Nadine Barrett-Maitland | Far-reaching effects of secure digitisation of healthcare

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY has opened new paths within the healthcare ecosystem. Secure digitisation of healthcare delivery and services can improve operational excellence, patient experience and reduce costs. Digital transformation focuses on the interaction between people and technology. Digital transformation of healthcare occurs when the interactions between institutions and clients result in positive changes in the health information system.

Globally, eHealth has positively impacted healthcare delivery and services. eHealth refers to health services and information delivered or enhanced through the Internet and related technologies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the technological transformation of the healthcare sector. The adoption rate of heath technologies increased significantly during the pandemic. A EPERION 2022 report revealed that consumers using virtual visits increased from 15 per cent in 2019 to 28 per cent in 2020. A World Economic Forum 2022 report showed spending on healthcare digital transformation has surpassed US$1.3 trillion worldwide and this is growing by 10.4 per cent annually.

In Jamaica, medical practitioners were forced to adopt tele-healthcare measures and services. Telehealth/ remote health became a popular choice for many healthcare providers. Conferencing platforms were used for virtual consultations and follow-up visits and prescriptions written when necessary.

SMART HEALTHCARE

The advent of Industry 4.0 technologies has motorised technological tools, allowing communication between man and machine via the Internet. These technologies are called the Internet of Things (IoT). The convergence of industry 4.0 and smart technologies, along with artificial intelligence (AI), created new avenues for smart healthcare. Additionally, with most persons in developing countries using smartphones, it is possible to implement smart healthcare. This could greatly improve healthcare delivery and services. Smart healthcare can extend the reach of healthcare providers, improve customer care and service.

These IoT-based smart health monitoring systems can reduce overcrowding at medical centres. IoT smart systems can be integrated with GPS chips. This means patient’s location can be tracked and an alarm sent to doctors or selected persons in cases of emergency. These systems can monitor things such as EEG, heartbeat readings, blood sugar and blood pressure readings. Real-time data about the patient’s parameters can be analysed and sent to healthcare practitioners via the Internet. Doctors can use this information to prescribe the drugs for patients, reducing the need for them visiting health facilities. The system can also maintain health records. This reduces the need for taking physical files, and doctors would be aware of all the medications the patient takes, reducing medication errors.

Advancement in AI has created a myriad of opportunities within healthcare. Research suggests that using trained AI systems to recognise and diagnose certain diseases improves the turnaround time for test results. This means more patients can be processed and diagnosed faster. AI can help providers make more informed decisions. Studies suggest that in some cases, using AI can yield results four times faster and can significantly reduce patience’s wait time. This can greatly improve patient care as it enables proactive care predictions, faster data analysis, and even more rapid diagnosis, resulting in fewer casualties.

MULTI-OMICS

Researchers are increasingly relying on multi-omics analyses to gain a pathway-oriented view of cellular activity to better prevent and treat critical diseases. Using multi-omics profiling studies gives a more complete understanding of molecular changes that are contributing to normal development, cellular response and diseases. AI, machine learning tools and algorithms are integrated with multi-omics data in clinical trials to develop predictive models to identify risks before they are apparent. This makes early intervention possible and improves the health trajectories of patients.

Additionally, this has resulted in innovative solutions and approaches in healthcare and health research. Through the use of AI, there are more monitoring and treatment options available for more people. AI-enabled technologies have the potential to benefit stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem, improve the overall operation of the healthcare system, offer unlimited potential to streamline operations. The AI healthcare market is growing exponentially and is projected to reach approximately US$ 137 billion by 2029.

Smart wearables and AI were used in one of the world’s largest heart-health research projects. In the study conducted by Huawei Technologies in October 2021, smart wearables were used to collect heart signals from 10,000 people suspected of having abnormal heart rhythms. The data was sent from the devices and AI notified the medical management team. The diagnoses were 94 per cent accurate. The study demonstrates the impact smart technology and AI can have on the healthcare sector.

At the recently launched ‘Know your numbers’ campaign, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton pointed out that more people are dying today from non-communicable diseases. Smart wearables and AI can possibly manage some of these diseases. This can reduce overcrowding in health facilities. Patients can be alerted when there is a rise in blood pressure or blood sugar, or sustained irregular heartbeat. Doctors are then alerted of changes in patients’ health status, and can send alerts to patients or emergency contacts. Additionally, e-prescriptions can be sent to designated pharmacies, eliminating the need to see a doctor for a prescription.

We have seen that many digital health companies offer convenient and accessible solutions that have revolutionised many patients’ ability to receive high-quality care and manage their health. However, the shortage of ICT infrastructure and the lack of skilled IT personnel hinder the adoption of healthcare information solutions in developing countries like Jamaica.

We need these to achieve Jamaica’s 2030 vision and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (No. 3), which focuses on good health and well-being. It’s important to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Secure digitisation of the healthcare system could be the catalyst for revolutionising the struggling health sector.

Nadine Barrett-Maitland, PhD, is a senior lecturer at the School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Technology, Jamaica. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.