Healthcare

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 feb 2014

Proper geriatric or elderly care is a critical component of the healthcare ecosystem. Due to physical and mental conditions of the old age and related disorders and diseases, focused planning and management to provide better lifestyle to the elders is a necessity. Technology can also play an important role by assisting the seniors while they spend their life in the comfort of their homes. Large number of companies are participating to develop devices and applications for this segment of the aging population. According to Laurie M. Orlov, a geriatric care specialist, the market is expected to grow from US$ 2 billion (2013) to US$ 20 billion by 2020 and most of this growth will be in areas such as remote health monitoring. Entrepreneurs, Geof Auchinleck designed a health monitoring tablet device specifically for seniors living at home, and Robert Herzog developed a healthcare management system that can be used by caregivers, health professionals and family members. Read on...

The Age: Want to grow old at home? Technology to the rescue
Author: Mark Miller

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 03 jan 2014

Wearable technologies are finding prominence in the human-centered technology ecoystem with devices like smart watches, smart glasses, smart textiles etc. The article provides an interview with Oliver Stokes from PDD, a design consulting firm, where he explains the current and future prospects for the wearable and embedded devices. He mentions that more advancements are required in wearable technologies so that they blend seemlessly in human ecosystem without specifically affecting their body language and social behavior. Moreover healthcare is one of the areas where these technologies will get early adoption. Smart textiles, in addition to healthcare and fitness, may find use in fashion clothings where they can change color and patterns providing them more versatility or they can be used in cars for shape and color variations and changes. Considering the present research advancements, smart textiles will find commercial use in 5 years. Read on...

Shiny Shiny: Forget smart watches, are smart textiles and implants the future?
Author: Ashley Norris

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 23 dec 2013

With human DNA having 8-9% of viral elements and an average human body having ten times more microbial cells then human cells, the question arises how these constituents influence and affect human behavior or is there a link between the two at all. Some recent research studies point in this direction and suggest possibilities of connection between the two - the host and the pathogen. Researchers from UCLA found changes in brain function of women as a result of probiotics. Moreover research also suggests a link between the type of bacteria present in the gut and the connections between the different areas of the brain. Research by Stephen Collins of McMaster University in Ontario found that the replacement of gut bacteria of nervous mice by that of a fearless mice makes it friendlier and less anxious. Read on...

Forbes: Who's In charge Here - The Surprising Science of Self Control
Author: Steven Kotler

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 18 dec 2013

Hospitals in recent times have become specialized and develop their competences accordingly. The specializations provide hospitals clear focus in providing the best available services and facilities to the particular segment they serve. One of the important segment of the hospital spectrum is children care as they have different needs as compared to adults and may require specific medical procedures and care services. Article provides review of some highly ranked pediatric hospitals in US and explores the reasons for their excellence. Some of the differentiating factors are - higher level of commitment to provide children focused quality medical services; dedication towards providing best healthcare experience to patients enables them to build solid reputation and attract best staff; invest heavily on amenities, equipment and technology; investment in research to discover new treatments. Read on...

Healthcare Global: Hospitals Blazing Trails, The Best in Children's Care
Authors: Alyssa Clark, John McMalcolm

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 12 dec 2013

Advancements in digital and communication technologies are affecting the dynamics of how healthcare is provided and received. Patients have access to latest and sophisticated health information, improved access and communication with medical professionals, digital tools and improved social support. Some of the technologies that are participating in the healthcare delivery and access, and facilitating its transformation are wearable health monitoring devices, health applications, electronic medical records, DNA analysis, social media outlets and online forums. In their recent book 'ePatient 2015: 15 Surprising Trends Changing Healthcare', Fard Johnmar and Rohit Bhargava, explore the human aspects of the various technologies that are affecting the healthcare landscape, evaluate and understand the relationship that is progressing between humans and healthcare technology and how these technologies have the potential to save lives. Frad Johnmar explains "The future of healthcare is about more than economics, politics and individual technologies. We want readers to come away with a deeper appreciation to the human side of innovation and understand that looking at the big picture is required, rather than optional." The book examines and explains 3 themes that are changing healthcare and giving rise to 15 trends - (1) Health Hyperefficiency (Trends: Empathetic Interfaces, Unhealthy Surveillance, Predictive Psychohistory); (2) The Personalized Health Movement (Trends: The Over-Quantified Self, The Device Divide, Multicultural Misalignment, Healthy Real Estate, Medical Genealogy, Neuro-influence Mapping, Natural Medicine, Microhealth Rewards); (3) Digital Peer-to-Peer Healthcare (Trends: Care Hacking, Accelerated Trial-Sourcing, Virtual Counseling). Read on...

HIT Consultants: ePatient 2015: 15 Surprising Trends Changing Healthcare
Author: Fard Johnmar

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 07 dec 2013

Healthy population is the essential component of development. In regions where substantial populations are residing in rural and remote areas, the challenge is to provide them with timely access of healthcare services and medicines. There are lessons that can be derived from retail supply chain management and processes to deliver medicines and health products effectively and efficiently. According to a report by CIHL (Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics) at the University of Arkansas, some of the best practices of retail supply chain that can be adopted by healthcare industry are - collaborative planning, forecasting & replenishment; scanning technology; education & training; centralized purchasing & supply; supply chain services reorganization; regular cycle counting and stock rotation; performance management; actual usage inventory management; e-commerce; data standardization. Read on...

the guardian: Getting medicines to the poor - Solving the logistics challenge
Author: Eliza Anyangwe

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 24 nov 2013

Physician Assistants (PA) are healthcare professionals that can provide broad range of healthcare services in a collaborative capacity with a physician. They can also perform a limited number of healthcare duties independently. They are an important part of the healthcare human resources and their role is becoming more prominent considering the shortage of qualified physicians in many countries. Their presence is well recognized in military assignments, international humanitarian projects, during epidemics and health crises, in rural and remote areas etc. The article by Professor Ruth Ballweg of Washington University, provides an analysis of the growing importance of PA's and how the profession evolved over a period of time in various parts of the world. Moreover the article also mentions the various educational programs that are geared towards providing PA qualifications in many countries. Read on...

Healthcare Global: The Global PA (Physician Assistant) Phenomenon
Author: Ruth Ballweg, Alyssa Clark

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 22 nov 2013

Recent report by Juniper Research forecasts cumulative cost savings of US$ 36 billion globally from remote patient monitoring over the next five years. As healthcare moves to 'accountable care' in developed economies, with direct linking of funds to the health of the patient, this is a significant opportunity. Mobile health services are enabled by the combination of smartphones, mHealth attachments and companion apps. They are creating new healthcare delivery models. Moreover remote patient monitoring for cardiac and chronic diseases seems to obviously fit with the latest healthcare practices and the goal of minimizing patient's time spent in hospitals and reduced outpatient visits. Read on...

M2M WorldNews: mHealth Monitoring Offers 36bn USD Global Healthcare Cost-savings Opportunity by 2018
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 19 oct 2013

The recent study conducted on 40 hospitals with innovative strategies in India by Prof. Vijay Govindarajan and Prof. Ravi Ramamurti of Harvard University, advocates emulation of low-costs and technology innovations happening in Indian hospitals. Considering that the global economic slowdown is affecting the healthcare delivery it is valuable to understand and apply these cost saving methods that are a result of constant experimentation, adaptation and necessity. Some of these methods include - shortening length of sutures to reduce waste by doctors; low cost manual small incision cataract surgery; reducing heal-time by performing angioplasties through the wrist rather than the groin; use of technology that allows a single cornea to be sliced and used for more than one transplant patient; mix of low-cost healthcare workers and highly focused specialists; surgeons performing more procedures annually as compared to US; use of beating-heart method of surgery without shutting down patient's heart during operation. Read on...

The Times of India: Emulate India's innovation in healthcare: Harvard study
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 08 oct 2013

Hospitals everywhere are facing multiple challenges related to providing better and customized treatment to elderly, emergency medical care, shortages of skilled medical staff, lack of efficiencies in routine processes etc. A large portion of these challenges can be addressed by optimally implementing latest healthcare technologies and advancements. In the recently concluded International Medical Hospital Show 2013 in Japan, companies showcased healthcare technologies and systems that are transforming the various aspects of healthcare delivery and processes. Mobile integrated EMR (Electronic Medical Record) was one of the attraction of the show. The 380 companies that participated in the show were categorized into six zones - (1) Medical Instrument and Hospital Environment Equipment (2) Nursing (3) Medical Check-up and Health Care (4) Nursing Care and Rehabilitation (5) Institution Management and Services (6) Medical Information Systems. Read on...

Zee News: Now, get your medical records on smartphone, iPad
Author: NA

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