Publications – Biotricity

Cellular connectivity & healthcare: A new echelon of innovation

biotricity — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 18:11:52 +0000

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Cellular connectivity is fast becoming integral to healthcare; according to Market Watch, global investment in Internet of Things (IoT) from the medical industry should reach $410 billion by 2022, and much of this investment will come directly from cellular IoT markets. Cellular connectivity could improve operational efficiency, enhance security, and push healthcare towards a more preventive model by better supporting IoT connected medical devices.

Improving Operational Efficiency

With the rollout of the higher speed 5G network, it may be possible to link an entire medical center across one cellular network, and to connect thousands of devices across one network. Where robotic surgery is concerned, the 5G network can enable more complex procedures entirely facilitated by cellular connectivity and performed in more remote locations. Right now, only can be performed with these means because of limitations in network bandwidth and speed. Current remote surgical procedures are restricted to hospital environments or locations where wired or highspeed Wi-Fi connectivity and network bandwidth are non-issues.

IoT Connected Medical Devices

The 5G network can better support IoT connected medical devices; it contains a computing model that pulls insights from data with billions of devices. Cellular connectivity allows data from devices to be collected and made available to physicians and caretakers remotely and in real-time. Patient health data can be stored securely in the cloud to prevent loss and allow physicians to access individual data as well as conduct population-wide analytics. Connectivity can also be achieved through wireless connections to smartphones or tablets, enabling smaller, easier to use devices by simplifying user interfaces and allowing patients to be monitored from home.

Read the entire article here. Waqaas’ article is available on Health Data Answers. Health Data Answers is a community network site dedicated to educating healthcare providers and other stakeholders on the advancement of health information exchange, interoperability and federal initiatives to adopt HIT standards.

Listen to this: MedTech and the power of the human voice

biotricity — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 00:04:28 +0000

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Augmenting rules-based systems with voice recognition and analysis offers multiple benefits for healthcare. For the chronic disease population, which comprises mostly older adults, using voice as a user interface could enhance medical device usability by helping patients overcome problems of failing eyesight, limited hand dexterity, arthritis, and a lower rate of technology adoption. Emerging research has also explored the possibility of using voice samples to diagnose disease.

The Human Voice as a User Interface

Healthcare rules-based systems with an integrated voice-activated interface could facilitate a more natural and interactive patient-consumer experience. Healthtap’s Doctor AI, which was built as a skill app on Amazon’s Alexa, is one example. When a patient asks Alexa what a possible symptom could indicate, Healthtap’s artificial intelligence analyzes data from the patient’s medical records to suggest possible causes, and then conveys the information to the patient in a conversational way. The app also routes the patient through one of several recommended pathways, such as scheduling an in-person office visit with a specialist. Voice-activated applications can help ensure that high-quality and early-intervention healthcare is immediately available for people who cannot easily use their hands or eyes, or who are otherwise frail and/or disabled.

Diagnosing Diseases with Voice Analysis

In the future, medical wearables may be used to record short speech samples and analyze them for disease biomarkers. The Mayo Clinic, for instance, has partnered with an Israeli company to test the voices of patients with coronary artery disease. Their research has found that one of the vocal features analyzed was associated with a 19-fold increase in the likelihood of coronary artery disease. This research could eventually translate to a vocal test app or medical wearable that would be used as a low-cost, predictive screening tool to help identify patients most at risk for chronic disease.

Read the entire article here. Waqaas’ article is available on Medical Product Outsourcing. Medical Product Outsourcing the only global magazine dedicated to the growing trend of medical device outsource manufacturing.

Medical wearables: Next generation devices will change healthcare

biotricity — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 01:55:01 +0000

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Medical wearable devices could transform the healthcare industry with continuous and real-time monitoring, providing quicker diagnosis and treatment of conditions. To date, lifestyle and fitness wearables have proliferated and few steps have been taken to incorporate medical wearables into the healthcare system. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how successfully implementing medical wearables in a healthcare system depends on overcoming two key problems: providing medically relevant data and incorporating wearables into current billing practices.

Problem #1 – data

Medical wearables must demonstrate that they provide precise and clinically relevant data for physicians to effectively utilize in patient care. Waqaas explains, “Physicians will not risk the possibility of misdiagnosing or mistreating the patient based on the possibility of utilizing inaccurate and inconsistent data.” The copious amounts of patient data generated by medical wearables likewise raises concerns about security, privacy, and access to data. Wearable technology companies should incorporate security and privacy mechanism into their solutions. Healthcare providers should also carefully consider who has access to patient data and how their medical practice can take steps to protect private health information.

Problem #2 – billing

Successful implementation of medical wearables in healthcare depends on the availability of an existing billing code, or the potential to obtain one. In 2018, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin implementing new payment rules that will allow providers to bill for remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools, including medical wearables. CMS is careful to distinguish RPM tools from telehealth in general, emphasizing the need for “active devices” that provide real or near-real time patient generated health data. Healthcare providers, too, should make sure that their wearables meet the requirements as defined within specific billing codes, and that their devices receive subsequent FDA approval.

Read the entire article here. Waqaas’ article is available on HIT Consultant. HIT Consultant is the leading source of healthcare technology news, analysis, and insights for healthcare executives, physicians, and providers. Their content provides editorial insights on health IT, EHRs, population health management, digital health, telehealth, accountable care, patient engagement and start-ups.

Using technology innovations to get ahead in a value-based world

biotricity — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 13:40:26 +0000

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]In a healthcare landscape riddled with rising costs and an increase in chronic disease, automation could be incorporated into a physician’s workflow to bring value-based care that is both cost-effective and patient centric. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how the shift towards automation in healthcare could streamline healthcare workflow, improve long-term care management, and improve adherence and knowledge through digital engagement.

Streamlining the healthcare workflow

Automation could remove routine tasks from physicians’ hands, freeing them to focus on more complex cases and allocate more time to engage with their patients and contribute to their specialization. Drones are now performing fast emergency care, removing the need for a physical person to deliver life-saving equipment and supplies to doctors. With the integration of electronic health records (EHRs), patient healthcare information is more accessible and comprehensive, improving health outcomes by giving doctors a more holistic view of their patient’s health.

Improving long-term care management

Healthcare policies aimed at better managing chronic illnesses have helped shift healthcare spending towards diagnostics and preventative care. The preventative care structure utilizes automation tools, data, and analytics to identify risk factors before a chronic disease sets in. Waqaas asserts, “Once a trusted system of EHRs is implemented and data sharing among providers has coalesced, physicians will be able to move from a care structure that spends a large amount of resources on acute care to a structure that focuses on early detection, intervention, and preservation instead.” Remote monitoring technologies, for instance, could have the capability to collect data that identifies patients in need of intervention, and then alert the physician when engagement is necessary.

The digitally engaged patient

Automation technology has the potential to increase patient health engagement by delivering data-driven and actionable insights to both patients and physicians. Waqaas explains: “Interactive platforms, such as specialized devices coupled with software, encourage patients to become knowledgeable collaborators who can take an active role in improving their own health.” Such platforms can give patients instant, continuous access to updates on their condition, medication reminders, health regimen planning, and instructions from their physicians. Patients who take a proactive role in their health improve outcomes for themselves while lessening the burden on the healthcare system.

Waqaas’ article is available on HIT Leaders & News. HIT Leaders & News presents the latest healthcare IT trends and viewpoints.

How modern technology approaches are set to change the healthcare paradigm

biotricity — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 13:00:41 +0000

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The movement towards personalized medical devices in healthcare has given rise to the “patient-consumer.” Healthcare providers are now incorporating wireless devices into healthcare settings and using them to engage patients. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how medical technology should be interoperable, iterative, and capable of providing actionable feedback to facilitate patient-consumer adoption.

Interoperability

Modern technology, such as next generation medical devices, should integrate seamlessly into a physician’s workflow. Waqaas affirms that devices “should be customizable, push specified data into the physician’s workflow, and optimize a physician’s time by demanding no effort on their part.” The devices must be easy to use because physicians don’t have the time to teach patients how to use new devices, or perform complex data analysis, or data entry.

Iterative

Personalized medical devices coupled with mobile health software should be iterative by sustaining patient engagement and stimulating use. This is best achieved with technology that offers customizability, such as offering patients the ability to keep a food diary or tracking their glucose levels from week to week based on their adherence to treatment plans. Research has shown that incorporating gamification into healthcare improves patient engagement.

Feedback

Medical technology that could provide actionable feedback for patients and physicians is key to patient-consumer technology adoption. Waqaas explains, “If the patient can hear, see, feel, or measure personal changes while the technology gives feedback, then the patient can corroborate that the technology is collecting the correct data.” A 2010 study on patients using an electronic fetal monitor showed that when patients could both feel their own contractions and see the device transmitting the data, they began trusting the technology more.

Modern technology should also improve bi-directional communications between patients and physicians. When physicians adopt technology, they help enforce a patient’s trust that the technology is providing value. Moreover, improved patient engagement with the technology provides a constant flow of data between patients and physicians, which might in turn inform more personalized care.

Read the entire article here. Waqaas’ article is available on Flarrio. Flarrio is a peer-to-peer learning platform powered by thought leaders from the world’s top universities and technology organizations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Leveraging technology for socially disadvantaged communities

biotricity — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 14:00:04 +0000

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The growing health divide in the U.S. is contemporaneous with the digital divide. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how smartphone technologies such as text messaging, health apps, and wireless monitoring sensors designed to function within a social context could help bridge these divides and improve health outcomes across communities. These technologies could provide support to disadvantaged communities, enhance care delivery, and provide both patients and physicians with timely, useful health data.

The Digital Divide

The main factor behind the digital divide is digital literacy. Technologies today are not designed with low-income individuals as target users. To help overcome the digital divide, technology should achieve three things: it should become affordable for the individual, the cost should incentivize hospitals to adopt it for use as a preventative measure, and it should be clinically relevant and interoperable with a care facility’s current workflow. Waqaas affirms, “Technologies must incorporate a meaningful feedback loop that provides accurate data to both patient and practitioner,” and they “must be easily assimilated into the high-functioning care delivery infrastructure so that monitoring can be remote, saving both patient and doctor time and money.” The technology should also be designed with usability in mind.

Case in Point: Global to Local (G2L)

Non-profit Global to Local (G2L) is a Washington State-based organization committed to providing programs that improve individual and community health outcomes in underserved communities in Washington. Its Mobile Health Project equipped 49 diabetic participants with smartphones, which were pre-loaded with a glucose monitoring app. Once a week, the participants could track their progress with a case worker fluent in their native language. The intervention was successful; leading to a reduction of diabetes-related death by 21 percent as well as a 40 percent reduction in eye, kidney, and nerve disease. Waqaas explains “Leveraging technology to improve patient health outcomes depends on whether technology can build a bridge for communications between patient, doctor, and community.” To achieve optimal health outcomes for patients, technology needs to include social incentives and accountability, as well as understand the context into which the technology is being deployed.

Read the entire article here. Waqaas’ article is available on Health News Digest. Health News Digest features current and breaking news on health, science and technology, medicine, and the environment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Artificial intelligence plays a smart role in better healthcare delivery

biotricity — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 14:00:51 +0000

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The consumerization of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare represents the mainstream physician and patient adoption of technologies with AI capabilities for diagnostic and care management purposes. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how remote patient monitoring (RPM) technologies with AI capabilities could result in improved health outcomes for patients with chronic disease while revolutionizing care management costs.

Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare

Real-time RPM technologies coupled with AI could improve health management and outcomes by offering patients personalized and predictive feedback. AI might impact real-time monitoring through predictive capabilities that could, for instance, anticipate cardiac events in time to prevent them. Waqaas states, “This scenario will become the future of healthcare: medicine and care management will become personalized to maximize prevention and outcome improvement.” By pairing AI with RPM, patients may benefit from forewarning and take the necessary action to prevent an adverse health event. With access to real-time data and actionable feedback, patients could also benefit from greater control over their care management. As patients begin to adopt RPM technologies, AI will enable these technologies to learn and adapt based on individual user behavior. This data may be used to generate feedback that is tailored to the individual patient.

Revolutionizing Care Management Costs

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately are spent on chronic disease treatment and management. The healthcare industry could use AI technologies to eliminate avoidable hospitalization of patients with chronic disease and by helping to manage these patients over the long term, at a distance, it could effectively drive down costs. Deep learning, which facilitates AI interpretation and analysis of the unstructured data that is delivered from medical grade wearable devices, would also spare physicians from data interpretation. Having AI step in at this stage and perform data analysis could help save physicians valuable time and, as Waqaas explains “enabling [physicians] to focus on the most critical patients and streamline the care process.”

Read the entire article here. Waqaas’ article is available on Digital Commerce 360. Digital Commerce 360 provides daily news coverage, trend analysis, industry resources, and competitive data across dozens of markets impacted by the digital revolution.

How the IoT is enabling the next generation of medical devices

biotricity — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 15:58:26 +0000

How the IoT is enabling the next generation of medical devices

[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]OCTOBER 01, 2016 | BY BIOTRICITY

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Internet of Things (IoT) connected medical devices are a new generation of medical devices capable of transmitting data on an ongoing basis and providing patients and physicians with real-time feedback. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how these devices could enact a preventive healthcare system and facilitate better remote home care, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

IoT and Preventative Care

Without access to real-time data, patients have limited feedback on how a treatment or lifestyle regime is impacting their short and long-term health goals. IoT connected medical devices could provide actionable feedback to patients quickly, which would encourage patients to make better health decisions in a more timely manner. Waqaas affirms, “IoT devices have the potential to facilitate a directional shift from a reactive healthcare system to a more preventative healthcare system, which can help people live healthier lives and deter illnesses while driving down costs.” These devices are especially valuable in the management of chronic diseases, because they assist patients in becoming proactive in managing their own health, as well as providing physicians with continuous, real-time, patient data. As a result, physicians might diagnose patients more efficiently, and deliver treatment before a condition becomes critical.

IoT and Remote Home Care

Patients with chronic conditions usually receive assistance from caregivers at home. According to AARP, more than 34 million unpaid caregivers provide care to someone over the age of 18 who is ill or has a disability. Waqaas explains, “Having IoT connected devices would be beneficial in reducing emotional and financial strain on caregivers, and provide better healthcare to the patient.” A support system of IoT connected devices could be used to provide at-home patient care without the need for a caregiver to be present 24/7, and could also facilitate self-care and lead to better patient adherence. For example, these technologies could use sensors and cameras to track patient movements and behaviors at home, and provide reminders for patients to take medications.

Read the entire article here. Waqaas’ article is available on Medical Design Briefs. Medical Design Briefs features exclusive coverage of the latest medical and bio-medical innovations from NASA, its industry partners, and other major players in medical R&D worldwide.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Why IoT might prove to be the missing link in chronic disease management

biotricity — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 13:47:00 +0000

Why IoT might prove to be the missing link in chronic disease management

[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]September 1, 2016 | BY BIOTRICITY[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Patient non-adherence is a key issue in chronic disease management, costing the U.S. healthcare system between $100 to $289 billion a year. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how medical wearable devices connected through the internet of things (IoT) incorporate relevant, clinical grade data that could help healthcare providers understand and diagnose their patients’ conditions. Real-time data and feedback could also help physicians determine if patients are adhering to medical directives and encourage non-adherent patients to actively engage in managing their health.

Patient non-adherence

Waqaas draws on an article titled Patient Education and Adherence: How to Make It Cost-Effective, by James M. McKenney, PharmD. The article outlines four elements required when developing a program to enhance patient adherence: enabling, reinforcing, prompting, and problem solving. Waqaas asserts that the IoT could help with each of these elements. A medical wearable could enable a patient to adhere to treatments by providing reminders, instructions, and feedback. The feedback issued by a medical wearable could in turn reinforce patient adherence by letting a patient know if he or she is following instructions correctly, and demonstrate how adherence positively impacts their health. Likewise, medical wearables could offer reminders and suggestions to help a patient stay on track, which is a form of prompting. Finally, medical wearables have problem-solving potential because they can provide patients with real-time feedback. With real-time feedback patients have the immediate information they need to help make positive choices in their daily lives and take the right steps in following treatment protocols.

The right information in the right hands at the right time

Clinically accurate patient monitoring devices could improve disease management and health outcomes by collecting medically relevant, clinical-grade data and providing real-time feedback to patients. This feedback would include a benchmark assessment of patients’ conditions, and information about next steps. Waqaas says, “The optimal solution is to base the score from wearables on medical-grade data so that accurate and meaningful data is relayed to both the physician and the patient.” With the right feedback at the right time, patients can engage in their care after diagnosis with a chronic illness.

Waqaas’ article is available on HIT Leaders & News. HIT Leaders & News presents the latest healthcare IT trends and viewpoints.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Enabling clinical-grade health management devices

biotricity — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 13:18:55 +0000

Enabling clinical-grade health management devices

[/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text]August 19, 2016 | BY BIOTRICITY[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The healthcare sphere is facing a dichotomy of sorts wherein the individual’s increased consciousness to prioritize health is at odds with his or her lack of time and/or willingness to seek professional opinion and treatment. While a large majority of individuals are seeking to proactively self-manage their health, they are turning to incomplete and inaccurate information gleaned from the Web and from lifestyle and fitness wearables, placing their health in jeopardy. Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Biotricity CEO & Founder, discusses how next generation clinical-grade wearables could help supply accurate, medically relevant data to improve chronic disease management.

Why wearables 1.0 failed to meet the mark

Health technology and fitness companies have developed a myriad of wearable fitness and lifestyle devices over the last several years; these devices do not deliver accurate, medically relevant data. Waqaas affirms, “The statistics [provided by fitness and lifestyle wearables] are often medically meaningless, non-specific and vague, and ultimately do not provide medical professionals with any real insight on actual symptoms or conditions that are present in the patient.” While technology is evolving to allow patients to self-manage their chronic conditions and proactively manage and monitor their health, the devices currently available are delivering inaccurate readings of essential vitals.

Wearables 2.0: Realizing the promise of clinical grade self-management

Next generation clinical-grade medical wearables will help address the gap left by the current generation of health/fitness wearable devices. A national survey of 1,000 respondents found that 88 percent of consumers believe that working in partnership with their healthcare professional will help improve their overall health and 78 percent would be more inclined to use a personal monitoring device if it were clinically accurate and easy to use. Waqaas explains: “By incorporating medically relevant, clinical-grade data into wearable solutions, problems related to both accuracy and reliability are eliminated and the devices can be seamlessly integrated into the world of medicine.” Integrating medically relevant data with wearables could also drive patient compliance by granting patients more autonomy in the management of their health. Patients would be able to measure their improvements and proactively make necessary lifestyle choices between doctor’s visits, thereby improving their health outcomes and giving doctors the opportunity to quickly adjust treatment plans.

Waqaas’ article is available on HITECH Answers. HITECH Answers is a community network site dedicated to educating healthcare providers and other stakeholders on the CMS HER Incentive Program, Meaningful Use, HIPAA, and other Federal Health IT initiatives.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]