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Innovations in Healthcare. Shyam Bedbak. 21 st Feb 2009. Initiatives by Microsoft and Google. An effort to integrate IT and Healthcare Will integrate and use the following resources: Internet search tools Records of health of patients Resources available online
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Innovations in Healthcare Shyam Bedbak 21st Feb 2009
Initiatives by Microsoft and Google • An effort to integrate IT and Healthcare • Will integrate and use the following resources: • Internet search tools • Records of health of patients • Resources available online • Based on the concept of ‘Mass consumerization of health information’ • People are increasingly using internet for information on health and looking for advice • Current situation: • Electronic records form only 20% of the total records • Usually controlled by doctors, hospitals or insurance cos • 58% people actually look up for medical advice/information before coming to the doctor • In future: • Consumers will control more of information • Will have customized ‘health profile’ and ‘health guide’ • Problems: • Privacy issues of the health records • Getting the required storage, search customization and networking to generate results • Companies like WebMD are already working on this
R&D: Mixing drugs to get new ones • Mix two old generic drug to make a new medicine • Though crude and trial-and-error type, the process is very cheap • Presently, companies are struggling to develop new drugs and fill the pipeline • Orexigen Therapeutics of San Diego, recently went public based on the prospects for two combination drugs it is developing to treat obesity • IT can play a key role in this • Robotic drug screening technology • Creating thousands of pairs everyday • Alexis Borisy has had substantial success in the field • 8 drugs have proceeded for clinical trials in last 7 years • Biochemical pathways in treating a disease are multiple
Combining IT, Healthcare and Gaming • Product – DiaBetNet • For taking timely measurements of sugar levels in blood • Children were given bonus points in the game for checking their blood levels • Otherwise, its difficult to make young patients prick for testing sugar levels 4 times a day • Much better monitoring observed in the set of children with this device as compared to others without the device Source: http://ttt.media.mit.edu/impact/diabetnet.html
Smart Tablet PCs • Book-size device • Has a built-in bar scanner • Can identify patients using this • Can track the progress of medications • Can store, access and update the records wirelessly • Hence, can operate from anywhere in the hospital • Advantages • Helps cut down on the paper work • Reduces medical errors • Improves efficiency Source: http://www.motioncomputing.com/products/tablet_pc_c5.asp
Anaemedia • Problem • 20% of maternal deaths in India caused by anaemia • Anaemia leads to weakness, fatigue and reduced physical ability • Tests require blood samples in path labs • Inaccessible and costly for the most affected –rural people • Solution: Anaemedia • Prickless anaemia scanner • Rugged and dust resistant • Can be used by low-skilled village health worker • Compares values from the chart and recommends dosage
Telemedicine in India • What is telemedicine? • A small health care centre with • PC with customized medical software • A few medical diagnostic devices e.g. ECG, X-ray etc • Medical reports of diagnostics sent to the super-specialty hospital • Reports are analyzed and treatments recommended through video conferencing Source: Bagchi S (2006) Telemedicine in Rural India. PLoS Med 3(3): e82
Recent Trends: Telemedicine as a solution • Connects doctors/hospitals with rural areas • Telemedicine network established by ISRO • Connects 22 super-specialty hospitals with 78 rural and remote hospitals • Covers remote areas like Andamans, J&K, Lakshadweep etc • Focuses on Community health and opthalmology Source: Bagchi S (2006) Telemedicine in Rural India. PLoS Med 3(3): e82
ISRO telemedicine project • Hospitals have to be government-run • Provides telemedicine equipments and required bandwidth on INSAT satellites • Bandwidth also provided to the private super-specialty hospitals if • Provide specialty consultation • Charge government rates • May open up this space for private player charging a fees for the bandwidth and other services • Will help to enhance reach Source: Bagchi S (2006) Telemedicine in Rural India. PLoS Med 3(3): e82