The Future of Healthcare:
Providing remote health care is a massive improvement in the health sector for both patients and providers. Cost reduction, accessibility, real-time information, and much more are offered by Telehealth thanks to technology. So, what are the technologies used in this vital sector? Telehealth relies on many technologies to facilitate remote care. Thus, in this article, we will discuss some of these technologies, like AI, RPM, VR, TeleRobots, IoT, and Nanno-technology
- AI Technology
AI “Artificial Intelligence” is the intelligence demonstrated by machines; in other words, it’s the simulation of human intelligence processed by equipment, especially computers. AI can perform numerous functions that may take quite a while in no time. So, the question is, how has AI helped in Telehealth? AI has many ways to help the telehealth process, for example:
- Chatbots and Virtual Assistants
Chatbots and VAs have a far-reaching impact on the Telehealth sector. It can help patients schedule their appointment, health education for the patients by asking questions and finding answers about their medical conditions and what they need to do. Plus, it can also direct patients to relevant specialists. Moreover, Chatbots and VAs can help with medication management, providing mental health support, and even patient triage where AI can help the patient recognize the level of consultation needed in case a virtual visit is enough, or if they need an in-person check-up.
There are many other ways that chatbots and VAs can help and much more to be added with all the efforts exerted to improve this sector.
- Massive Patients Data Analysis
Using machines that can identify algorithms, AI can learn from loads of data, analyze records, imagery, and sensor data and identify patterns and trends without the need for pre-programming. The process starts with collecting data, processing it, then feature extraction. Then, the time comes when the human element is involved in making decisions based on all previous automated steps. Those steps support providers with better diagnosis, real-time and accurate data-driven decisions, and even help identify high-risk conditions ever found. Besides, such procedures can help develop a convenient treatment plan.
Machine learning has different patterns of algorithms, like supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning. But, once it’s trained according to the needs, the amount of data that can be processed on the spot is unbelievable. Technicians are still working on improving this method providing better results and, eventually, better care.
- RPM Technology
Remote patient monitoring uses a combination of many technologies to provide more accurate and real-time remote monitoring:
- Cloud Computing
Cloud computing allows users to scale up as needed. It helps to store & process massive volumes of data without investing in physical networks. Cloud computing telehealth has a huge step forward not only as cloud computing is cost saving, but also there are many benefits that aim to improve telehealth like disaster recovery, data analysis, scalability, ease of integration, data storage, and management. Thus, all these benefits made cloud commuting a critical component of the process of telehealth.
- Wearable Devices
Wearable devices have major contributions to telehealth by allowing providers to remotely monitor their patterns. Wearable devices use many technologies like IoT, nanotechnology, sensors, GPS, integration, Bluetooth, wifi, real-time feedback, AI, and more. Using all these technologies helps collect data, process it, and transfer it to the health provider in real-time in the form of analyzed information to help provide the needed care and actions in cases of emergency.
- IoT
IoT connects many machines to collect data and transform it into analytical data, which makes telehealth more accessible, achievable, and efficient. IoT helps care providers by providing remote access to consultation and patient examination. Moreover, IoT has a significant role in chronic disease management, medication adherence, and health and wealth management.
IoT enhances and improves telehealth by connecting many devices and machines to control and manage the conditions which need intensive supervision.
- AI
As AI continues to impress us with how intelligent and helpful it can be, it has a crucial role in telehealth and RPM. It doesn’t only collect and analyze data, but it also predicts future data and analysis it. It also engages with the patient to provide a good experience during the medication process. On the other hand, it helps care providers in making analytical decisions, personalized care plans according to the data provided, and identifying any unusual patterns. AI wouldn’t stop helping and impressing the world with their effort in offering a healthier tomorrow for patients and a smarter one for care providers. These aren’t the only technologies to allow RPM; remote patient monitoring is a very complicated process that combines many more technologies to uncomplicate the medication process for both patients and care providers.
VR Technology
Virtual reality has been used in telehealth to create an immersive experience for patients simulating the same experience they get in in-person visits. It’s much more used in mental health as it has been used widely lately in some treatment plans for autism, and it shows impressive progress in many cases. Besides, VR technology is used effectively to help with anxiety, phobias, PTSD, and more. Virtual reality has also been used to reduce pain in some cases by involving patients in some pleasant distractions.
As for the care providers, they benefit from VR through medical training and education by getting into experiments and semi-real training in a safe mode environment.
VR technologies enable patients to go through more engaging, personalized, and valuable experiences in telehealth, and it keeps developing every single day.
Tele-Robots
Robots wouldn’t control the world as pictured in sci movies, but they can save lives. Nowadays, we reached the point where telerobots can operate surgeries and be controlled and directed by surgeons who are hundreds of miles away! Robotic devices are used in providing health in some cases where in-person treatment is risky, robots can do the job. Telerobots can also be used for remote consultation between the patient and healthcare provider by conducting camera and mic, but is this the only contribution for telerobots? Of course not. Telerobots are way smarter and more beneficial than you can imagine. Telerobots can also be equipped with sensors to collect and process data from patients and deliver it in real time to care providers for better decision-making. Also, Telerobots are being used in both drug delivery & rehabilitation when in-person contact is unsafe. Leveraging telerobot technology has enhanced and improved the overall quality of telehealth and telemedicine.
IoT
IoT has been contributing to making lives better in many ways; it enhances the delivery of healthcare services remotely, improves patient outcomes, and much more. The Internet of Things is a network of devices and machines that collect data through sensors, process it, and present it to care providers to provide accurate treatment plans and consultations that save lives in emergencies. IoT is implemented in wearable devices, room sensors, clinical trials, remotely controlling the surrounding environment for the patients, and even supply chain management to ensure medications are delivered in relevant conditions at the right time and for the right person. IoT made data collection, processing, and controlling way easier for healthcare providers to provide their services remotely yet accurately.
NanoTechnology
Nanotechnology isn’t widely used in telehealth yet, as researchers are still working on using this promising technology in providing remote healthcare. However, scientists implemented this technology in many ways to improve the care they provided to patients.
Nanotechnology has been used in wearable devices and sensors to monitor specific data and information, like in some diabetic patients using nanosensors to detect glucose levels in the blood.
Also, nanotechnology is used in Point-of-care diagnostics to detect diseases and health conditions in remote settings.
Nanotechnology is also used in miniaturized, portable diagnostic devices known as lab-on-a-chip systems. These devices are used for diagnosis and monitoring as patients can use them at home without the need for in-person visits.
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In conclusion, technology has dramatically impacted the healthcare sector. By integrating many technologies like AI, IoT, RPM, Nanotechnology, and Telerobots, telehealth become more efficient and accessible. These technologies helped care providers to provide their services regardless of how distant their patients are, save tons of money spent back in days, give a hand in making better, personalized decisions based on actual real-time information, and improve the outcomes for the patients as the care process has been streamlined. The revolution of technology is unstoppable, which gives us the hope that telehealth can reach a new era with the power of technology.