Telemedicine has long been thought a pathway to better care but according to New York Times columnist Pauline Chen "telemedicine has failed to take hold in the same way that other, newer technologies have."
Chris Gibbons, Associate Director, John Hopkins Urban Health Institute: "If we are serious about developing technology solutions for healthcare problems, we must have a greater focus on the users (patients, caregivers as well as providers) and their problems, issues, needs and concerns. We must then use this information to develop effective technology solutions for user defined needs." Following are his first 5 predictions for 2010 healthcare technology trends:
George MacGinnis on the difference between telecare and telehealth: In terms of telecare we think of tele-social care. The main focus is on managing risks to peoples’ lives. They might have a panic button, a fall sensor and these might be people who are suffering from dementia. There are risks that they might leave the oven on and create a fire, so there are remote control fire detectors or remote gas shut off valves, etc. Whereas [telehealth] is much more about chronic disease management: Diabetics might be checking their sugar, others might be checking peak flows, blood pressure or weighing themselves and answering questions about their health.
David Lindeman, executive director of the Center for Technology and Aging, said when seniors begin seeing "real-life applications for health IT that actually improve their lives," barriers to technology go down and adoption goes up.
"FALLS are so harmful to the elderly and so costly to society that if falling were a disease, it would be deemed an epidemic." Steve Lohr for The New York Times
Other countries are leading the United States in the development and integration of assistive technologies. Part of it has to do with funding. Governments in Europe, Japan and Korea invest in research and development of robotics for healthcare. U.S. robotic funding is directed to the military.
In an article for Health Futures Digest, David Ellis reports on the following remote monitoring devices, among other advances of computing, materials and implants, developed…
With a groundswell of baby boomers heading towards seniordom, adding universal design features now adds to the value of the home. So for those who like to plan ahead, like the Dallas couple in the article, incorporating universal design elements in a remodel makes sense to do sooner rather than later.
