Innovations hold promise for better outcomes for more people Credit: Shutterstock/Daniel_González Information Technology continues to create opportunities to improve healthcare, but only when used effectively. Whether it’s medical devices, electronic healthcare records, high-bandwidth networks, medical imaging, or insurance, there are few corners of the healthcare field that are not deeply penetrated by IT. But where are things headed from here? Can AI help with more accurate diagnoses? Can the likelihood of successful outcomes be increased? Can technology improve the patient experience? To answer those questions, IT practitioners, consultants, and influencers joined in an #IDGTechTalk Twitter chat on April 21, 2022, sponsored by @GlobalNTT. The hour-long session was moderated by Isaac Sacolick @nyike, president of StarCIO. As participant Clare Brown @ClareBrownIDG put it, “We are all patients and all of us will be impacted by healthcare tech.” Among the exciting possibilities to cure illness and save lives are artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and telemedicine. Said Jason James @itlinchpin: The evolution of #AI within healthcare has immense potential. Everything from early warning detection to be used in cancer prevention to wound care can benefit from AI-driven pattern recognition. AI could fuel the development of personalized medicine, in which treatments are closely matched to the needs of individual patients, according to Elitsa Krumova @Eli_Krimova We can expect to see a rise in the development of personalized #drugs and the wider adoption of #PersonalizedMedecine. Even so, AI will need to be governed well to assure positive outcomes, said Arsalan Khan @ArsalanAKhan. I am excited about the use of #ArtificialIntelligence in healthcare. I am also concerned about the use of #AI in healthcare if wrong/incomplete data and bad algorithms are used. #idgtechtalk But AI is not the only technology that could have a profound impact on wellness. Blockchain, because of its ability to immutably preserve transaction records, could accurately manage the distribution of pharmaceuticals, said Steven M Prentice @StevenPrentice. The use of blockchain-enabled smart Rx to manage controlled substances better while making them more accessible. Further afield, novel technologies such as drones also can deliver benefits, according to Prentice. Drones that can fly defibrillators and other lifesaving devices directly where they are needed @StevenPrentice. And Virtual reality (VR) can help patients overcome physical challenges, asserted moderator Isaac Sacolick @nyike: There are some incredible #VR apps for the handicapped, disabled, or people needing physical therapy. Given the uneven availability of quality healthcare globally, satellite technology has an important role to play. I am looking forward to “Starlink-type” solutions, said Steven Prentice @StevenPrentice, referring to the low-orbit satellite network that can deliver high bandwidth Internet connectivity to remote areas. Not to be overlooked are telemedicine and basic improvements to current practices, offered Clare Brown @ClareBrownIDG. These might be small but the ease of making appointments online, getting digital reminders, and telemedicine is a huge area that I am excited for. Ben Rothke @benrothke agreed. Remote medical care, which is part of telemedicine services, has shown that constant patient monitoring can have significant preventive benefits. Also, patients like most aspects of #telemedicine, as it avoids travel, & longs stays in boring waiting rooms. #IDGTECHtalk Said Chris Petersen @CPetersen_CS, I’m with @ClareBrownIDG about removing all forms of friction from the system. Easier appointments? Reminders? Chatbots? Wearables? Anything that makes living health the easier path. Related content brandpost Sponsored by NTT Let’s meet! Virtually, in-person, or somewhere in between? The love/hate relationship with virtual events and what can be done to deliver better experience By Karen Capland May 24, 2022 7 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by NTT Unpacking the promise of Private 5G With high-speed operational performance and enterprise control, Private 5G has the potential to advance new connectivity capabilities across virtually any industry segment. By Karen Capland Mar 29, 2022 5 mins 5G brandpost Sponsored by NTT IDG Tech Talk influencers: Hybrid Work Demands a Balance of Tech and People Skills Making the case for context, empathy, and better tools and processes By Karen Capland Mar 10, 2022 7 mins Business Operations Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe