Healthcare: Goals for future major technologies



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  • The US health care system still has a long way to go, and the big techs could lay the groundwork for these improvements.
  • Technological advances in medicine come from two fronts: medical technology and information technology.
  • As information technologies develop, patients will become active participants in their health care and values-based care could become a reality.

The largest shopping centerIn his book Reboot health careMichael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, says "[the United States] is building a solid foundation on which new American health care is being built. or downright delusional.

But Dowling does not ignore the need for improving the health system. Rather, he believes that contemporary trends can promote such improvement if we recognize their value. He cites advances and disruptions in areas such as consolidation, education, payment reform and mental health to support his progressive view that "better, safer and more accessible care "come from it.

These trends include the transition from technology to health care, or, as Dowling says, technology may soon bring us into the era of smart medicine.

Wonders of medical technology

For Dowling, the advancement of technology in the health sector has two origins: medical technology and information technology. In terms of medical technology, the technology available to physicians has accelerated at an unprecedented rate, giving rise to tools and techniques that "are an integral part of Star Wars."

"Some of the most advanced technological tools ever developed in every field are used to care for patients." Look at any modern operating room or ICU, and technology to care for patients and patients. keeping alive is remarkable, "writes Dowling.

To name just one example, Northwell Health's Cohen Children's Health Center was the first pediatric program in Long Island to establish ROSA, a "surgical badistant operating in robotics". Before ROSA, children with epilepsy had to undergo a complete craniotomy to target and monitor areas of convulsive activity. With the help of ROSA, surgeons can achieve the same results through a minimally invasive procedure, thus reducing the risk of infection and pressure on the patient.

Even technology not designed for therapy has been co-opted to play a modest but supportive role in daily treatment. A study from the Los Angeles Children's Hospital revealed that virtual reality can help reduce a child's anxiety and stress during basic procedures such as taking a blood.

Information technology is catching up

X-ray of the phone

Photo: Sisacorn / Shutterstock

Dowling characterizes the field of information technologies as "less impressive", highlighting the well-known difficulties of integrating electronic medical records. Beyond concerns related to cybersecurity and interoperability, such systems have caused burnout and discontent among practitioners, due to their time consuming and complex processes.

But progress is underway. Apple recently added a Health Records app to its iPhone, giving patients from 39 health systems access to their medical records.

"This new reality is that a big file, which until recently was stored and inaccessible to the patient, is now fully registered on his phone," writes Dowling. "For patients with chronic conditions who frequently use medical services, this leap forward allows them, one and a half kilometers away from their doctor's office, to track and share essential blood pressure data with their doctor. the heart rate, the and many other important clinical markers ".

But to be successful, this information must be collectible, accessible and understandable to any patient. Leading technologies will need to streamline these systems for maximum usability, while maintaining operations on a device with which patients and practitioners are intimately familiar.

This device will be the smartphone and the tablet. 77% of Americans own a smartphone. Among Americans over 65 – the demographic group most in need of such progress – 46% own a smartphone, a number likely to climb.

Big Tech's vision of integrating information technology into healthcare is not up to par. There needs to be a lot of experience and big tech needs to work better with traditional health care stakeholders. Even then, these steps can lead to a framework in which practitioners can collect more data more quickly and easily, while patients become partners, not pbadive recipients, of their health care team.

Accelerate value-based care

In the United States, value-based health care is a topic of debate today. The entry of Big Tech on the ground could bring value-based care closer to practice. As stated on the health blog Tech prescribedIntegrating enhanced data acquisition with AI-based platforms could turn value-based care into a manageable enterprise.

"As a result, the transition to the VBC will accelerate as more and more companies realize profits from this business model, a good news for the docs, which will allow you to become the technology's main customer. providers and actually improve the user experience effect, "writes Colton Ortolf of Tech prescribed.

The Northwell Health entity, Pharma Ventures, was created both in response to collaboration with leading pharmaceutical companies and as a way to promote value-based care. Pharma Ventures was designed to "link drug prices to drug performance" and "to serve as a great site for clinical trials". The goal is to reduce costs while improving the patient's experience. Such an initiative is only possible through integrated systems and electronic health records from across the Northwell system.

Enter the smart era of medicine

For Dowling, health care in the United States is an important foundation for the medicine of tomorrow. We are moving away from the idea that patients are receiving health care in a medical facility. Soon, health care will see the patient play an active role alongside a team of health care providers.

"The new American medicine is proactive and doctors work in teams with nurses and other caregivers to reach patients and guide them on the road to health and well-being," writes Dowling.

By creating new machines, multiplying information and making it easier to obtain this information, diving into the health care market will be a fundamental part of this next paradigm shift.

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