Digital Health bits | May 8th 2019
Smartphone-mounted device to determine whether a patient should be referred for diabetic retinopathy
Researchers from the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center have debuted a smartphone-mounted device that takes and interprets high-quality retinal photos to quickly determine whether a patient should be referred for diabetic retinopathy. Described at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s annual meeting, the AI tool (called RetinaScope) demonstrated automated interpretation sensitivity of 86.8% and specificity of 73.3% among a sample of 69 adult patients.
“Traditional retinal cameras are expensive, large, immovable and require special training to operate, whereas RetinaScope is a smartphone-based platform that is cheap, hand-held, and easy to use with no required training" Paulus, an assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and an assistant professor of biomedical engineering, said in a statement. "To make screening truly accessible, we need to provide on-the-spot feedback, taking the photo and interpreting it while the patient is there to schedule an eye appointment if necessary.”
World Health Organisation releases first guidance on digital health technologies
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released its first guidance on digital health technologies for health workers, policy makers and vendors.
The 10 recommendations in the guidelines suggest digital technology can help improve healthcare but should not be seen as a “silver bullet”.
Telemedicine is singled out as a “valuable complement” to face-to-face interactions, but the guidelines warn it cannot replace them entirely.
Health systems need to respond to increased visibility and availability of information, the guidance also states, while assuring people that their data is safe and they aren’t put at risk having accessed information on sensitive topics like sexual health.
Health workers also need adequate training to use the technology available and embrace working in a digital environment.
The WHO stresses the importance of providing supportive environments for training, dealing with unstable infrastructure, as well as policies to protect privacy of individuals, and governance and coordination to ensure these tools are not fragmented across the health system.
Mobile prenatal app shown to reduce in-person visits during pregnancy
Using the mobile app Babyscripts reduced in-person prenatal care visits while maintaining patient and provider satisfaction, according to research published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth by physician researchers from the George Washington University (GW).
"Prenatal care is one of the most widely utilized preventative health care services, however there is little research on the effectiveness of standard prenatal care," said Kathryn Marko, MD, first author of the paper and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. "We wanted to reevaluate the model for low-risk pregnancies and see if a mobile prenatal app could remove barriers to access and reduce the burden on patients and the health care system."
Mobile health apps have the potential to transform health care. Studies have shown mobile technology can improve disease management for diabetes self-care activities, HIV infection medication adherence, and sickle cell anemia medication adherence. The research team, led by Marko, hypothesized that mobile health apps could be just as transformative for prenatal care.
Read more: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-05/gwu-mpa050219.php
Platform for cancer patients shortlisted for Digital Leaders prize
Launched in October 2018, Cancer Central is a digital platform created to provide those affected by cancer with the help and support they need.
The platform combines a database with a conversational search engine to connect people to the products and services when and where they need them. These services include benefits advice, insurance products, counselling, complementary therapy, respite care, hats, wigs, lingerie, skincare, financial help, nutrition advice, local societies or communities, meals on wheels, books, blogs, forums, local hospital and taxi services – all based on geographical location and cancer type to provide individualised information.
#VR surgical simulator first to receive Royal College accreditation
A virtual reality platform which provides doctors with a “flight simulator” for surgery has become the first of its kind to receive accreditation from the Royal College of Surgeons.
FundamentalVR’s platform, Fundamental Surgery, which combines virtual reality with haptics (sense of touch), is now Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited.
It’s the first simulation with HapticVR to receive CPD points and will cover the Fundamental Surgery total hip replacement training simulation.
Fundamental Surgery was launched in August 2018 and allows surgeons to experience and navigate the same visuals, sounds and feelings they would during a real surgical procedure.
It’s compatible with any laptop, VR headset or haptic device.
The platform not only provides visual aides but also uses haptics to simulate the feel of tissue, bones and muscle
Focus on patient experience: If the patient is a consumer, patient experience is paramount
As patients take on more and more financial responsibility for their own care, the industry is responding by turning healthcare into a consumer experience. As hospitals look to earn the loyalty of consumer-patients, patient experience must become a focus.
Patient experience is coming into vogue over the term "patient engagement" because it makes patients a subject and not an object. Conversations about patient engagement are about getting a patient to do something, to engage, but patient experience is all about what a provider organisation can do for its patients.
The patient experience conversation isn't strictly a technology discussion, although technology can influence patient experience in both directions. It encompasses space and facility design, cost of care, staff training and more.
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Note: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer