Healthtechis in the Healthcare IT Industry

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123 Stories To Learn About Healthtech

With the rising adoption of healthcare apps and wearable devices that gather medical data, the importance of data privacy for healthtech companies is greater than ever. Broadly defined, “ . While this includes applications from traditional healthcare providers, it also includes technology that handles healthcare data, like fitness apps, nutrition apps, or biometric wearables. This means that the companies behind these technologies — healthtech companies — often deal with . healthtech” is any technology that assists with someone’s healthcare protected health information (PHI) Healthtech companies greatly benefit consumers, but working in this space also means plenty of risks. For example, is a set of rules that governs how organizations use and protect the PHI of their patients and customers. HIPAA Companies that work with PHI must ensure they’re HIPAA-compliant, lest they face fines, lawsuits, or closures. However, HIPAA is only a starting point if you want to provide truly robust privacy protections for your customers. In this article, we’ll look at how your healthtech company can implement greater privacy safeguards by using a in your applications. We’ll also discuss why it’s important to exceed the bare minimum of what is required by law for PHI, as doing more for data privacy can actually win you customers and improve your healthtech products. data privacy vault But first, let’s lay the groundwork with a brief treatment of HIPAA and PHI. Understanding HIPAA Compliance and PHI HIPAA is the baseline of compliance for protecting patient health data. Commonly considered the legislation which codified medical data privacy in the United States, HIPAA represents the minimum bar for safeguarding PHI that any healthtech company must meet. Why PHI is Unique Financial data, such as a reissued credit card or an updated credit score can change, and we have standards, such as , to regulate the use of this data. Personally identifiable information (PII), such as a home address or a driver’s license number can also change. For handling PII, we have regulations like or . PCI GDPR CCPA However, PHI is a unique kind of data because the majority of PHI typically doesn’t change. For example, laboratory results or entries in a patient’s medical history are fixed. Because of this, HIPAA takes the protection of client health data very seriously. How PHI is defined One of the key ways that HIPAA protects patients in the US is by defining what sort of data is considered PHI. Essentially, PHI is any information that can be used to identify an individual and that is related to the following: That individual’s past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition The provision of healthcare to that individual Payment for the provision of healthcare to that individual That means that if someone’s name, contact information, photo, or ID number is attached to the health-related data point, it’s also considered PHI, and it needs to be kept safe. HIPAA rules apply to what the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) calls “ ” as well as . If you’re operating without HIPAA compliance, then you’re liable to face some serious penalties, including hefty fines, customer remediation costs, and even being added to a public list of breaches commonly referred to as the HIPAA . Covered Entities and Business Associates any health-related applications that deal with PHI So, if your business takes health data and ties it to any kind of identifier for a specific person, then it is very likely to be subject to HIPAA. Wall of Shame From the vantage point of simple compliance, it’s hard to overstate the importance of HIPAA for healthtech companies. How a Data Privacy Vault Protects PHI Fortunately, protecting your customers’ PHI data is possible. The HHS provides . Companies can detach health data from identifiers so that it can no longer be used to identify an individual. guidance on how to de-identify PHI However, the challenge for healthtech companies is ensuring that they’re doing this correctly. There’s no room for mistakes. If you try to “roll your own” solution, you take precious engineering resources from your core business needs, and you’ll lack the confidence that you’ve covered all your bases. Instead, many of today’s healthtech companies are looking to the architectural pattern. A data privacy vault — and specifically one that is designed to deal with healthcare data — allows you to securely store identifiers for customers in an isolated, encrypted data vault that’s from normal transactional data. This kind of enables you to de-identify health data, protecting both your customers and your business. By providing tokenization, masking, and redaction capabilities, a data privacy vault makes working with protected data much less risky. data privacy vault separate healthcare data privacy vault Now that we’ve discussed the risks of non-compliance and the solution for protecting customer PHI, the big question is this: Is it worth it? Instead of adopting tried-and-tested tools to secure your customer data fully, would it be acceptable just to assume some risk and hope for the best? Let’s consider this. Reducing the Risk (and Scope) of a Data Breach Perhaps your company is already up and running a data privacy vault, and you’ve implemented other mechanisms for protecting your customers’ PHI. without You may feel like you’ve already invested a lot and don’t want to sink more effort into something that feels like a net-neutral investment. But it’s important to realize that you can still end up on the HIPAA Wall of Shame with a breach that impacts even if you have basic protections in place. as few as 500 customers, Not only that, but the best repayment to your customers for their trust in you is building a more trustworthy system. While it may seem you’ve met HIPAA’s standards for de-identification of PHI, reducing even a small risk of a breach by introducing a data privacy vault can win even greater trust from your customers. Take a look at the above example architecture. Notice that only tokenized, masked, or redacted information would be passed between different parts of your systems, allowing you to exceed HIPAA requirements and keep you off the Wall of Shame. Building Customer Trust Building a privacy-centric system will do more than just keep you out of trouble. It can also be a great tool for driving customers to your business. By protecting customer data, you can actually make better use of it. Isolating customer PHI in a data privacy vault allows you to use that data in various workflows and extract valuable insights identifiable data. without compromising Choosing a good tool for managing PHI will also require you to establish various data governance policies and access controls. By specifying these operational pieces of your business, you can ensure your customers’ trust is well placed. Given the high demand for privacy in any consumer technology today— and especially in healthtech — prioritizing these policies and standards sets your company apart as a leader in privacy, differentiating your business from competitors. Conclusion If you still want to learn more about HIPAA compliance or how a data privacy vault can help you with other aspects of HIPAA, there’s out there for that. plenty of information Fortunately, with the great tools available on the market, building a secure solution for your healthtech business is completely possible and easy to start immediately. Protecting your customers from compromised PHI is serious business, so make sure to use the right tools to safeguard your customer health data. Also published here.

How a Data Privacy Vault Protects PHI for Healthtech Users

The growth and development of health technology Health technology, also known as HealthTech, is a rapidly growing field that combines technology and healthcare in order to improve patient outcomes and streamline the healthcare system. With advancements in technology, HealthTech has the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses. One major area of HealthTech that has seen significant growth in recent years is telemedicine. Telemedicine allows for remote consultations between patients and healthcare providers, which can greatly increase access to healthcare for individuals living in rural or underserved areas. Additionally, telemedicine can also be used to facilitate follow-up appointments and reduce the number of in-person visits necessary for patients with chronic conditions. This can be seen as one of the most notable areas of HealthTech and has been widely adopted during pandemics such as COVID-19. This is because telemedicine can help to reduce the spread of disease by limiting in-person contact, and also allows healthcare providers to continue seeing patients while physical clinics are closed. Studies have shown that the use of telemedicine can lead to improved patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction. Another important area of HealthTech is the development of wearable medical devices. These devices can include things like fitness trackers, smartwatches, and continuous glucose monitors. Wearable devices can provide patients with real-time data about their health, which can be used to monitor chronic conditions and make adjustments to treatment plans as needed. Additionally, these devices can also be used to track physical activity and sleep patterns, which can be used to improve overall health and wellness. Studies have found that the use of wearable medical devices can lead to improved self-management of chronic conditions, as well as increased engagement in physical activity and improved sleep quality. HealthTech also includes the use of electronic health records (EHRs) in hospitals and clinics. Electronic health records allow for the efficient storage, retrieval, and sharing of patient medical information, which can greatly improve the coordination of care and reduce the risk of medical errors. Additionally, EHRs can also be used to track patient outcomes and conduct population health research. The use of EHRs is widespread in developed countries, as it was a critical aspect of the digitization of healthcare. Another important area of HealthTech is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. AI can be used to analyze large amounts of medical data, identify patterns and trends, and make predictions about future health outcomes. This can be used to improve the accuracy of diagnostic tools, optimize treatment plans, and identify individuals at high risk for certain conditions. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can be used to provide patients with personalized health information and support. Finally, HealthTech also includes the use of blockchain technology in healthcare. Blockchain is a decentralized and secure digital ledger that can be used to store and share medical data. Blockchain can be used to improve data security and interoperability, and can also be used to support the use of telemedicine and other remote care models. Addressing the Challenges of HealthTech Advancements However, while HealthTech has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, there are also some challenges that must be addressed. One major challenge is the issue of data privacy and security. With the increasing use of electronic health records and other digital tools, the risk of data breaches and hacking is also on the rise. Additionally, the integration of technology into healthcare can also create new ethical issues, such as questions about who owns and controls patient data. Another challenge with HealthTech is ensuring that it is accessible to everyone, particularly those in underserved communities. This can include issues of cost and availability, as well as digital literacy and access to devices and the Internet. Despite these challenges, it is clear that HealthTech is poised to play an increasingly important role in healthcare in the coming years. As technology continues to advance, it will enable us to deliver more effective, efficient, and personalized care to patients around the world. By leveraging the power of technology, we can improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities and help to create a healthier future for all. Final thoughts Despite these concerns, HealthTech is expected to continue to play an increasingly important role in healthcare in the future. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global HealthTech market is expected to reach $558.2 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.4% during the forecast period. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that HealthTech will become an even more integral part of healthcare, providing greater access, improved outcomes, and better care for patients. Sources "Digital Health Market by Component (Software, Services), Application (Telemedicine, mHealth, Remote Patient Monitoring, EHR), Type of Deployment, End User (Patients, Providers, Payers), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026" MarketsandMarkets "AI in healthcare: past, present and future" by Peter D. Bossaerts and Su-In Lee, Nature Machine Intelligence, Volume 2, pages 464–476, 2020 "Health Information Technology and the Changing Face of Healthcare" By M. Eric Johnson, Harvard Business Review.

HealthTech: Revolutionizing Healthcare through Technology

Tito Ovia is a health tech entrepreneur and public health professional who is driven to improve healthcare quality in Africa. She is the co-founder/Head of the Public Sector Growth of Helium Health, a Nigeria-based health tech company that is building the technology infrastructure driving African healthcare. Tito led the Helium Health team in a landmark partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Government of Nigeria to digitize the hospital processes across the state-run hospitals. She is a recipient of the 2019 Forbes ‘30 under 30’ Healthcare entrepreneur award. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Manchester. In this episode, we learn all about Tito's journey to date - growing up in an affluent family, how her plan to study Medicine doesn’t work out, how she meets her co-founders and starts Helium Health, what her Dad thought about the idea then, their bigs wins, challenges and lessons. This interview is the perfect way to start a new season of Founder’s Connect. It is chill, fun and is full of lessons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZhxIMFnxb8 Tito describes herself with 5 words 02:10 Why Tito moved back to Nigeria? 8:20 How did Helium Health start? 12:25 Challenges faced while building Helium? 16:45 What is the reason behind Helium being one of the biggest Healthtech? 20:20 All about her VC firm - Magic Fund 32:29 How much is the check size that Magic fund offers to founders? 33:59 What she wishes she knew at 21 35:00 Tito's favourite food and favourite city 36:42 What she can be caught doing when she isn't working 37:56 Tito's advice to Women in Tech 38:20

#FoundersConnect with Tito Ovia, Cofounder of Helium Health (#1 Health-Tech Provider in Africa)

Most of us in the industry understand that there’s a gap between technology and medicine — a variety of programming languages, unclear expectations, interoperability challenges, and misconceptions about the role of IT in healthcare. Working with an effective healthtech partner helps bridge that gap. Top-notch healthtech organizations have the skills, innovative ideas, and industry expertise to help you achieve your business goals. However, finding the right partner to align your company with can be a challenge. Many executives begin their search through an RFP, which has become the industry standard approach. But in our opinion, it’s not necessarily the most useful or most efficient option. We’ve aggregated our best advice and insights for evaluating healthcare software development companies. We hope it offers some helpful tips for finding a long-lasting, collaborative partner who can ultimately be as impactful as possible on your business outcomes. 1 – Define your partnership goals internally Before assessing external partnership opportunities, start by defining the needs and pain points of the companies, patients, communities, or customers you serve. Prepare a checklist of requirements including points such as: Service scalability and access-from-anywhere option Patient connectivity practices and cross-platform features Secure patient data governance and exchange Authorized-only access Data encryption in case of cyberattacks Compliance with industry-standard frameworks (e.g. HIPAA, SOC2, HITRUST) Activity log HTTPS+SSL data protection (consider adopting ) NIST framework Finally, be sure to consider how the product will impact your business model and ROI. Many healthcare products look promising when ideating them, yet there are always risks to consider. 2 – Leverage strong tech expertise Start your search process by simply reviewing a prospective partner’s background, e.g.i.e. testimonials, past projects, and current partnerships. Next up, consider the specific (but unique) skills needed to match your organization’s ongoing goals. If you’re still defining your needs or comparing different technologies, take advantage of a free consultation with one of our experts. 3 – Encourage an innovative mindset At Newfire we believe that innovation is not an effort - it’s a mindset. Look for a partner who doesn’t just deliver a product by checking boxes. Get comfortable allowing your partner to think outside the box. It may sound unconventional, but it’s possible to capitalize on your partner’s non-healthcare expertise too. While healthcare is a complex industry, medical software products often benefit from concepts taken from other markets. For example, Lubrizol is a $7B company most people know from its oil and fuel business. But in recent years they’ve focused primarily on pharmaceutical and medical device innovation. In short, engage with a partner with who you can work side-by-side to disrupt the market as it continuously evolves. “When we proposed an idea or a solution, our Newfire team would sometimes push back and say: ‘I don’t think that’s the right approach. Here’s what we could do instead.’ This type of collaboration helped us be held accountable and get things done.” –Bill Olsen, CTO @ UptimeHealth 4 – Rely on industry-specific quality assurance A reliable and effective partner will encourage comprehensive user testing to ensure the quality of your product. After a few rounds of high-load user testing, you'll gain insights about how your product is used by real patients in various scenarios. That's how you'll build software that really works. 5 – Prioritize the long haul Technology is constantly evolving, especially with health data interoperability. We suggest finding a partner that consistently stays current with changes in the IT industry. Having access to distributed talent can ensure that you're able to work on a technical task of any complexity. A good partner anticipates roadblocks and unforeseen issues as early as the planning stages and far beyond. Organizations aimed at customer success craft their strategic outlook months and years in advance, with an IT partnership often considered priority. Be sure to discuss the support and advisory structures your partner has in place. A flexible and future-conscious IT partner is an invaluable ally. 6 – Connect the dots between healthcare and software The most effective partner will connect the dots between healthcare and software. Look for a partner who understands and respects your product development processes, while also helping your team plug into theirs. This is how a solid partner helps to bridge the gap! 7 – Focus on fit – cultural and ethical We all want coworkers who share our values and work ethic. The same holds true with your partners. Ineffective communication and conflicting values ultimately affect product quality. Here are a few ways to evaluate cultural fit: Communication style – are they effective or just wasting meeting time? Do they maintain a problem-solving mindset or are they just “yes-people?” How proactive are they to understand and implement your ideas? While interviewing a tech lead, offer an example problem/issue and see how they plan to tackle it. A solid action plan (backed by expertise), eagerness to problem solve, and clear, concise communication are the keystones of the team you need. Final Thoughts Choosing a partner for your healthcare product development is often a time-consuming process. But we don’t think it has to be. Although bridging the gap is important, consider finding a partner that mirrors your organization’s values, ethics, and working style. Blending their vast expertise with your specific experience and long-term goals will set your organization on the path to success. Source: https://www.newfireglobal.com/learn/tips-for-choosing-healthtech-partner/

7 Tips for Evaluating Healthtech Software Development Companies

A long time ago our gadgets learned to monitor our health and give a signal about a problem if there is any. Synchronization of gadget signals and data on patients’ physical history is our immediate future that is intended to simplify the diagnostics and monitoring of changes in the condition of clinics’ care recipients. Currently, many clinics are not only unable to get information from the patient’s gadgets but also have information systems of doubtful suitability for use in the near future. No need to reinvent the wheel An owner of a private clinic aiming to fuze the bases of two healthcare information systems (HIS) into one contacted us. Two institutions using different systems for patient accounting and data processing were to be merged. Each clinic had developed its system on its own account over 7 years ago. The leadership of the new fuzed medical center was content with both systems, and it was up to us to decide which one to eliminate. Our main goal was to save the most valuable data. For business it was the client base, for doctors, it was the history of the patients’ visits and treatment. The two programs were very similar in terms of functionality, but under the hood, in the bases, there was nothing in common. We decided not to reinvent the wheel on the basis of two old ones but to put everything into a new base to which we adapted one of the two reception desks. We based it upon the existing and actively developing HL7 FHIR standard of medical information processing. In favor of it, we can count the fact that Apple Inc. creates its healthcare apps with FHIR and Microsoft also offers integration with its services through FHIR. FHIR for clinical data HL7 is a standard for the exchange, management, and integration of electronic medical information. Its development was started in the USA as early as in 1987 by Health Level Seven nonprofit organization. The word “seven” in its name is a reference to the seventh level of the open system interconnection reference model. The standard has had three versions, and the FHIR standard (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard) is a brand new version developed from scratch with due account for the current level of information technologies. The essence of the standard is that it describes the formats of medical data and all the necessary things that can happen to the data. The clinic leadership is fully aware that for now they just saved the client base and important medical information, compartmentalizing everything like in a medicine store. But even the simple HIS meeting the standard is enough to make headway. If you want to move to another system — you are welcome, the standard allows it. If you want mobile applications and data from gadgets — we will check the API and plug everything in. If you want interaction with a lab, HL7 FHIR has everything you need for that. Gaining insight on HIS Having delivered the work we contemplated the fact that our client was not the only case. How compatible are the healthcare information systems currently present in the market? Are they capable of giving away their data and receive data from others, is this data hard to access because of the too tight grip of the HIS? We made a list of 52 companies that offer developments to Russian clinics and asked them whether their products employed the HL7 standard. 10 companies confirmed the presence of the standard, and 14 acknowledged its absence. Two companies remarked with regret that the standard had not been implemented and told us they were going to start moving in that direction next year. One company replied: “Most likely, it is not used”, the other one said: “Our system has not undergone HL7 FHIR certification”. The rest of the companies did not answer our question. Moreover, quite a number of those latter companies had rather fresh-looking websites making the impression that the companies were working. We can make only a superficial assessment of the number of clinics working with HIS that do not employ the information exchange standards. As judged by advertisements of software companies on their websites, there are hundreds of such institutions all over the country. What is in store for HIS users In all likelihood, currently, private clinics do not create mass demand for information exchange between different systems, and the institutions use what they have; and, therefore, little attention is paid to data interchange standards in healthcare. In many countries unified healthcare information systems are created, into which Healthcare Standards Integration standards are integrated. Interaction with the standards is likely to become mandatory for clinics. Developers are often recommended to stick to HL7. The development and launch of those systems will take place in the years to come. If then the doctor says “Sorry, I do not have access to your electronic card”, it is likely to become a total fiasco for private clinics. Probably, large HIS developers will rewrite their products and provide their users with new versions thereof compatible with health data exchange applications. Clinics that developed their own HIS will have to look for development teams. When the need becomes urgent, the satisfaction will be pricy. We believe that clinic owners should take the efforts made by the developers towards open source FHIR implementations into consideration and think about steps to make in the years to come. We at Evrone are ready to help to make steps in the right direction. . Previously published at https://evrone.com/hl7-fhir. The author of the story is the Chief Editor at Evrone

WTF are HL7 FHIR standards and How Do They Impact HealthTech?

As the saying goes, it’s impossible to put a price on your health. While that sentiment may ring true for many people, the price of our health is actually discrete — and rather high. In 2017, U.S. healthcare spending reached $3.5 trillion. That’s approximately $10,739 per person according to the . That figure represents 17.9% of the United States’ gross domestic product (GDP), and has remained relatively consistent over the past decade. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services While in some ways that number represents a burden, in others it represents an incredible opportunity for growth. In the near future, every part of healthcare will be digitized. In the same way that the term “mobile phone” is just becoming “phone”, the term “digital healthcare” will become just “healthcare”. Everything within both the administration and delivery of healthcare is ripe for disruption through the use of new digital technologies. Savvy innovators and investors alike have an unmatched opportunity to partake in this revolution. Here’s where they should focus their energy if they want to succeed. Embrace the shift from fee-for-service to pay-for-value For far too long, the fee-for-service model has reigned supreme in healthcare. Cutting time or costs would also cut reimbursement revenue, so there was little reason for providers to do either. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — no matter how you feel about its politics — has put that approach to the test. By initiating value-based payment programs where providers are paid for their outputs instead of their inputs, the ACA incentivizes healthcare providers to seek out a more efficient, market-based way of doing business. Now that reducing the costs of inputs benefits providers directly, the market is wide-open for innovation. It will still take time for pay-for-value to become the norm across the board -- and the current political climate has slowed certain investments and initiatives -- but startups with any degree of foresight can already see the writing on the wall. This shift creates the biggest opportunity for innovation since the creation of Medicare. Explore opportunities to capitalize on a digital payment system Right now, healthcare payments are time-consuming and tedious. As the general public embraces PayPal, Venmo and Stripe, healthcare is still bogged down in outdated models where providers first collect from the insurance company and then bill the patient for any remaining costs. It can take months for the provider to finally collect their full fee, and the majority of consumers are still receiving paper statements and paying them with paper checks like it’s still 1995. Changing the way payments work is not only a critical step towards bringing healthcare in line with modern practices, but also an important metaphor for the idea that healthcare is indeed a business and can benefit all parties by acting like one. The technology to implement a digital payment system already exists, and is already optimized for healthcare. , for example, is a modern billing service that sends patients a text letting them know how much they owe and offering them the chance to easily pay their bill using a card already on file, and then integrates the data back into the necessary healthcare billing systems to record the collection. Customers appreciate the simplicity, and providers benefit from minimizing paperwork and reducing delays in getting paid. SwervePay Utilize existing technology from outside the healthcare realm One of the simplest and most effective ways to improve healthcare is to use tools and technologies that have already been commercialized outside the healthcare realm. Machine learning (ML), for example, is transforming diverse industries across the globe, and healthcare could be next. For example, is figuring out how using AI and machine vision algorithms to take imaging data — like MRIs and PET scans — and help radiologists and oncologists digitize, standardize and quantify what shows up in the images. HealthMyne Another category of technology that can be easily tweaked for healthcare applications is wearables and sensors. Thanks to common products like the Apple Watch and FitBit, the hardware for wearable health trackers is already quite powerful. If hardware costs continue to come down, there will be a huge opportunity to create value not only by adjusting the hardware to be used for medical purposes, but also by developing software that can pull and interpret the resulting data. Companies like are already helping to organize large streams of data in ways that can help doctors make critical health decisions. PhysIQ Pursue innovations that can bolster adjacent healthcare industries It’s not just doctors who benefit from healthtech innovation. Adjacent industries including pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies can also reap rewards. , for example, makes video games that help doctors learn about new drugs and medical devices. Highly realistic and medically accurate, the company has successfully reached a wide audience of medical professionals: 40% of all U.S. neurologists, 30% of general surgeons, and two-thirds of all U.S. medical students use Level Ex, and pharmaceutical and device companies pay a fee to access that wide audience. Level Ex The company’s success serves an important reminder that tech innovators should think about ways to streamline and improve operations for all industry players, not only direct providers. Get the word out and demonstrate value The technology needed to make healthcare more efficient already exists. Now, it’s up to startups to creatively apply those technologies. It’s also on the shoulders of startups to get the word out about how their products can add value for healthcare industry stakeholders. In an industry that has long been resistant to change, effective marketing will be critical. With innovation, investment, and time, the healthcare industry could look very different in a decade. The healthtech revolution is just beginning.

How to Take Part in the HealthTech Revolution

In 1903 Henry Ford’s lawyer was told by the President of the Michigan savings bank not to invest in the Ford Motor company, saying that “the horse is here to stay, but the automobile is a novelty, a fad”. History is littered with now comically wrong predictions. This is particularly true in the World of technology. From Western Unions prediction that the telephone had too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication” to Darryl Zanuck’s 1964 prediction that TV would last six months because people would get tired of staring at a box every night. Numerous articles are published every year predicting the trends that will change healthcare in a particular period of time. One of the things I enjoy doing is reading back on such articles a number of years after they were published to see how accurate they were . On January 1st 2012 Tech Crunch published an article entitled ‘ ’. Coming up to six years since that article was written, I cannot help but ask myself the question; how accurate were the predictions and how far have these trends changed healthcare in these interceding six years? 6 Big Health Tech Ideas that will change medicine in 2012 Trend No 1 : Artificial Intelligence The first trend listed was that of Artificial Intelligence. The article predicts that AI will ‘assist with diagnostics and decision support for both patients and clinicians’. This prediction largely proved to be correct, as diagnostics is the area in which AI has made huge advancements in the field of healthcare. Examples of this include DataArt’s professional assistant for developed for Kehmesoft and IBM’s Watson computer in use in New York. Both systems utilize an increasingly common methodology of comparing symptoms to a huge database of previous cases to provide a potential diagnosis. The system may not go as far as the author predicted, as they only really provide a second opinion to aid doctors as opposed to making a concrete full proof diagnosis autonomously. The one area predicted was that it wold disintermediate areas like dermatology. We are still not quite there. The increasing number of high street mole clinics opening up still rely on photograph technology, although this is now well advanced, that is reviewed by an expert that puts forward a professional opinion. The predicated disintermediation of such areas is still surely a long way off. Trend No 2 : TeleHealth One area the article was completely correct on was the way in which we will communicate with doctors, postulating telehealth as the future. This has received the ultimate endorsement by the recent introduction of GP at hand by the NHS. This service offers patients the chance to see a free NHS GP within two hours via a phone video chat. In the private healthcare space similar concepts are flourishing, particularly push doctor and Now Health Care group and i-GP. What perhaps was not predicted by the article was that telehealth would increase in a number of healthcare fields from counseling to speech therapy. Examples include DotCom therapy, which is completely revolutionizing speech therapy, providing access to people in remote areas would otherwise have to travel for hours to access such services. Trend No 3 : Mobile Apps The article insisted that Mobile phones would be increasingly used to track medical metrics. The examples for this are almost endless. Organisations are dedicating much energy into the development of such tools. DataArt has focused very heavily on such technology, particularly in the development and technology arm of its business, Orange. This includes a system known as heartbeat rate, which uses video processing algorithms to measure heart rate without physical contact. It does so by using the camera on a mobile phone to detect the red pixels on a user’s face to disseminate blood pressure rate. The predicted use of big data has flourished not just in healthcare but in almost every sector, particularly in the field of diagnostics as already discussed. The predicted increase in social network based around heath have also materialized, with a social network available for almost every medical condition one could think of. Trend No 3 : 3D Medical Orienting Considering this article was written six years ago, which is a remarkably long time in the technology space, the predictions made have largely come to pass. The only area that was perhaps far off was the area of 3D medical orienting, which the article postulated would be a fair bit further ahead than it is now. While some of the predictions may not be as far forward as predicted, such as the disintermediation of certain medical fields, this is a generally impressive attempt at future prediction, and it will be interesting to see if the predictions that have not yet come to pass will have done so by the time the tenth anniversary of the publication appears. Such articles are far more than time fillers but in many ways a time capsule, not featuring physical markers of time such as coins and postage stamp, but something far more interesting, human thought. By Julie Pelta,Director of Business Development, DataArt Originally published at www.healthcare.digital on September 26, 2017.

Looking Back at HealthTech Predictions in 2012 : How Accurate Were They?

Ian Brady, founder and CEO of , is a standout figure in the tech world, known for his unique blend of innovation and strategic insight. A Stanford alumnus who has taught at its esteemed Design School, Brady's journey is marked by an innate talent for devising novel solutions to complex problems. His journey began with co-founding the fintech giant SoFi, where he reshaped personal finance, and has since taken impressive strides into the realm of health tech with Hologram Sciences. Brady's career is characterized not by mere adaptation to change but by his ability to actively forge new paths at the intersection of complex consumer needs and emerging technology. Hologram Sciences Under Brady's co-founding vision, emerged as a beacon of success in the fintech sector, revolutionizing how personal finance is approached. The company made a name for itself in a crowded market by offering innovative, user-friendly solutions, especially in student loan refinancing. SoFi excelled in simplifying complex financial processes, making them accessible to the masses. This approach not only built a loyal customer base but also set new industry benchmarks. Brady’s role in SoFi's rise to fame underscored his profound understanding of consumer needs and his ability to fulfill them with elegant technological solutions – a skill he seamlessly transitioned into his subsequent ventures. SoFi The inception of Hologram Sciences was sparked by a deeply personal experience in Brady's life. When faced with the challenges of his wife's gestational diabetes diagnosis, Brady saw a significant gap in the care she received. Such a pervasive condition required her to change every aspect of her daily eating habits, but all she got from her doctor was a sheet of paper outlining what she couldn’t eat. It was a moment of realization – health care demanded the kind of personalization and ongoing, daily support that only tech could provide. This led Brady to found , a digital platform focused on personalized nutrition. AVA seamlessly integrates inputs from wearables, diagnostics, and lifestyle questionnaires, then applies a series of customizable algorithms to generate individualized nutrition recommendations tailored to each user’s unique health profile. To make healthy eating even more convenient, AVA integrates with online grocery platforms like Instacart and Amazon Fresh, facilitating turnkey meal plans based on its recommendations. Another key feature of AVA is its Uber-like platform for nutrition, offering real-time access to Registered Dietitians. This capability not only makes dietary consultation highly efficient but also remarkably scalable, allowing personalized nutrition to reach a broader audience effectively. AVA AVA's success and potential as a model for broader health tech innovation did not go unnoticed. Dsm-firmenich acquired AVA in 2019 and, recognizing its broader applications, spun out Hologram Sciences with a substantial $100 million investment. Under Brady's stewardship, Hologram Sciences has emerged as a company at the intersection of health diagnostics, personalized nutrition, and advanced technology. Responding to the increasing demand for personalized health solutions, Brady has strategically positioned Hologram Sciences at the forefront of nutritional wellness innovation. The integration of the AVA platform into their services exemplifies Hologram Sciences’ ability to provide customizable, science-based health solutions. Using sophisticated data analysis, AVA discerns individual behavior and wellness patterns, offering adaptive nutritional guidance and live coaching. Its deployment in the US and Europe showcases the company’s commitment to innovation and user-focused health technologies. "Innovation isn't just about having a groundbreaking idea; it’s about creating the right environment where that idea can flourish. Throughout my career, I've found that the key to growing successful companies lies in the ability to bring together the right people at the right time. I’m a business designer. At Hologram Sciences, for instance, we've seen extraordinary results by combining the expertise of clinical dietitians with AI specialists. This fusion of seemingly disparate worlds is what drives us forward. It’s not just about the individual brilliance of any single specialist, but about how their combined perspectives create solutions that are more than the sum of their parts. This synergy is the cornerstone of our success and a principle I deeply believe in. It’s about crafting a team that’s as diverse and multifaceted as the challenges we aim to solve.” At his core, Brady is a designer. He’s attracted to hard problems that may seem intractable in individuals’ daily lives, and he relishes the creative process of solving them.  His career is characterized by a steadfast commitment to integrating sophisticated technology into practical, everyday solutions, establishing him as a source of inspiration within the technology community. Across the diverse sectors of finance and health, he’s proven his knack for making sophisticated, tech-driven solutions available and effective for a wide audience. Brady will be leading conversations with other health tech innovators at the prestigious 42nd Annual . His presence at this significant event underscores Hologram Sciences’ role as an industry leader in leveraging technology to address critical health challenges and improve patient outcomes. J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference His mission at Hologram Sciences extends beyond using technology as a mere tool; it embodies a commitment to genuinely impact people's lives through innovative health solutions. His vision is not only transforming the landscape of personalized nutrition and healthcare but also ensuring that these advanced health solutions are accessible to everyone in need, thus continuing to drive technological advancements in the health sector. As Brady leads Hologram Sciences into the future, his endeavors are sure to define a new era of health and wellness tailored to individual needs.

Future of Health: Hologram Sciences’ Ian Brady's Leading Role in Gen AI and Precision Nutrition

AI has been slaying it in almost every sector. Healthcare is benefitting a lot from voice based . But this doesn’t mean we can trust them blindly. LLMs and ML Google DeepMind an AI program named AlphaMissense, which predicts the harm a missense mutation can do, when a single DNA letter is altered. The tool, which leverages data from 71 million single-letter mutations affecting human proteins, uses machine learning to “understand” the language of proteins, helping it score the risk level of genetic changes. created What AI is doing in synthetic biology is nothing short of revolutionary. Using AI, scientists are to create new unseen proteins like coding software. We can expect groundbreaking changes in not only medicine, but also in sectors like agriculture, energy, and climate. now programming cells Also, recently, researchers from Edith Cowan University software that quickly scans bone density scans to detect abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), which is a predictor of cardiovascular events and other health risks. The software processed images with 80% accuracy and could revolutionize early disease detection during routine clinical practice. developed In August, a ML model to identify autism spectrum disorder with 95% accuracy. While Stanford Medicine developed an algorithm that reviews images to determine a brain tumour’s aggressiveness, its genetic makeup, and effectiveness of surgery. “It’s sort of a decision support system for the physicians,” one researcher says. international researchers trained Also, Scientists at the Osaka Metropolitan University an AI model that accurately identifies cardiac functions and valvular heart diseases using chest radiographs. The research could supplement traditional echocardiography, improve diagnostic efficiency, and be especially useful in settings lacking specialized technicians. developed Startups in are also upping their game with AI. London-based Ultromics its AI to detect a heart condition that human eyes can often not detect. In July, physician-entrepreneurs at Israel’s started training AI to diagnose cardiac disease on a simple tablet, where the doctors don’t have to be heart experts. With a handheld scanner and tablet, non-cardiologists get a full diagnostic on 8 key heart readings. With its training data, the AI platform already has more experience than any living cardiologist, the physicians say. HealthTech trained Sheba Medical Center In September, , an Indian AI-powered grocery scoring and recommendation platform, tied up with, (Microbiome Research Pvt Ltd), a research platform in the field of gut microbiome and, , a diagnostics startup. With a shared commitment to preventive healthcare, the trio seeks to empower individuals with individualised in-depth diagnostics and convert that information into actionable real-time intelligence. Xume Microbiome.in TruDiagno This can help individuals to make informed choices based on the state of one’s gut microbiome and key diagnostic markers. Microbiome.in is the only private lab with an in-house Illumina and Nanopore (portable) Sequencer enabling unparalleled research on the role of gut microbiome, while TruDiagno adds advanced molecular diagnostic capabilities to the mix. Imagine the power of understanding our microbiome and diagnostic markers to drive actionable intelligence; where the answer is not giving up our favourite foods but simply making better choices based on what our gut and body are telling us Akshaye Jalan, Founder & CEO, Xume “We’re all unique, so how can a generic solution mired in restriction be the answer to good health? Imagine the power of understanding our microbiome and diagnostic markers to drive actionable intelligence; where the answer is not giving up our favourite foods but simply making better choices based on what our gut and body are telling us. This is the future of health and wellness and what our partnership with Microbiome.in and TruDiagno endeavours to do.” said Akshaye Jalan, Founder & CEO, Xume. In September, Oracle introduced voice-activated AI to hospitals, which will help doctors and clinicians to automate medical note-taking, order medications and view lab reviews while also more easily reviewing a patient’s medical record. This is not about going from 10 clicks to seven clicks or six clicks to five clicks. This is about completely eliminating clicks, where we can and where it makes sense. That is not a tomorrow or that’s years away. That is a tomorrow that’s here Mike Sicilia, executive vice president, industries at Oracle “We’ve completely rethought how long it takes somebody to get their job done using the system. I think that we are on the verge of completely eliminating ‘pajama time’ as a result. This is not about going from 10 clicks to seven clicks or six clicks to five clicks. This is about completely eliminating clicks, where we can and where it makes sense. That is not a tomorrow or that’s years away. That is a tomorrow that’s here,” Mike Sicilia, executive vice president, industries at Oracle told the audience at the . Oracle Health Conference But does this mean AI is your next doctor instead of a human? All the above instances are brilliant examples of AI helping humankind become better at healthcare, but they’re also being done under supervision of experts, who are human. The general online population has been turning to Dr. Google even before the Red Hot Chilli Peppers wrote . But there’s a new doctor in town, Dr. ChatGPT. , “the most recent version of ChatGPT made zero “grossly inaccurate” statements when presented with a standard set of eye complaints.” Californication According to NPR However, questions still remain about how to fit in LLMs into healthcare with similar safeguards that are applied when introducing new drugs or medical devices. This article was originally published by in Navanwita Bora Sachdev The Tech Panda.

Dr. ChatGPT vs. Dr. Google: An Assessment of AI Medical Advice

254 Stories To Learn About Healthcare

207 Stories To Learn About Health

90 Stories To Learn About Healthcare Tech

Let's learn about via these 45 free stories. They are ordered by most time reading created on HackerNoon. Visit the to find the most read stories about any technology. Digital Health /Learn Repo 1. As Healthcare App Popularity Rises, Organizations Need to Focus on New Software One in five Americans controls their health with the help of fitness trackers or apps. During the first two quarters of 2020, there were over 1.2 billion downloads of health and fitness apps. These facts indicate that people are interested in platforms that will allow them to track vital signs, control nutrition, and remotely communicate with doctors. Before starting a healthcare software project, a medical facility should decide what type of medical platform its target audience needs. Let’s take a look at the most popular apps and options for their use. 2. AI, Blockchain, and Healthcare: The Three Musketeers Combining AI, Blockchain, with Healthcare may help solve some of the most challenging problems in the health sector today. 3. Healthcare, NFTs, and the Blockchain Can blockchain and NFTs solve long-standing problems in our healthcare industry? 4. Hacking the Future of Healthcare: Telehealth and Telemedicine A look at how telemedicine and telehealth are the future of healthcare. 5. Nanomachines: The Game Changer in Pervasive Healthcare Biological nanomachines are nano-sized tools used for the monitoring, diagnostic, and treatment of disease at the molecular scale. 6. A Guide to HIPAA Compliance in 2021 & Its Benefits Following HIPAA laws provides a higher level of safety for your corporation and its leaders. 7. The Top 6 Healthcare Software Development Companies With the Best Ratings Discover some of the top healthcare software development companies to work with and understand the crucial factors to consider when choosing the right one. 8. Can Digital Therapeutics Help in Times of Coronavirus Crisis? Medicine is taking a turn from physical to digital - by 2025, the digital therapeutics market is projected to hit $7.8 billion. The uses of digital therapeutics range wildly from alleviating symptoms of physiological and neurobehavioral symptoms to therapeutic interventions driven by software and tech to therapies to improve outcomes when combined with regular treatments. They also offer new options to those who have otherwise unmet needs, and can help reduce reliance on medication. Digital therapeutics can also be used in the treatment of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, central nervous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal problems. 9. "I don't want anyone to go through what I went through" - with I-Ally Founder Lucinda Koza Interview with I-Ally Founder Lucinda Koza where reveals she wants to save millennial family caregivers from a broken system 10. The Lessons of Covid-19 for a Digital Decade As we struggle with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are also learning some valuable lessons, and not only about how to handle an outbreak on this scale. We can also learn from the ‘success’ of the virus to build a new economic model that is robust enough to withstand another crisis, as well as creating a dynamic digital finance system to carry us through into the next decade and beyond. 11. Healthcare Technology Trends Accelerated By COVID-19 in 2021 Thanks to these healthcare technology trends, our medical infrastructures are evolving to fight pandemic-level viruses in the most efficient manner possible. 12. The Rapid Acceleration of Digital Health [infographic] The embracement of technology is a two-sided process and doctors need patient support in order to completely change. 13. What Do You Know About IoMT -  Internet of Medical Things: A Slogging Thread This Slack discussion by Sadia Mehmood, BitcoinPetar, Rianke Krugel, anthony watson and Utsav Jaiswal occurred in slogging's official #introductions channel, and has been edited for readability. 14. IIoT in the Healthcare Industry Can Free Up Hospital Beds The applications of IIoT in healthcare can be much more than smart sensors and smart hospitals. IIoT can help healthcare institutions in providing personalized. 15. Blockchain Technology Improves Data Authentication and Transparency in Healthcare Blockchain is the secret to trusting the data as it moves into our healthcare ecosystem. 16. How Telemedicine Serves Nursing Home Needs [Infographic] Telehealth has made the quality of care better for nursing home residents.  Learn more about how the digital health transformation is changing the game. 17. How to Avoid Being Negatively Affected By Doomsurfing Social media algorithms often show material that makes us anxious, angry, or sad because it keeps us engaged and clicking - this is known as doomsurfing. 18. HealthTech: Revolutionizing Healthcare through Technology Explore how HealthTech is revolutionizing the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses. From telemedicine to AI, learn how technology is improving patient. 19. 10 Emerging Technology Trends in Healthcare for 2023 and Beyond Want to know what healthcare technology trends will emerge in 2023 and beyond? Read on for the trends that healthcare providers and organizations will look for. 20. How Digital Health Platforms Should Secure Patient Data Now the CURES Act is Live Now that Americans theoretically have instant access to their medical records, digital health platforms must ensure they secure this data. 21. Scripps Health's System Continuously Plagues After The Weekend Cyberattack Scripps Health’s computer systems faced a ransomware attack this weekend and systems continue to plague the healthcare systems in San Diego. 22. Have You Heard? AI Can Edit Genes Now Artificial intelligence and healthcare have long been friends. That friendship has grown to include even gene-editing thanks to AI helping with CRISPR errors. 23. AI In Healthcare: A Viably Disruptive Force, Or A Pipe Dream? Read this article to learn more about AI potential in the healthcare industry. 24. An Intro to MedPaLM: ChatGPT's Healthcare-Focused "Cousin" ChatGPT for healthcare? Learn everything you need to know about MedPaLM, a new LLM developed by Google specifically for medical and clinical applications. 25. Discussing The Applications of AI Chatbots in Healthcare at the World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is mostly known for its highly anticipated annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland — a scene of global intrigue and a convergence point for the planet’s most influential politicians, investors, activists, CEOs, and economists. 26. The Mixed Blessings of Technology for Mental Health Mental health technology is a subject of controversy. This post tends to assess the existing potential of new healthcare tech for mental health treatment, 27. A Look at the Nursing Homes of the Future [Infographic] An infographic on the future of tech and empathy that will fuel the senior care and nursing home space. 28. New Book Release For Self-Assessing Your Digital Habits Raising awareness around digital health as the world moves back to life beyond the screen 29. 7 Tips for Evaluating Healthtech Software Development Companies In this article, we’ve aggregated our best advice and insights for evaluating healthcare software development companies. 30. 5 Most Important Directions In Which Tech Industry Develops In 2021 Stay competitive within the COVID-19 landscape. Take a look at our findings on what trends will shape the IT industry in 2021. 31. A Brief Intro to 8 Ways AI Could Improve Patient Care How much data does a hospital produce each day? How much information are they capable of storing, analyzing, and sharing with physicians and patients? 32. Eye Strain Headaches: What To Do When Your Eyes and Your Head Hurt Do you suffer from headaches with pain behind and around your eyes? That's called an eyestrain headache; you can find out how to prevent them in this article. 33. Healthcare Marketing Tips in 2021 We recommend tools, approaches, and methodologies to build a competitive marketing strategy to make people fall in love with your digital health solution. 34. 6 Tips To Relieve Eye Strain You Stare At A Screen All Day Does your eyes get dry or watery while staring at a screen? Or do you experience headaches when looking at a screen? Do you feel itchiness on your eyes? 35. Is Your Technology Addiction Taking Over Life and Your Mental Wellbeing? In this article, we’ll be diving deeper into the Relevance and Risk of Smartphone and Technology Addiction in the times we live in today — during COVID-19. 36. Wearable Devices Let Patients Take the Lead on their Health Journey As the digital health wagon moves on, patients are starting to take the lead thanks to health wearables, better communication with doctors and new technology. 37. How Much Technology Is Too Much for You? 7 Tips to Help You Decide The use of technology has become an integral part of modern life. While it can have both positive and negative effects. So how much is too much? 38. The 7 Scopes of Wellness and 21 Apps to Help You Attain Them These times are hard and achieving good health may seem difficult, but it is possible to achieve your wellness goals. Find out more about wellness here. 39. The Apple Watch’s Blood Oxygen Feature Faces Racial Bias Accusations A group of people from New York filed a lawsuit with claims that the Apple Watch's blood oxygen feature doesn’t work correctly for people with darker skin. 40. BetterHelp, Cyberblade, YouTube, and Prayer Saved Me from a Panic Attack My first-ever panic attack happened while I was at a 5-star restaurant. Worse, it happened on my honeymoon. 41. 7 Healthcare Technology Trends to Watch Out for in 2022 Explore the latest technology trends that will shape the healthcare industry in 2022 and beyond. 42. Can Technology Save the Oil and Gas Industry? Digital advances are here to aid the Oil and Gas companies in transcending the limitations of traditional techniques. 43. Transformative Healthtech Ideas That Can Solve Healthcare Crisis The year 2021 was a banner year for digital health with around $57 billion invested into the sector. Telemedicine and mental health were among the verticals that received the most investment dollars. It was also the year when value-based healthcare became evidently complemented by technology, a tendency being accelerated by the pandemic. 44. How an Improved Working Relationship Between Employer and Employee Could be the Key to Cybersecurity In a lot of organizations, the focus on cybersecurity has always been on building secure infrastructure and while the idea good in theory, it may not necessarily keep all your data safe. You need to consider the impact of a good working relationship and the understanding of how people think. 45. Tech Addiction and Smartphone Dependency: Latest Science and Statistics How do we choose to have our new and rapidly evolving tools and capabilities impact our lives as individuals, organizations and as a global society? In order to make a smart choice, it is imperative that we have a good understanding of the impact digital technology already has or can have on our lives. What can we say with a degree of certainty? Thank you for checking out the 45 most read stories about Digital Health on HackerNoon. to find the most read stories about any technology. Visit the /Learn Repo

45 Stories To Learn About Digital Health

The lead image for this article was generated by HackerNoon's via the prompt "depressed people on a train" AI Image Generator Though COVID-19 is no longer classified as a global health emergency, the spike in that accompanied the rapid spread of the virus hasn’t abated. mental health disorders Following the pandemic, that depressive symptoms grew from a base of about 193 million people worldwide to 246 million, which is about 28%. Anxiety disorders grew 25% from about 298 million people affected to 374 million. studies found Although these are sobering statistics, the rise in mental health conditions has also meant that more people are comfortable seeking support. As a result, there’s never been more demand for health and wellbeing services with the behavioral health market expected to grow to . $105 billion by 2029 And tech innovators continue to develop solutions that address specific gaps in the treatment pipeline, democratize access to treatment such as therapy and provide tools to manage our wellbeing holistically. Detecting signs of depression in new ways is one of the most common mental health conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately are battling depression. And though a range of treatment options exist, the condition can often go untreated. Depression 280 million people in the world This is because the warning signs, such as fatigue or a change in sleeping patterns, and can easily be overlooked, meaning that patients may not even be aware there’s an issue to address. On the other hand, a from the Mental Health Million project found that up to 45% of individuals in the U.S. with clinical-level mental health risks don’t seek support, with reasons ranging from a lack of knowledge of what kind of help is available through to a fear of being stigmatized. vary from person to person report While is already being used to diagnose a range of by using image recognition technology, signs of mental distress don’t appear neatly on an MRI scan. AI cancers with remarkable accuracy However, according to Grace Chang, CEO of , the answer may lie in our voice. Kintsugi “What is really remarkable is that psychiatrists have known that in the area of speech there has always been a tie to depression and anxiety,” she mentioned during a recent appearance on , a podcast from MIT Technology Review. In Machines We Trust Kintsugi has developed vocal biomarker technology with the ability to spot subtle signs of depression or anxiety that lie in the way we speak. The tool is language agnostic, meaning that the software is trained to spot changes in things like tone, speed and intonation rather than specific words or phrases. “Our company has created a robust set of models, not looking at what people are saying, but how they’re saying. We don’t care about any of the demographic information or the context of what’s happening because we’re looking at the nuances to speech that machines can pick up,” Chang continued. Another example lies with Ellipsis Health, which ran an academic, year-long with Menlo College that helped students to measure and manage anxiety and depression symptoms by analyzing their speed using vocal biomarker technology. pilot In the future, AI may become a more standard fixture in mental care pathways as it has done in other areas of medicine. Acting as an additional safety net for clinics, educational organizations and private practitioners, vocal biomarker technology has the potential to help diagnose and provide ongoing care for depression and anxiety. Democratizing access to therapy globally Although choosing to seek help for may be a hurdle for some, access to professional, affordable support is the next barrier that’s being exacerbated by an increasing prevalence of mental health disorders. depression and anxiety Reports suggest that around globally every year due to depression and anxiety, putting huge pressure on local mental health services. For example, Europe is battling a surge in , and in Latin America, with depression aren’t receiving treatment. 12 billion work days are lost demand that overshadows service availability six out of every 10 adults As a result, tech developers are aiming to make it easier to from the safety and privacy of home through online platforms that tailor to specific needs or geographies. access remote sessions from licensed therapists is one of the companies addressing the demand for access to virtual, affordable access to therapy. The founders aim to offer personalized emotional support for their Colombian users with ready, affordable access to over 150 licensed therapists, specialized sessions and emotional coaching and even nutritional advice. Selia Another example lies with German startup , which aims to help improve people’s mental wellness through virtual consultations. The company recently raised funding to expand the availability of its services to more people. HelloBetter €7M in Series A While addressing the demand for mental health services still remains, access to remote therapy is one way that technology is helping to ease the burden during the interim. A new perspective on autoimmune conditions An estimated suffer from at least one autoimmune condition. These develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, causing a wide range of possible conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or celiac disease. 50 million Americans Although autoimmune patients are grappling with a range of often debilitating symptoms, things like fatigue and pain are often “ ” to other people. As a result, the conditions often bleed into people’s personal life and , meaning that up to with autoimmune diseases also experience depression and anxiety. invisible performance at work 50% of patients Many autoimmune patients find that looking at nutrition, sleep and stress management can significantly ease the severity of their symptoms. However, implementing and sticking to a lifestyle change is often easier said than done. is a membership app that provides ongoing access to specialist coaches, comprehensive lab testing and personalized care plans to help more people take control of autoimmune conditions. WellTheory And when it comes to autoimmune conditions like eczema, most sufferers are well aware of how much constant itchy skin can . In efforts to improve the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions like eczema are companies like . The company leverages AI to improve collaboration between dermatologists and patients with a visual skin-tracking app that allows for continuous care, helping to improve overall health outcomes. impact mental health Miiskin Battling the addiction epidemic Untreated mental health disorders often lead to substance abuse as a form of self-medication. While proper, long-term mental healthcare will be needed to address the root cause of the problem, getting clean is often the first step on the road to recovery, yet with a substance abuse disorder in 2022 did not receive treatment. 93.5% of adults offers drug and alcohol rehab options across the U.S. and easy, discreet access to treatment providers that can answer questions and concerns, helping to remove the stigma around addiction. Including residential options, outpatient care, and community resources, the company helps people tackle a range of addictions head-on. Quit Addiction Now In addition to rehab facilities, the company also creates a lot of free digital content and resources for its patients. Just as apps have become ubiquitous with helping us manage numerous tasks in our everyday lives, has also developed in recent years to help manage addiction. application technology Pear Therapeutics’ , for example, is an FDA-approved substance abuse treatment app that maps out a 90-day treatment program for the patient on a cellular app. And , an app created by a chemical dependency counselor educated at Harvard, is designed to help patients in moments of craving. Pear reSET-O Sober Tool Supporting health and wellbeing with innovation While many cases of depression and anxiety are mild, it’s important to address any symptoms directly so that symptoms don’t worsen. An increased awareness of mental health disorders is helping to drive conversations on the topic and encourage people to seek help when needed. Innovative health and wellbeing apps and services that target specific conditions and make it easier to access care will be an integral part of the long-term management of our mental health in the future. This article was originally published by Katie Konyn on 150sec.

Technological Solutions for Combating Depression and Anxiety

বিষণ্নতা এবং উদ্বেগ মোকাবেলার জন্য প্রযুক্তিগত সমাধান

Technologische Lösungen zur Bekämpfung von Depressionen und Angstzuständen

Soluciones tecnológicas para combatir la depresión y la ansiedad

Solutions technologiques pour lutter contre la dépression et l'anxiété

अवसाद और चिंता से निपटने के लिए तकनीकी समाधान

うつ病や不安症と闘うための技術的解決策

우울증과 불안을 퇴치하기 위한 기술적 솔루션

Soluções Tecnológicas para Combater a Depressão e a Ansiedade

Depresyon ve Anksiyete ile Mücadelede Teknolojik Çözümler

Giải pháp công nghệ để chống trầm cảm và lo âu

对抗抑郁和焦虑的技术解决方案

Big Tech Companies Have Your Health Info Thanks to Telehealth Startups

You’ll love running, even if the longest distance for you is the way to your refrigerator and back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUA7SpZ1SH4&embedable=true The idea for Victa has matured for a long time, and it is connected with my personal experience. I had six years of background, during which I was coping with one caustic health problem. After I had solved it, I wondered how to apply my product management experience and, at the same time, help people avoid the same issue and live healthier and better lives. fintech In August, I opened miro and started swotting up on health-tech. The first insight for me was the general problem of customer retention in almost all domains: from fitness to telemedicine. There are three approaches to solving it. — having an external observer [a coach or a friend] is rather more helpful for keeping motivation than working on one’s own. Person — once a user spends money on a subscription, they desire to return utility. It also initiates the reverse process of earning for actions. Money — an endorphin-dopamine compulsion loop used in games, a motivating reward that waits for you at the end of the process. Content After I had analyzed competitors and cust-deved their clients, I decided to combine content and personal approaches by exchanging the last one with a character, like in the [the fact that I personally knew the coolest creators of two animated series, Max Konyshev, and Zhenya Ognev, also worked in favor of this decision]. Replika app Victa: Avatar and Levels One of our main ideas is to use the character’s level to display the overall stamina of the client relative to his “zero” and “peak.” This is a non-trivial task that requires a large amount of objective data. In the future, we will personalize this scale for each client according to the information about the body that we can collect. Levels are gained by overcoming a certain distance. For now, we keep them achievable for all budding runners. We want to make it easy for beginners to take up a new activity, deliver maximum endorphins at the end of a run, and encourage regularity in training [everyone who goes out for a run no matter what is a hero]. Progress in levels and story also affects the particles of the elements around the character [because they also become stronger!], as well as the background where they are located [the story doesn’t stand still, and the Avatar moves with it]. Victa: Training Sessions Why do 61% of runners [according to Runner’s World ] prefer to listen to music or podcasts while training? Because the process itself is extremely boring. It can certainly be fun, but it usually becomes a trance state and a tool to achieve the following goals: research Increasing activity and improving wellbeing Purification of consciousness Weight loss Preparation for the competition We want to reinvent the process and make it fun, for example, by searching for artifacts [which can be put on the Avatar then] in places where you may have never run. However, now we can send you to the middle of the lake, so be careful. Step Counter Also, realizing that starting to run could be a tall order for many, we have released a step counter. It makes it easier to immerse new users into the story and helps them take up an active lifestyle. This is an iPhone widget with two modes: – automatic counting of steps and calories per day Passive – starting a full workout for the duration of your run Active The step counter integrates with and will also change along with the equipment and progress in the story. Apple Health Analytics Despite the fact that our target audience is not professional runners but beginners and amateurs who identify themselves as gamers, we pay special attention to analytics. Like any other running app, we collect training data for further analysis. You can see the progress in terms of distance covered, calories burned, height gained, speed, and pace over a given period of time. Now, the analytics have been available for the past week. Each indicator is visualized through the average and the total per day, but we plan to add: More time filters [month, year, all time] for week-to-week, month-to-month, and year-to-year comparisons More professional data [changing mean and maximum speed and pace, elevation changes over a distance, pulse, etc.] More graphs [for historical data and metrics during training] Victa: Story We draw and animate a real series with 20 episodes and four characters. There are currently six episodes available for one Avatar [Atreus]. New episodes are released as they are ready, but three new Avatars (Ellie, Delphine, and Faust) will appear quite soon [their episodes are already drawn]. Each of the Avatars has its own story and their own unique equipment. According to the plot, a human and Avatar become connected. The training process is a way to help your Avatar, but no more spoilers. Episodes are opened for reaching the next level and, together with the search for artifacts, are the main endorphin-dopamine engine in a run. So now we are the first series that isn’t officially friendly with the couch. Besides the story, we created many gamification activities: —  a system of fitness and non-fitness tasks. For completing them, a user will receive a special reward and dive deeper into the app. Quests —  complicated fitness tasks for runners. The user can get some of the rarest artifacts for accomplishing them. One of my favorites is affiliated with walking or running together with one or more friends. Achievements We consider creating even more, for instance: – during the training, it will be possible to save the route in order to analyze your performance directly in this way. The route can be shared with the community if you think that everyone should enjoy the run through your favorite park. Rewards will be given for creating popular routes or opening new ones. Routes – if you are a professional sprinter or stayer, and you want to see yourself in the list of top runners in the area, then this activity is planned especially for you. Rifts – this, like many other ideas, we will describe in the following series, but you will definitely like it. Abyss Let me tell you a little about our journey to this point. August I’m putting together a small team of 5 very cool ex-colleagues, including the author of popular animated TV series. We decided to quickly test the hypothesis through a . In fact, this was a simple stopwatch that assigns levels to the character for the time. During that time, the client had to walk or run. telegram bot Having scrapped together two hundred clients, we asked them if they felt additional motivation and if it was interesting to watch the story. Half of them lacked certain functionality, and obviously, it didn’t work for them, but the other half answered “yes.” September Inspired, we prepared to start development on . This platform was chosen due to its simplicity, the unification of screen sizes for drawing and more retained and paying customers in the long term. iOS We didn’t have the resources to hire full-time employees, so we started to look for those who shared our values and were ready to join us part-time. October Simultaneously, we were opening a company, processing the necessary documents, and closing a small angel round for $100k. November We faced a lot of problems but still managed to make it in 1.5 months and had the MVP in production already on November 7th. At the same time, the functionality was extremely raw, and we did not see installations from anyone other than us and our friends. As it turned out later, we had used ASO keys, with which we simply could not compete organically in either fitness or gaming. December We rolled up our sleeves and made some small releases. We added artifacts on the map and learned how to work with Lottie to animate characters and replace items in the inventory. It was a big pain. By the end of the month, being still ashamed of the product, but not so much, we tried to attract traffic through . Once again, something went wrong. After spending several hundred dollars, we saw almost no installs. Facebook Ads As smart people suggested later, we used too harsh filters in geo and targeting and few creatives. While you need to do the opposite, use more flexible filters and test as many different creatives as possible. January On the first of January, I decided to post articles on and , which brought us the first small organic installs [about 100 clients]! We also talked to a large number of founders and investors, realized the mistakes of the first marketing activities, optimized ASO, and started testing Facebook once again. Medium Product Hunt February At the end of January and beginning of February, we posted some more articles about us on more local resources, and they suddenly got super popular, thanks to how we acquired 1500 clients in a couple of days! At the same time, App Store decided to take us up to the top 16 position in the “Health and Fitness” category, where we stayed for two days in a row! That was simply unbelievable. Also, we continued to look for new investors and applied--I assume--in each accelerator in Silicon Valley acceptable through 🙂 F6S We launched in November but have reached our desired MVP just now. Many features are not ready yet. We are developing, planning to launch on Android, create an app for Apple Watch and make full-fledged integrations with Apple Health, Google Fit, and Strava. We are going to implement our NLP so clients will be able to talk with the characters about the lore and get personal recommendations for running. We are also thinking about how Avatar can help in other health-tech activities. chatbot I confess, if we manage to help people start doing sports, or at least move more and feel better, I will be very happy. Also, of course, we are considering a subscription implementation, but it has been temporarily postponed in favor of quality, features, and client base. For cooperation, you can write me by email: alexander@victa.ai App Store

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मैंने गेमर्स के लिए एक रनिंग ऐप विक्टा कैसे लॉन्च किया, और ऐप स्टोर में एक शीर्ष रैंकिंग प्राप्त की

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Cách tôi ra mắt Victa, một ứng dụng chạy bộ dành cho game thủ và đạt thứ hạng hàng đầu trong cửa hàng ứng dụng

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Technology is making history more often than the healthcare industry. But if you consider that healthcare is saving human lives, they are equal. The greatest solution for humankind is when they work together to provide a better quality of life, making doctors’ lives easier or routine paperwork less boring. That sounds far too good, so let’s get to the practical side of it. Healthcare applications are becoming more popular with . That’s only mobile applications! To build the mHealth app, we need to choose the right tech stack. The following questions come up: 350 000 mHealth apps available in major app stores How do we set up medical features with backend technologies? How do top healthcare companies use AI in their work? What are successful tech stack examples in the industry? How to set up healthcare cybersecurity? We are simple software developers, so we are interested in technologies for health tech. It’s an interesting observation that health stacks are not entirely different from other industries' tech stacks. There are for sure more requirements for healthcare applications but the same languages, frameworks, and cloud technologies are used to build them. Let’s try to answer the questions we asked above and give tech stack examples. What Is Health Stack? Health stack is the backend and frontend technologies that healthcare companies use to manage their operations. So, except for clinical tasks, healthcare apps can do everything else. Non-clinical tasks include electronic health or medical records (EHR) systems, patient portals, telemedicine platforms, practice management software, billing and claims processing systems, analytics tools, etc. Health stack solutions have to help healthcare organizations improve their processes and improve patient care. But to choose the right tech stack for any app, we need to consider the following factors: Features and functionality of the product (in our case, medical features such as patient and doctor authorization, medical records database, etc.) Project requirements (user quantity, device support, performance time, etc.) The credibility of technologies’ open-source community Simple scalability Security considerations (in medical apps, also HIPAA compliance) Flexibility and the possibility to go beyond standard ways Size and type of your project. Every healthcare solution is unique, although the requirements for most apps will be similar. The reason is that a lot of technologies are added to the development process. Modern Healthcare Tech Stack Components It’s not a complete set of components a health app would need but those that are commonly used by digital health companies and healthcare providers. Java, Python, C#, C++, JavaScript, PHP, and HTML5. Programming Languages: The choice of specific language would depend on the functionality you need. If the app would store and analyze large amounts of data or somehow deal with artificial intelligence, it’s wise to choose Python + Java as backend technologies and Javascript as frontend technologies. Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile Apple iOS or Google Android. Operating Systems: Here we just need to choose a trustable provider with great support. In the development process, we choose the operating system that has security features and top performance. MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Memcached, and MongoDB. Databases: To choose the right database or mix a few, seek advice from a development team. They would want to know what type of data you have, the amounts, and how often it’ll be requested. Based on that, they’ll advise the capacity of the database and the provider. Apache server and NGINX. Servers: These two are the most popular ones, but what’s important for us is that they’re HIPAA compliant. Other : tools that often come in handy in the healthcare industry GitHub, Jenkins, Selenium, Rollbar, or Bitbucket DevOps tools: such as Slack, and G Suite - for communication and management Business tools such as Google Analytics, Stripe, or Elasticsearch - for search, analytics, and payments Utilities such as Amazon S3, Amazon EC2, or DigitalOcean Cloud storage and hosting providers Now that we have the general picture of the technology stack that might be used in healthcare apps, here are practical use cases. Tech Stack Examples To be more precise, let’s see the technology stack of some apps developed at Incora. The 1st example is the service we provided to the doctor’s appointment app. used frontend technologies such as JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Antdesign, Java for the backend, and database PostgreSQL. HealthApp, with such a tech stack, allows you to make an appointment online as well as get a consultation from a doctor, nurse, or psychologist online. HealthApp The second example is different as it involved backend technologies. For an where we set the backend and created structure and functionality, we used runtime environment Node.js, also Nest Js for backend, React.js for frontend, AWS services (AWS Lambda), and database PostgreSQL. injury management system With the help of these technologies, Incora developed the management system that provides scheduling of appointments, management of “play status” of players, statistics and reports of all injured players, and emails for different events. Last but not least, the development team set up a backend for It allows the viewing of data about insulin injections, sugar levels, etc., for patients that use specific devices that do injections. patient administration service. The service was designed for doctors to manage patients and adjust treatment. The health stack included Node.js, Express.js, MySQL, React, Redux, Saga, and AWS. Medical Standards in Different Regions This paragraph is to remind you that most industries have . No matter what app you want to develop, make sure the data there (especially patients’ data) is treated the right way. standards and policies when it comes to data protection One of the most common healthcare cybersecurity issues is personal data leakage. Here are : 4 main regulations you need to meet Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (USA). Any mobile health app that needs to comply with HIPAA. Only personal health apps are an exception. deals with protected health information (PHI) Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) (Canada). The act sets rules to regulate any personal data usage and sharing with third parties. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU). This regulation says ; any information that might identify a person, a name, email, an IP address, and so on. how businesses can and cannot use personal data Data Protection Act (DPA) (UK). It’s similar to GDPR in terms of rules on using and storing personal data. The technologies that we mentioned in the article are well-known and meet the above regulations. However, be sure to check it as the consequences are unpleasant, to say the least. Sum Up So, let’s rewind. We've defined what a health stack is, and what factors to consider when choosing one. Also, we made a list of commonly used technology stacks and tools in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, the tech stack examples were described to have a full picture of app functionality. And finally, we were reminded about healthcare app development standards that are a must nowadays. To save the world, save yourself from bureaucracy, and write us to handle both tech stack and standards.

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