a skincare process, consider using a skincare kit. Many brands bundle all the right products and give you clear instructions on how to follow a complete skincare kit.
In conclusion, if you have skin problems, see a dermatologist rather than just making an educated guess. After an examination, they might recommend medications and give you advice on how to create a skincare routine for healthy skin. A dermatologist will also tell you about
your skin type. By knowing your skin type, you can choose effective products. Even if an advertised product is excellent, it may not be the right one for you. In fact, choosing the wrong product for a cleanser, serum, or moisturizer may make your skin worse, causing breakouts or blemishes.
HypeLabs, a software-only mesh networking provider, announces the launch of CovidApp (CovidApp.org), an easy-to-use selective quarantine white label solution that has been proven to prevent the continuous spread of the novel coronavirus. The system is ready for immediate deployment and will be free to all states and countries that wish to use it.
CovidApp is a private and anonymous contact tracing system that detects physical proximities between smartphones and works in conjunction with hospitals and governments to inform users, even those without an internet connection, about their likelihood of a COVID-19 exposure if they have crossed paths with someone who has already contracted the virus. This software uses random ID numbers that do not require any database or private information of any individual.
Smartphones that have the app installed will be capable of exchanging Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals when the devices are within range of one another, even without internet or mobile data. Records of those encounters will be stored in the device for up to 14 days and subsequently sent to a central server.
If someone has tested positive for COVID-19, others that were in proximity contact with that person will be alerted to be tested or to initiate a preventive quarantine immediately. Web portals for both health and government officials allow authorized officials to distribute information to the end-users, from important announcements to health recommendations for containment of the virus. Only authorized medical personnel can interact with the health web portal and update the health status of tested citizens.
“It is important to emphasize that no one will ever see the users’ private information,” said Carlos Lei, co-founder and CEO of HypeLabs. “Only the Unique Device ID is visible to government authorities. CovidApp can help cities and countries turn their economies back on as soon as possible.”
CovidApp has already been tested and deployed in some countries in Latin America such as Colombia, the first nation to adopt the system showing the lowest numbers of infected patients in the region and is managing the flattening of the curve.
In addition to helping virologists gather important data to prevent future pandemics, contact tracing can be used as a general private analytics tool to improve transportation systems and help to design a more efficient flow of entire cities.
With the continued spread of COVID-19, it’s more important than ever for healthcare organizations to continue implementing ways to keep employees and patients safe, while improving patient care and keeping patient data secure. Many healthcare organizations are turning to KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) solutions to help with the increasing need for smarter and safer healthcare solutions.
A few examples:
Remote IT admins – IT admins can access critical servers when working remotely. Remote desktops only allow one connection to one server at a time, but a KVM provides a Windows explorer view of ANY server connected to that KVM.
Remote lab automation – Employees can stay safely away from contaminated areas using a KVM over IP device to access devices in lab areas.
Remote nurse station monitoring – video extenders and KVM extenders allow nurses to obtain real-time patient data from a remote station without being physically inside the room with the patient. This allows for a controlled, clean and secure environment.
Command and control through security and surveillance – Security employees can monitor all entry ways, control opening/closing and locking or unlocking doors from a distance.
Trends in Smart Healthcare
A few trends driving the need for these solutions include:
IoMT and Connected, Integrated Smart Healthcare Systems
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is a connected infrastructure of medical devices, software applications and health systems and services. Integrating different healthcare delivery systems into one mechanism has created the concept of smart healthcare. Not only has this pushed the focus from just caring for the sick to promoting the general health and well-being of people, but it has driven technological advances that connect various health IT systems for ease of control and communication.
Smart technologies, such as virtual health, wearables, sensors and biometrics are already driving this transition to new healthcare delivery models that focus on streamlining processes and making use of cutting-edge digital innovations and information systems. Such developments, including those in artificial intelligence, cognitive technology and robotics are accelerating automation, while telehealth, digital medicine and remote monitoring are already part of larger connected, integrated smart healthcare systems.
Increasing Demand for High-Precision Medical Imaging
Reliable video has always been an important component to healthcare IT, predominantly related to the exponential growth in picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) used to securely store and digitally transmit electronic images and clinical reports. As the volume of digital medical images grows, and data analytics of those images becomes more prevalent, the demand for video at the highest possible resolutions for the most detailed images continues to increase.
The seamless and stable transmission of high-resolution video has become a prerequisite that medical imaging systems are expected to handle (up to 4K), and delivery must be low latency across long distances with no signal degradation. In addition to high-precision audio video signal extension devices, other infrastructure equipment, such as KVM switches, must be able to support the required resolutions and refresh rates.
Digitization Driving Demand for Increased Security
The move toward patient-centered healthcare models and medical information systems is requiring unprecedented levels of security and data protection. Alongside the digitization of healthcare records of electronic medical records (EMRs) is the push for paperless hospitals and the increasing government regulations surrounding data management and patient privacy. Secure KVM switches that are commonly seen in government and military environments are now enabling medical staff to easily switch between sensitive patient data and non-private applications on the hospital network.
Healthcare Use Cases
Medical Imaging: Live Surgery, Remote Monitoring and MRI Diagnostics
A hospital decides to implement a state-of-the-art medical imaging transmission system to enable doctors to perform surgeries and real-time diagnoses more effectively. The solution needs to transmit content, such as live surgery video from the doctors’ head-mounted cameras, patient vitals, medical records, MRI equipment and a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), accessible from various locations inside the hospital.
The challenges:
Medical imaging needs to be instantly accessible from various locations throughout the hospital.
Requires clear and stable video images for monitoring.
Compatibility with a wide range of medical equipment in a hospital environment.
A tailored solution for medical-grade applications with easy-to-use media distribution management software.
The solution: Integrating seamless switching will deliver instant and stable video over long distances over a single cable, while converting various resolutions to ensure top quality. Additionally, adding HDBaseT KVM extenders will allow MRI equipment to be accessed and operated with zero latency while uncompressed video with pixel-to-pixel quality is reliably delivered to the operator’s room for real-time diagnosis.
Coronavirus has forced practices nationwide to undertake dramatic changes in how they practice medicine. But whatever the means we use to deliver care, there is still nothing as dramatic as saving a life.
Although I had been thinking about and planning to use telehealth for about a year, the sudden arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic left me with no choice. I recognized that there was no way to safeguard my patients or staff if I kept my office open.
I still had some reservations. Would patients use telehealth technology? Would they accept it? Most importantly, would telehealth allow me to deliver the same quality as an in-person office visit?
The answers came quickly and clearly. With healow TeleVisits from eClinicalWorks, getting started was simple and easy for my staff. Patients were thrilled to have a way to receive care without having to risk exposure to the coronavirus by traveling to my office. We transformed our more than 20 daily in-office visits to more than 20 televisits in just 10 days.
Saving a patient’s life via telehealth
And my remaining doubts about the efficacy and quality of remote care were erased in a single encounter.
I was meeting with a new patient who was complaining about vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. When I asked him to show me what the vomit looked like, he placed a jar containing black vomit in front of the camera.
I immediately knew that he was suffering internal bleeding and instructed him to get to a hospital. His wife ended the call and took him to the ER, where he was admitted. The bleeding was stopped and he received a transfusion.
Five days later, we had a follow-up televisit. He was in good spirits and told me that his life had been saved because of that first televisit.
Updox, a telehealth platform, experienced a significant spike in demand throughout March, onboarding more than 10,000 new customer users to its HIPAA-compliant telehealth solution in just two weeks. Today, the company facilitates more than 45,000 telehealth visits per day between patients and their doctors, with that number increasing rapidly.
More than 300 million Americans are currently under orders to shelter-in-place as public health officials and providers work to contain and mitigate the coronavirus. Updox experienced a sharp increase in the demand for telehealth from mid-March, when more states began issuing stay-at-home orders and physicians needed a safe and secure way to connect with their patients.
Unlike some first-generation telehealth solutions, Updox allows patients to connect with their own physicians instead of someone unfamiliar to them. Likewise, rather than competing with physicians, the Updox platform supports practices to maintain revenue, protect staff and deliver care safely to their patients. Studies show that patients prefer receiving treatment from their own physicians, with whom they’ve developed strong, trusted relationships. In fact, according to a recent survey by Sharecare, 60% of Americans noted they would want to “access care with their primary physician if they experienced COVID-19 symptoms.”
The Mount Sinai Health System has partnered with Sana Labs to launch Project Florence, a personalized learning platform to enhance the skills of nurses treating COVID-19 patients in New York City. The group, facilitated by the New York Academy of Sciences, is also making the platform available for free to hospitals around the world to improve medical response and care during the pandemic.
The virtual training platform, available through Sana Labs, provides a curriculum developed by Mount Sinai that includes the latest on industry resources and policies from organizations including the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
After users complete an AI-powered adaptive assessment that measures their knowledge, the platform recommends personalized content in real time to address individual skills gaps. It can be accessed from any internet-connected device including phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. The project was officially launched at the Mount Sinai Health System on Monday, April 13.
“The profound shortage of intensive care nurses and respiratory therapists will be one of the most significant hurdles facing U.S. hospitals treating critically ill COVID-19 patients,” said Jane Maksoud, RN, MPA, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, Mount Sinai Health System. “Project Florence will be a great benefit to staff preparing to care for critically ill patients. We are grateful for the partnership we have developed with Sana Labs and the work we have done together to assist our nurses on the front line.”
A projected 4.8 million Americans will be hospitalized for COVID-19, according to the American Hospital Association. Of those hospitalized, an estimated 40 percent or nearly 2 million patients will require admittance to the ICU. While there are currently about 550,000 critical care nurses in the United States, tens of thousands of nurses will be in demand in the coming months.
“I’m very excited to bring this innovative approach to Mount Sinai hospitals to help advance the skill set of our nurses,” said Diane Adams, MS, Chief Learning Officer of Mount Sinai Health System. “Not only are we advancing the essential skills of our staff, but we are also meeting the needs of our community during a particularly critical time across New York City, the United States, and the rest of the world.”
As hospitals shift priorities from other departments to ICUs, the two-day curriculum is tailored to each individual and suitable for nurses, as well as other medical professionals who are called to assist and may require an update on their understanding of ICU equipment and procedures.
HypeLabs, a software-only mesh networking provider, announces the launch of CovidApp (
Updox
The Mount Sinai Health System has partnered with Sana Labs to launch