While FitBit Watches and smartphone apps have certainly made an impact on personal health and wellbeing,healthcare technology is also revolutionizing the entire medical industry. This is especially true in the field of recovery from addiction disorders.
Technology today is enabling medical professionals and rehabilitation facilities to effectively provide healthcare to individuals who desperately need assistance with substance abuse. Furthermore, technology helps people with addiction disorders by placing powerful data in the hands of healthcare providers and individuals struggling with addiction.
As of 2021, there are over20 million Americans suffering from some type of addiction disorder. Regrettably, this number is on the rise. Political upheavals, economic instability and pandemic-related tribulations are affecting millions of Americans, and this contributes to the number of deaths from drug overdose to skyrocket in to an all-time high in 2022.
Thankfully, medical technology is bridging the gap for people in need by efficiently and effectively rendering aid to people seeking recovery.
How Technology Plays A Role In Addiction Recovery
While the aforementioned statistics are staggering, there is hope, and technology is at the forefront of millions receiving treatment they deserve. Here are a few examples of how technology is helping people with addiction disorders.
1) Telehealth Services
While the pandemic has left adverse effects on the American population, it has also forced the medical industry to make improvements. Telehealth is a network of health-centric services and information that is utilized and accessed over the internet. People with addiction disorders or in recovery can make appointments online to see their doctors, refill prescriptions or even receive rehabilitative care through telehealth services. This reduces a lot of stress for many people struggling with addictions. In the past, the only option for in-patient rehabilitation was to physically attend a recovery facility. Telehealth allows patients in rehab to safely move through the recovery process in the comfort of their own homes.
Health information technology, or Health IT, is a specific type of health technology that works as a way to intertwine these two concepts. It includes the process, exchange, and storage of health information while using computerized systems. The general use of health information technology strategies can help prevent medical mistakes, improve overall healthcare, and increase administrative efficiency.
Some other benefits of this industry include reducing overall healthcare costs, giving access to affordable healthcare for all, and providing better patient outcomes. This field is constantly growing, so if you’re interested in a job in an industry like this, then here are some signs that you would do well in a health IT career.
You’re a Fast Learner
As it’s a relatively new field, the scope of the health IT industry is constantly changing. There are a myriad of organizations whose principal purpose is to use different resources to employ health IT across the world. For that reason alone, this is a career where changes occur frequently, which means that you have to get used to these constant shifts.
That’s not the only reason that you need to be a fast learner, though. Added to these changes is the fact that technology and health are also constantly advancing, as well. Because of this, you will find yourself in a career where there will always be changes – either on the side of health or technology, or both.
You Understand Medical Terminology
Health IT careers can be challenging, as you need to be able to understand how to use more advanced computerized systems. You need more than just a basic knowledge of computers, but in today’s world, that isn’t too hard to achieve. But that’s not all. You also need to be able to understand complex medical terminology. For example, there is a part of health IT called electronic prescribing.
Also called e-prescribing, this is when healthcare providers enter prescription information into a computing device, such as a laptop or a tablet. Then, the pharmacy receives the prescription using special software. It sounds easy, but for example, if a patient is receiving hydroxyzine for anxiety, you need to know what hydroxyzine is and if someone with anxiety can take it safely.
By Scott Overholt, chief business officer, Vyne Medical.
Healthcare is ever evolving and constantly shifting in response to consumer trends, regulatory changes and new technologies. Typically, these changes take place gradually with adoption rolling out bit by bit until finally reaching the tipping point among hospitals and health systems. We have observed this in recent years with transitions related to value-based care, electronic health records and interoperability, to name a few.
The impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare industry is unlike any of the changes we have seen in recent years. The change was sudden, swift and required immediate action from every healthcare provider regardless of size, setting or demographics. The pandemic allowed no time for committees, focus groups or research teams to develop lengthy strategic plans. As an industry, it tested our ability to adapt, act quickly, think creatively, and take calculated risks when necessary. The pandemic represents a sea change in healthcare that as leaders, we are all just beginning to grasp.
Business transformation
One area of significant change is the transformation in healthcare business models and connections between providers. Even before COVID, healthcare had observed a significant increase in merger and acquisition activity. The past year accelerated this trend as organizations form partnerships to better weather the lingering impacts of the pandemic.
Small hospitals that have taken bigger hits have sought to be acquired by larger health systems in order to survive. Conversely, large systems with more diversified portfolios and existing services such virtual care and digital functionality are growing as a result of these new acquisitions, partnerships and technologies. As organizations merge and seek to standardize their processes, there is a renewed focus on business function integration and centralization. The result is a more integrated delivery model with increased connections and data sharing between providers.
With the new year soon upon us, there’s no time like the present to start establishing some beneficial goals and resolutions that you can set to make 2022 the most enjoyable year yet. One area in which you can focus your efforts is mental health, as it’s absolutely vital that you take the time to look after your mind and emotional well-being if you want to seize each and every day.
Fortunately, learning how to promote the most positive frame of mind in the coming year doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might expect, as there are in fact just a few key tips and tricks that you can make the most of to set a range of great aims in no time at all. So, if you’re interested in finding out more, then simply read on!
Cut Your Sugar Intake
One of the first steps that you can take in 2022 to help balance your thoughts and free your mind is to consume less sugar. Sugar is one of the worst ingredients on the market today, as it provides the mind and body with no benefits whatsoever. Instead, it leads to blood sugar spikes, mood swings, irritability, fatigue, brain fog and many more issues that can stop you from feeling your best! So, cutting your sugar intake will help you to fight back against these troublesome symptoms, once again gaining back control over your diet to ensure you can eat the healthiest foods instead. Swap your usual candy fix for a big bowl of fresh fruit, and indulge in some natural Greek yogurt rather than eating ice cream. The less sugar that you have in your diet, the more stable your mood and emotions are likely to be, so it’s a great option for you to explore if you want to feel more calm and collected on a regular basis.
While the COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare into a reactionary crisis state in 2020, 2021 offered an opportunity to rethink traditional care delivery models. Divergent views on vaccines, powerful COVID-19 variants and ongoing capacity issues have shown that providers, and the technology companies that support them, will need to continue to evolve in order to serve patients effectively.
As we look towards 2022, experts at Wolters Kluwer Health, a clinical technology and evidence-based solutions provider, outlined their predictions for next year and what they think it will take to properly equip providers to deliver the best care everywhere.
Building trust in an age of digital information overload
Digital health investment in 2021 has focused mostly on technology innovation and workflow improvements. What I’m seeing in the digital health space is akin to the implementation of EMRs, which really focused on the technology itself and not the content inside, which creates the experience for both clinical users and consumers. What’s missing from digital health strategy, and what providers will need to focus on in 2022, is increasing access to high-quality, evidence-based health content that consumers and providers alike can trust and understand. This ease of access is crucially important to overcome the infodemic of COVID-19, with an influx of misleading and rapidly evolving information we’ve seen expand across all areas of healthcare. Effective, engaging digital health requires more than the right technology, but a full-fledged experience that informs and motivates consumers towards evidence-based action.
Jason Burum, general manager, Healthcare Provider Segment, Clinical Effectiveness, at Wolters Kluwer, Health
More compliance, less burden
The pressures of COVID-19 spurred USP to issue interim guidance that provided flexibility for compounding pharmacies, but 2022 is likely to represent a return to stricter compliance. In September, USP issued a Notice of Intent to Revise (NITR) for both USP <797> and USP <795>. With COVID-19 cases continuing to surge across the country, I anticipate hospitals and pharmacy staff in 2022 will increasingly rely on expert solutions and technology to automate and standardize compounding operations in accordance with best practices and the latest compliance requirements. Burnout and technician shortages are happening in pharmacies too and software tools will help alleviate burdens pharmacy staff face right now.
Annie Lambert, PharmD, BCSCP, Clinical Program Manager for Compliance Solutions for Clinical Surveillance & Compliance, Wolters Kluwer, Health
Pitting AI against HAIs
Data show that while hospitals have allocated more resources to infection prevention and control efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, it has largely come at the expense of controlling other far too common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It’s true that a larger volume of sicker patients at higher risk of infection and sepsis have been admitted to the hospital over the last year, but the CDC concluded that 2020 increases in HAIs were also a result of lacking surge capacity and other operational challenges. Looking ahead to 2022, as hospitals take aim at controlling all HAIs in addition to COVID-19 with more resilient care teams, they will be looking more closely than ever at AI-powered technology to support proactive and real-time monitoring of patients to empower staff with quick risk identification abilities and opportunities for earlier clinical intervention.
Mackenzie Weise, MPH, CIC, Infection Prevention Clinical Program Manager for Clinical Surveillance & Compliance, Wolters Kluwer, Health
Telemedicine grows up
Contrary to some news stories, telemedicine will prove resilient well past the pandemic and will establish itself as a permanent, significant fixture in the healthcare ecosystem. In 2022, I expect healthcare providers themselves will strengthen and formalize training to research and promote telehealth best practices to their clinicians. It’s already happening, and I expect to see specialties like mental health and urgent care shifting to a predominantly virtual model in 2022. Ultimately, I believe that the rise of telehealth will drive more dialogue around modes of access as an issue not only of tech but also equity in the years to come. This in turn will have big impacts in the future of medical practice.
Vikram Savkar, vice president and general manager, Medicine Segment of Health Learning, Research & Practice
By John Guiliana, DPM, MS, medical director of podiatry, ModMed.
The flaws in our healthcare system that have bloated the cost of care to nearly one-fifth of the United States gross domestic product are too numerous to list. However, as a physician, I would like to highlight some issues from a clinical perspective, especially the value of preventive care.
Physicians and care providers wield tremendous power to drive down the cost of healthcare. They can champion a higher standard of care while limiting avoidable medical expenses. One overall strategy is stressing wellness and prevention to keep people out of doctors’ offices and hospitals. But we can’t do it alone.
Both providers and payers need to act. When it comes to completely rethinking traditional reimbursement models, payers need to be on board.
Among the best practices is a more “hands-on approach” to preventive care, taking full advantage of technologies that already exist. Incorporating these technologies effectively can include creating more digital “touchpoints” with patients to keep them engaged in their own care. Greater patient involvement can also help them make more informed decisions and decrease time wasted through staff-assisted scheduling and data entry.
Furthermore, patient engagement tools can cut unnecessary spending by increasing efficiency. The potential also exists for greater patient engagement to translate to marked improvements in patient outcomes.
At the same time, practices that leverage these technologies successfully could also see lower costs.
A call to recognize telehealth’s role
When medical technologies become routine in a practice setting, they can also help with routine care – such as a patient’s annual or bi-annual in-person visit. These regular wellness visits, for example, can be elevated through more frequent interactions between physicians and their patients, including telehealth services. In fact, efforts to expand telehealth services out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic are translating to enhanced accessibility to physicians for patients.
On top of the increased convenience provided by telehealth platforms, patients trusted and appreciated the ability to interact with physicians via digital technologies during the pandemic, a March 2021 study revealed. Out of 368 patients surveyed, 47% said they were “very satisfied’ with the virtual health visit and another 35% were ‘satisfied.”
At the same time, payer models need to reflect the increasing popularity of telehealth services. In other words, payers need to catch up and increase reimbursement for appointments that include telehealth consultations.
In that sense, payers will be critical to improving preventive care as well. It is pretty simple. Without fair reimbursement, telehealth has no chance of remaining viable for providers.
On a positive note, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded coverage for telehealth services during COVID-19. What will happen after the pandemic subsides remains unknown, so more permanent legislation is needed to continue virtual health care coverage.
Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic proteins developed for therapeutic use in patients with a range of serious conditions, including Ebola, cancer, and COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies are produced in a laboratory setting like any other therapeutic approach or medication. However, they work to fight illness by targeting and neutralizing disease-causing antigens, just like the natural antibodies inside the human immune system.
Monoclonal Antibodies vs. Natural Antibodies
The power of monoclonal antibodies lies in the way they target a specific and essential component of the process of infection. Like the natural antibodies produced in the human immune system, correctly prescribed monoclonal antibodies can target specific antigens and efficiently neutralize them. Monoclonal antibodies can be developed by exposing white blood cells to a target virus. The resulting antibodies can then be produced on a mass scale through a cloning process. Monoclonal antibody treatment is typically administered intravenously and can be done in a clinical setting or as an outpatient procedure.
Monoclonal antibodies can be thought of as a manufactured alternative to (or supplement for) naturally occurring antibodies and are designed to mimic their natural counterparts closely. In common therapeutic applications, monoclonal antibodies are given to a patient to boost or otherwise affect their natural immune system. They may also act as a replacement for natural antibodies in persons who are unable to produce them because of an autoimmune condition.
Monoclonal Antibodies for the Treatment of COVID-19
In 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency authorization for monoclonal antibodies to be used as a treatment for COVID-19. Monoclonal antibody treatment has shown promise in reducing the risk of severe infection and hospitalization in high-risk COVID-19 patients, especially when antibody treatment begins immediately after diagnosis.
The spiky shape of the COVID-19 virus has become ubiquitous in the public consciousness through health department posters, news segments, and memes and can be attributed to the presence of spike proteins on the surface of the virus. These spike proteins make COVID-19 highly effective at attaching to human cells. It is also the feature that makes COVID-19 a suitable candidate for treatment with monoclonal antibodies.
Multiple monoclonal antibodies have been developed with the specific goal of binding to coronavirus spike proteins. They have been demonstrated to be effective in disabling the virus and undermining its ability to bind to and enter human cells. Monoclonal antibody treatment has remained effective against COVID-19 variants thus far. However, there is potential that future mutations of the COVID-19 virus could see significant changes in the shape of the spike protein structure. This could make existing monoclonal antibodies less effective, and continued research is necessary to maintain the efficacy of antibody treatment.
According to the CDC, birth injuries are a leading cause of death and disability among infants. The most common causes of birth injury include fetal distress that results in a lack of oxygen or blood supply to the brain, excess fluid around the baby during birth, prolonged labor, and breech delivery.
The birth injury rate in the U.S. is one of the highest in developed countries, with approximately seven in every 1,000 newborns experiencing birth injuries. With so many birth injuries occurring every year, it’s essential to know what birth-related accidents are and how they can be prevented.
Birth Injuries And Birth-Related Accidents
A newborn can get injured during birth or while in the hospital in several ways. Some birth injuries are due to mishaps or medical negligence. Some birth injuries are evident, but others are not. A brain injury at birth or during birth is possible, and unresponsiveness or inactivity may suggest brain damage. Meanwhile, injury to the lungs can cause cyanosis (blue skin) and trouble breathing. A newborn with any of these symptoms should be seen by a doctor immediately. Even if the parents are unaware of any issues, a doctor’s full-body check is essential after delivery. Making an appointment ahead of time to discuss what tests should be performed is recommended.
The Benefits of Technology in the Delivery Room
It’s no surprise that more and more hospitals worldwide are investing in technology during childbirth, both for new parents and medical staff. Previously, doctors had to predict how much power or traction was exerted during birth to use one of their equipment. Now, doctors can observe what’s going on within the mother’s body at all times with devices such as fetal monitors.
It’s important to note that birth injuries can occur even with the highest level of care. Technology helps doctors and medical staff provide an optimal birth experience and detect early birth injury signs. New technologies help improve birth outcomes by facilitating earlier detection of birth-related issues in pregnant women. There are different types of tech available for both expectant mothers and the medical professionals who attend the birth.
