Tech & Innovation in Healthcare

Here’s a peek at a variety of new tech that’s revolutionizing the industry.

As technology advances, the concept of modern medicine continues to stray far beyond traditional interventional treatments. That’s because modern medicine has found a way to not only monitor and treat you in the comfort of your own home, but in some instances, connect directly to your body. These novel interventional approaches are designed to improve quality of life and even extend it, when possible.

In her spellbinding session at AAPC’s HEALTHCON 2021, held March 28-31 virtually and in Dallas, keynote speaker Robin Farmanfarmaian touched on some of the most cutting-edge technology impacting healthcare today — technology with capabilities that extend far beyond mere in-home treatment and monitoring. As you’ll see, these medical advancements will both improve treatment outcomes and minimize the burden on the patient at the same time.

Read on for some highlights from Farmanfarmaian’s session to see why the future of modern medicine is, in fact, right now.

See What Technology Is Being Integrated Into Households

First, let’s take a deep dive into some innovative technology that can diagnose and treat patients directly from their homes. As Farmanfarmaian puts it, the new and improved house call is back. “Cutting-edge trends and technologies are bringing healthcare back into the patient’s home, and subsequently, their daily life — where it belongs,” she says.

For instance, Farmanfarmaian touches upon emerging direct-to-consumer blood testing that can test for liver, kidney, and thyroid function; platelet count; complete blood count (CBC); and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

She also highlights a variety of emerging technologies for in-home diagnostic and therapeutic treatments. At the forefront of this movement is Outset Medical’s Tablo®, an in-home, interactive hemodialysis machine with a fully integrated water purification system that produces dialysate custom to the patient’s prescription.

If that’s not enough, you’ll also want to get on board with new technology that offers telehealth patients an experience that better emulates an in-office visit from their own home.

Tytocare, as Farmanfarmaian explains, is an FDA-cleared telemedicine tool that includes a video camera and four clinical-grade medical device applicators. With a physician guiding the patient’s hand, the physician can use an otoscope, stethoscope, temperature monitor, and tongue depressor for a comprehensive health systems review.

Last on the home health front is the emergence of in-home biologics. After writing a prescription for a biologic, a physician can send the script to a company such as Optioncare, which proceeds to ship the medications, on ice if required, directly to the patient’s door. The patient will then place the medication in the refrigerator until a nurse arrives to mix and administer it.

Monitor Your Health Vitals at Home and On The Go

Do you have a smartwatch that tracks your heart rate? If so, you’re already engaged in a form of biometric monitoring, which complements in-home healthcare. As the sciences evolve, the possibilities become seemingly endless. Smartwatches, for instance, have developed the capability to monitor blood pressure and even, via Withings smartwatch, perform electrocardiogram (ECG) tests to detect atrial fibrillations.

Also, check out a phone application called Anura™, with which a 30-second analysis via your smartphone camera measures the light through your skin to give you a general wellness score. This score is comprised of measurements for heart rate variability, respiration rate, blood pressure, cardiac workload, and more.

Another monitoring device to keep an eye on is MouthLab™ by Aidar, which is a home breath test capable of measuring a variety of vital health parameters in less than 60 seconds.

“These methods of remote patient monitoring bring healthcare management into the patient’s daily life without the requirement of intermittent trips to the physician’s office,” says Farmanfarmaian.

Consider More Creative Uses of Biometric Monitoring

Biometric monitoring is also making strides on the implantable sensor front. For instance, there’s the recent emergence of Eversense®, a Bluetooth-enabled, implantable sensor for diabetic glucose monitoring, which can be used for three months without replacement. Diabetic patients also now have access to Siren Socks, a foot temperature monitoring system, in the form of socks with sensory electrodes, that tracks inflammation to help prevent the formation of diabetic ulcers and infections.

Other companies, such as Adherium and Propeller, have developed technologies to wrap sensors around inhalers to better monitor the vitals of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

To round out the vast array of biometric monitoring devices impacting the world of healthcare, Farmanfarmaian offers some insights into technology known as VitalConnect®, a single-lead cardiac monitoring patch that’s designed to be worn for the 24-hour period following hospital discharge. With a live ECG and constant tracking of other vital parameters, VitalConnect can predict hospital readmission up to six and a half days in advance.

Stay tuned: Check out next month’s issue to learn how scientists have teamed up with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create a more dynamic and comprehensive healthcare experience.