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Faces of Digital Health

Faces of Digital Health

A podcast about digital health and how healthcare systems adopt technologies.

How Can Hospitals Advance Their Digital Transformation With HIMSS Maturity Models?

HIMSS, The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is an American not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care in quality, safety, cost-effectiveness and access through the best use of information technology and management systems. One way of helping hospitals advance their digitalization efforts is with the help of maturity models. These are assessment questionnaires that position hospital on a level from 1 to 7 on a maturity scale. They can help hospitals benchmark their current digital position and plan better which steps to take to advance on their digital transformation journey.  So far, HIMSS designed 6 maturity models: EMRAM - for EMRs, INFRAM - healthcare IT infrastructure, AMAM - for analytics, DIAM - for medical imaging, CCMM - continuity of care model, C-COMM - community care outcomes. In this discussion John Rayner, Senior Director Analytics - EMEA at HIMSS, talks about different maturity models, how hospitals use them, what to be mindful of in digital transformation of healthcare, and more. Key Takeaways: HIMSS models provide a structured pathway for hospitals to achieve digital maturity and improve care. Leadership, clinical engagement, and infrastructure are critical for successful digital transformation. Interoperability is the cornerstone of modern healthcare, requiring system-wide alignment. Key benefits for hospitals: Understanding the current level of digital maturity and identifying gaps. Setting a roadmap for improvement aligned with global standards. Enhancing decision-making for procurement and strategy. Demonstrating progress to stakeholders, ensuring investments lead to measurable outcomes. Validating digital maturity levels, which can serve as a benchmark or "badge" of excellence. Video: https://youtu.be/iHMC339XHIo www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
December 3, 2024

How does remote patient monitoring look like in South Africa and Nigeria?

Clinitouch, originating in the UK NHS, is expanding globally with a focus on chronic conditions and adapting to regional nuances in healthcare delivery. In this discussion several speakers discuss telemedicine in the context of Nigeria and South Africa. Speakers are: Bruce Adams, Commercial Director at Clinitouch (UK) Japie De Jongh, CEO, Synaxon (South Africa) Dr John Adesioye, CEO, Utopian Consulting (Nigeria) Liam van Rooyen, System Support Manager (Synaxon, South Africa) Key points: African Context and Healthcare from the Transcript Role of Remote Patient Monitoring in Addressing Healthcare Gaps: Dr. John Aade (Nigeria) emphasized that remote patient monitoring (RPM) emerged as a practical solution during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the need for care delivery without physical hospital visits. In Nigeria, RPM is particularly relevant for patients in remote or underserved areas, enabling data collection and transmission to healthcare providers without requiring face-to-face interactions. Community health workers often play a crucial role, stepping in where doctors and nurses are unavailable. They collect patient data, assess needs, and escalate cases to medical professionals when necessary, highlighting RPM's potential in resource-limited settings. The Dual Healthcare Systems in South Africa: Jaapie de Jong (South Africa) explained the dichotomy of healthcare in South Africa: the private sector, serving insured patients with robust infrastructure, and the public sector, catering to the uninsured population through community healthcare clinics (CHCs) and basic clinics. He noted that while the private sector is aligned with international standards, the public sector faces capacity challenges. RPM in South Africa focuses on insured patients with chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, to reduce hospital visits and improve care efficiency. Challenges to Technology Adoption in Africa: Both Dr. John and Jaapie highlighted several barriers to adopting RPM technology: Device Compatibility and Connectivity: Limited access to smartphones and stable internet connectivity is a significant challenge. Many patients rely on basic phones and are hesitant to allocate resources for more advanced devices. Trust Issues: Patients often worry about data privacy and fraud, especially in regions like South Africa, where cell phone fraud is common. Providers must build trust by ensuring data security and clarifying the purpose and safety of the technology. Power and Infrastructure Limitations: In Nigeria, power outages and the high cost of diesel for generators disrupt patients' ability to use RPM devices consistently. Economic Considerations and Funding Models: Bruce Adams noted that RPM adoption heavily depends on who pays for the service. In many African countries, healthcare services involve a mix of out-of-pocket payments and insurer-funded models. In South Africa, as explained by Jaapie, medical aid schemes (insurers) play a critical role in covering high-risk, chronic condition patients. However, integrating RPM into existing reimbursement structures and ensuring that providers are compensated for remote care remain challenging. Localized Implementation of UK-Inspired Technology: Bruce Adams stressed the importance of adapting Clinitouch's UK-developed RPM platform to local African contexts. Instead of directly transplanting the UK model, Clinitouch collaborates with local partners to understand specific healthcare needs and tailor the platform accordingly. Jaapie praised the platform's flexibility and customization, noting its suitability for South African chronic disease management programs. The ability to localize the tool for hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions was cited as a significant advantage in addressing Africa’s healthcare challenges. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/
November 27, 2024

How can startups avoid failure? Listen better. (Laura Hilty)

Laura Hilty has spent over 18 years working to improve the healthcare ecosystem, over 14 years of that in clinical research. She has held leadership roles spanning corporate strategy, M&A, product strategy, product management, and partnerships across stages from company start-up to scale, through Forte / Advarra and Epic. In this short discussion recorded at the Digital Health and AI Innovation Summit in Boston 2024, she explained a few tips companies can use to improve their product development.  Key points:  Collaboration and Deep Understanding: Startups must dive deep into understanding problems by engaging in extensive collaboration and interviewing diverse stakeholders. Conducting numerous conversations helps reveal recurring themes and deeper insights. Validation with Customers: Before advancing with a solution, startups should validate it with potential customers, ensuring they are willing to buy and clarifying how it fits into their workflows seamlessly. Active Listening and Detachment: Companies need to listen not just to respond but to truly understand customer pain points. This involves detaching from pre-conceived solutions and being open to honest, even critical, feedback. Balancing Customer Focus and Market Trends: While it’s crucial to address customer needs, startups must also maintain an external view to identify broader market trends and potential disruptions, avoiding tunnel vision on current customers. Learning from Failure: Product failure often stems from underestimating customer differences or lack of scalability. Proactively engaging with diverse customer types before development can prevent such issues. Challenges in Gathering Feedback: Many startups struggle to gather adequate feedback due to customer reluctance or limited outreach. Live conversations are more effective than surveys, and clarifying that feedback isn't tied to sales can improve engagement. Market Opportunities in Healthcare: There are unmet needs in system integration and leveraging research-naive physicians for clinical trials. Addressing these gaps, especially through innovation and collaboration, could significantly advance the industry. Website: www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
November 19, 2024

The future of data in in collaboration among standards bodies (Rachel Dunscombe)

This short discussion with Rachel Dunscombe, CEO of openEHR International Foundation, was recorded in Reading at the first openEHR Annual conference. Rachel Dunscombe discussed trends in data standards and the importance of structured data for the future development of AI. Recap of the discussion: Historical Context and Progress in Data Standards: Thirty years ago, the "Good European Healthcare Record" initiative aimed to create a standardized European healthcare record. How does it relate to EHDS and efforts for single patient records on European level. Unlike the past, today's digital landscape and AI advancements underscore the importance of standardized, actionable data for remote care and patient self-management. Collaboration Among Standards Bodies: Recent years have seen increased cooperation among standards organizations like FHIR, OpenEHR, and SNOMED, with a focus on complementing rather than duplicating efforts. Standards bodies are now defining clearer roles and working together toward a unified goal of improving healthcare outcomes. Need for Practical Implementation and Governance: Effective implementation of standards requires practical guides for healthcare systems, developed collaboratively by standards bodies. Open, democratic communities with strong governance are essential to ensure diverse input and practical guidance for using standards effectively. AI and Data Quality: Good data quality is foundational for effective AI in healthcare; without it, AI solutions cannot achieve optimal results. Standards are crucial for creating "trustworthy" AI and have been discussed at forums like the United Nations, emphasizing the need for global alignment on data standards. Future Goals and Global Standards: Continued development of clear, internationally recognized standards will support interoperability and innovation in healthcare, including AI-driven solutions. Guidelines from standards bodies are anticipated to help healthcare systems apply data standards cohesively for population health benefits. Resources and Engagement: The podcast "Faces of Digital Health" and its associated newsletter discuss these topics, offering updates on trends and insights in healthcare digitalization and standards. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
November 14, 2024

Zayna Khayat: Language, Mindset and the Future of Care

In this discussion, strategist, and applied health futurist Zayna Khayat explores the evolution of healthcare, particularly the shift towards home-based care and patient empowerment. Key themes include: Language in Healthcare: Khayat stresses the need for a language shift to change mindsets in healthcare, highlighting that words shape reality. She proposes retiring overused terms like “innovation,” “patient-centered,” and “telemedicine,” advocating instead for more precise language that reflects modern, patient-empowering approaches. Technology in Care Delivery: Khayat is excited about how AI and virtual reality (VR) are transforming healthcare. She sees AI as instrumental in reducing clinician workload by handling repetitive cognitive tasks, while VR is proving beneficial in medical training and therapies like pain and anxiety management. Shift to Home and Virtual Care: Drawing on her experience in home-based chemotherapy, Khayat discusses the challenges of moving healthcare out of hospitals, from reimbursement to infrastructure limitations. She emphasizes that many patients would prefer home care if given the choice, but practical barriers like resource availability and payment models persist. Diverse Aging Models: Khayat challenges the idea of care homes as a one-size-fits-all solution, advocating for diverse models tailored to individual preferences and cultural values. She highlights that community-based models, like those in Denmark and Japan, provide alternatives to institutional care, supporting aging in place. Value-Based Care and Accountability: Khayat encourages healthcare organizations to focus on results rather than processes. She advocates for outcome-based payment models, where organizations are compensated for results, pushing them to prioritize patient outcomes. This approach, she argues, would foster a value-driven healthcare system. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
November 11, 2024

How Patients Use AI (Grace Vinton, Grace Cordovano)

Grace Cordovano is an expert healthcare navigating solutionist and award winning, board-certified patient advocate, and Grace Vinton is an account director at Amendola, Patient Advocate, and the host of Like a Girl Media's Podcast "HITea With Grace”. In this discussion, recorded at Digital Health and AI Summit in Boston, they discussed AI use cases for improved patient experience in healthcare, how patients already use AI, and more.  Read the summary of the event in our newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/p/ai-digital-health-pharma Key points:  AI can significantly reduce the administrative burden on patients, especially those managing chronic conditions, caregiving responsibilities, or complex medical records. Patients are using tools like ChatGPT to prepare for medical appointments by generating lists of questions and organizing medical records. AI can assist with translating complex medical information into more understandable language. Patient advocates emphasized the importance of involving patients in the design and implementation of AI in healthcare, ensuring tools cater to different types of patients (e.g., those with terminal illnesses, multiple comorbidities, etc.). It is critical for healthcare companies to involve diverse patient voices throughout the development of AI tools and offer fair compensation to prevent bias. The healthcare industry needs to improve digital literacy among patients, ensuring they understand how to use AI tools effectively and responsibly. Resources like the Patients Included Charter and organizations like the Light Collective and Savvy Coop were highlighted as valuable for patient education and advocacy. Advice for Patients on Using AI: 1. Start with Questions 2. Refine Prompts 3. Check for Errors 4. Be mindful of security and data privacy https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/
November 3, 2024

Gary Monk on DTx and Common Sense in Analysing Wellness Data From Apps and Wearables

In this episode Gary Monk, independent consultant with over 25 years in the pharma and healthcare sectors where he worked in roles from R&D to business IT and strategic marketing, talks about the current state of digital therapeutics, remote patient monitoring, the potential of AI in healthcare, and the challenges with data integration. He also shares his personal insights on the use of wearables and their impact on health anxiety. Key Discussion Points: Digital Therapeutics and Integration Challenges Fragmentation in the Space: Many digital therapeutics are siloed, with individual apps that do not integrate well with each other or broader healthcare systems. Potential for Holistic Solutions: apps and digital therapeutics need to be more connected, for example, integrating with wearables or offering treatments. Uncertain Future: While optimistic in the long term, Gary is cautious about short-term setbacks, noting that companies in this space may struggle without proper evidence and reimbursement models in place. Remote Patient Monitoring and Virtual Care Excitement Around Remote Monitoring: there are benefits of remote monitoring, especially for elderly and chronically ill patients, allowing them to stay home longer and safer. Expanding Beyond Monitoring: Discussion expands on using technology not just for monitoring but also for providing interventions, such as reminders, voice support, and even predictive capabilities like fall prevention. Wearables and Real-World Data The Importance of Continuous Data: long-term, imperfect data may be more valuable than short-term, highly accurate clinical data in certain cases, such as tracking motor function. Personal Experience with Wearables: Despite his enthusiasm for digital health, Gary admits he no longer uses wearables due to anxiety caused by over-monitoring and lack of actionable insights. AI in Healthcare Cautious Optimism: While excited about AI’s potential, AI needs to be integrated thoughtfully into healthcare workflows. He points out that many current AI solutions are useful but not yet integrated into clinical practice. Ethical Questions Around AI: The conversation touches on whether AI should be used to predict diseases, especially if no treatment is available. This is particularly relevant in areas like Alzheimer’s research. Integration as a Key Barrier The Real Challenge: Both speakers agree that integration is one of the biggest hurdles in digital health today. As various apps and AI tools proliferate, getting them to work within existing systems, like clinical workflows, remains difficult. Example from Clinical Trials Even in areas like remote clinical trials, which are technically feasible, organizations are struggling to keep up due to complex internal processes and outdated systems. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/p/ai-digital-health-pharma
October 23, 2024

How Successful Digital Intervention Can Be in Mental Health?

If social media and smartphones are the root cause of the new mental health epidemic in younger generations, how successful can digital interventions be in addressing mental health issues? In this discussion, recorded at Digital Health and AI Innovation Summit in Boston in October, Katherine Wolfe-Lyga, Mental health professional and former college administrator, Vice President at BetterMynd, discussed: Digital Mental Health Interventions: Digital health solutions, especially telehealth, have improved access to mental health care, particularly for students in rural areas and those reluctant to seek help in person. The stigma around seeking mental health care is still significant but decreasing. Equity and Access: Colleges have become more inclusive, admitting students from underprivileged backgrounds who often face challenges that current campus support systems are not fully equipped to address. Digital interventions are helping bridge these gaps. Impact of Smartphones and Social Media: The pervasive use of smartphones and social media contributes to social isolation and mental health challenges, with many students relying on these platforms for comfort rather than fostering real interpersonal connections. Schools banning or limiting phone use have seen positive effects on student engagement and communication. Digital Interventions as Both Cause and Cure: While smartphones and social media contribute to mental health issues, digital interventions like teletherapy can offer solutions. The challenge is ensuring that digital tools are used minimally and efficiently to support mental health, without exacerbating the problems of overuse. Brain Development: There is evidence suggesting that the development of the prefrontal cortex in young people is delayed, potentially due to changes in societal behavior and technology use, affecting their decision-making abilities and impulse control. Mental Health Interventions and Technology: Technology can help alleviate loneliness and improve community connections, but it must be used responsibly. Ethical concerns exist around the efficacy of some digital mental health tools, as not all apps claiming to support well-being are truly effective. Positive Trends: Successful interventions include digital platforms that provide access to diverse therapists, helping students connect with professionals who share similar identities or expertise. This encourages more students to seek help and supports the reduction of mental health issues like loneliness. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/
October 21, 2024
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Faces of Digital Health

Faces of Digital Health explores the speed at which healthcare systems around the world are adopting digital transformation. Specially curated discussions with carefully selected speakers challenge overtly hyped assumptions about the modern state of healthcare innovation. The podcast’s primary goal is to share the insight required to facilitate the necessary discussion that will start improving healthcare on a global scale.

Host

Tjasa Zajc

Tjasa Zajc

Tjaša Zajc is a former healthcare journalist with a passion for digital health. She regularly explores how different cultures and people alike, approach the complexities of healthcare around the world. She has a Masters degree in healthcare management and economics from the University of Ljubljana.

After years of experience in healthcare journalism and event management, she started exploring the effects of IT adoption in the digital health industry through business development and communications management in healthcare IT, currently as part of the OPENeP ePMA team at Better.

She is also an ambassador of FTR4H Global Hub for Digital Health, and active member of the Slovenian digital health community Healthday.si was a mentor in Startupbootcamp Digital Health Berlin and a contributor to MedTech Engine, among other things.

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