[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":298},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-digital-health-makes-healthcare-globalised":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":170,"relatedBooks":297},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":34,"project_category":36,"contact_email_category":37,"yst_prominent_words":38,"class_list":57,"better_featured_image":68,"acf":106,"yoast_meta":114,"_links":117},29531,"2022-08-23T10:00:00","2022-08-23T08:00:00",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=29531&_wpnonce=026465a01c&status=auto-draft&type=post","2022-08-05T10:54:30","2022-08-05T08:54:30","digital-health-makes-healthcare-globalised","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-makes-healthcare-globalised",{"rendered":17},"Digital Health Makes Healthcare Globalised",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Consider Atlas Biomed, the company behind \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fatlas-biomed-microbiome-test-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">the at-home microbiome test\u003C\u002Fa>: it is based in the U.K. Some 1,900 kilometres away in Italy, Dante Labs offers direct-to-consumer whole genome sequencing kits. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the U. S., is Fitbit, which ships its fitness trackers around the world. Despite being headquartered in different countries and even on different continents, patients now have access to quality digital health services wherever they are (save for some shipping restrictions).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F1113_epatient-768x432.png\" alt=\"empowered patient\" class=\"wp-image-23465\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F1113_epatient-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F1113_epatient-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F1113_epatient-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F1113_epatient-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002F1113_epatient-512x288.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This aspect of digital health heralds one of its lesser-explored advantages: it enables healthcare to be truly globalised. However, more work has to be done as digital health moves towards this goal. From new regulations to updating physicians’ curricula, policymakers will have to rethink the traditional healthcare landscape. But it’s not only policymakers but also stakeholders on every level of this landscape who will be impacted by this globalisation. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Join us as we dive into how digital health is grooming healthcare to be globalised and the steps needed to swerve this evolution in the right direction. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Digital health upends the healthcare market\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The literature \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">defines digital health\u003C\u002Fa> as “the cultural transformation of how disruptive technologies that provide digital and objective data accessible to both caregivers and patients leads to an equal level doctor-patient relationship with shared decision-making and the democratisation of care”. The novel technologies that help in this cultural transformation help make patients the point of care with direct-to-consumer services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This has never been more apparent than with the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this crisis, only 1 in 10 U.S. patients used telemedicine services, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jdpower.com\u002Fbusiness\u002Fpress-releases\u002F2019-us-telehealth-satisfaction-study\" target=\"_blank\">a J.D. Power survey\u003C\u002Fa> found. During the first few months of the pandemic, the use of such services \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fqz.com\u002F1821549\u002Ftelemedicine-faces-unprecedented-demand-in-the-wake-of-coronavirus\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">has gone up by 158%\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And remote healthcare stayed with us, according to the latest figures, some \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ama-assn.org\u002Fpractice-management\u002Fdigital\u002Finside-big-variations-telehealth-use-among-physicians\" target=\"_blank\">85% of the surveyed physicians provide at least some form of telehealth services\u003C\u002Fa>, while roughly \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmhealthintelligence.com\u002Fnews\u002Fover-half-of-americans-unlikely-to-use-telehealth-post-pandemic\" target=\"_blank\">half of the patients declared\u003C\u002Fa> that they are happy to keep on using these after the pandemic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Some of the novelties COVID has introduced quickly became the new normal. Having home diagnostic kits at home and testing ourselves in minutes? Brilliant! \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-rise-of-at-home-lab-tests\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The at-home lab test universe is rapidly expanding\u003C\u002Fa> ever since.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Even seniors \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mobihealthnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Fsurvey-shows-seniors-are-embracing-technology-and-telehealth-during-pandemic\" target=\"_blank\">were embracing health tech\u003C\u002Fa> during the pandemic, and grew accustomed to novel ways of healthcare-related communication. Having a great deal of health, fitness, wellness, nutrition-related (etc) services, available from the comfort of one’s home is convenient, even if the company itself is located elsewhere. By extrapolating these trends, it’s not far-fetched to imagine the following healthcare journey of a patient in the near future. \u003Cstrong>Let’s visualise it\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F060_FDA-768x432.png\" alt=\"digital health trends\" class=\"wp-image-22753\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F060_FDA-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F060_FDA-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F060_FDA-512x288.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F060_FDA.png 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Upon recommendation from their physician, a patient submits a cancerous tissue biopsy to a Belgian startup that can sequence its genome, as the technology is not available locally. The startup matches the genome to driver mutations in clinical trials whose database is in the cloud in the U.S. For an extra fee, the Belgian startup connects the patient to the clinical trial taking place in Spain; run by a French pharma company. The patient enrols in the trial and follows the treatment in Spain, subsidised by the pharma company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the initial steps came with a cost, the end result is that the patient ultimately receives state-of-the-art, targeted treatment for free. Without such a globalised network and accessibility to these services, the patient might not have had a chance at treating her ailment. This is the democratisation and globalisation of healthcare that digital health brings along. Even if this theoretical scenario sounds optimistic, such an approach is already possible in practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Meet the patient of the future\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As The Medical Futurist, Dr Meskó tries to live like the patient of the future. The data he brings \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Flifestyle-medicine-could-be-the-key-for-digital-health-adoption\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">to his GP\u003C\u002Fa> every year come from globalised sources. His medication sensitivity results come from Australia-based myDNA. The ECG records from AliveCor’s Kardia and his fitness activity from Fitbit come from U.S. companies. The results from \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fatlas-biomed-microbiome-test-review\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">his microbiome test\u003C\u002Fa> come from the U.K.’s Atlas Biomed. The list goes on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Thanks to overseas companies that make their products and services available globally through online access and worldwide supply chains, Dr Meskó is able to bring his \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Flifestyle-medicine-could-be-the-key-for-digital-health-adoption\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">personalised medical data\u003C\u002Fa> to his GP in Hungary. By analysing these data, she designed a prevention program with diet and activity recommendations, and regular tests tailored to Dr Meskó.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002Fpatient-of-the-future.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29539\"\u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.aha.org\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Such patients might not be the norm yet, but soon will be, and physicians should also be adequately prepared. In order to better deal with this influx of international data, physicians should receive training in doing so. Medical schools’ curricula require updates in this regard, with a focus on digital health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, regulations often lag behind the patient of the future. As these technologies empower patients with their health data, they need an equal-level partnership in their care. The \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fliving-with-an-artificial-pancreas\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">#wearenotwaiting movement\u003C\u002Fa> from diabetics illustrates this. With the artificial pancreas not available on the market due to lagging regulations, the diabetics’ community designed their own DIY one that works. After two years since the DIY version became freely available, the FDA finally approved an artificial pancreas. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The diabetics’ community illustrate \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdiabetes-as-the-trojan-horse-of-digital-health\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">the trojan horse of digital health\u003C\u002Fa>, where empowered patients won’t wait for regulations to meet their needs. But this can be risky and new policies are necessary to better attend to patients’ needs in the digital health age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Globalised policies\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Without proper regulations from healthcare authorities, digital health tools can have harmful side effects unbeknownst to patients who adopt them. In 2020, fitness tracker company Garmin was \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fgarmin-ransomware-hack-warning\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">the subject of a cyberattack\u003C\u002Fa> which halted its services and put users’ data in jeopardy. The company reportedly paid $10 million to liberate its systems. There are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hipaajournal.com\u002Fhealthcare-data-breach-statistics\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">many similar cases every year\u003C\u002Fa>, with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scmagazine.com\u002Ffeature\u002Fbreach\u002F10-biggest-healthcare-data-breaches-of-2021-impact-over-22-6m-patients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">largest attacks\u003C\u002Fa> affecting millions of patients’ data.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, the more widespread the adoption of these technologies, the number of these incidents – at least the number of attempts – will rise. As such, before digital health solutions are made available to consumers, the secure handling of data and quality of services offered should be ensured. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fec.europa.eu\u002Fgrowth\u002Fsingle-market\u002Fce-marking_en\">CE marking\u003C\u002Fa> or even new rules have to be set up to ensure quality in both performance and data protection is offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002FEmpowered-physician-and-patient-768x432.png\" alt=\"e-physician\" class=\"wp-image-23649\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002FEmpowered-physician-and-patient-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002FEmpowered-physician-and-patient-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002FEmpowered-physician-and-patient-512x288.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F04\u002FEmpowered-physician-and-patient.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhealthcare-and-medicine-needs-a-global-fda\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">a global FDA authority\u003C\u002Fa> should be set up to address these issues brought forth by the globalisation of healthcare. Such an authority will be able to offer support to players in individual countries to solve global healthcare issues whether they are about wearables, smartphone apps, genetic testing or clinical trials. But to actually come up with a working data protection framework that covers this constantly evolving, complex landscape – which includes more and more companies from other segments -, is an extremely complicated task. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Already, authorities took some steps in this direction. The World Health Organization (WHO) \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.who.int\u002Fdocs\u002Fdefault-source\u002Fdocuments\u002Fgs4dhdaa2a9f352b0445bafbc79ca799dce4d.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">published its Global Strategy on Digital Health\u003C\u002Fa>. It aims to support national or regional digital health initiatives so as to achieve affordable and universal access to health for all. The \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthit.gov\u002Ftopic\u002Fglobal-digital-health-partnership\" target=\"_blank\">Global Digital Health Partnership\u003C\u002Fa>, an international collaboration of 30 countries, states that its vision is to “support governments and health system reformers to improve the health and well-being of their citizens through the best use of evidence-based digital technologies”. Such initiatives are a must going forward in healthcare. They will help implement adequate policies for globalised healthcare with the help of digital health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Patients now have access to quality digital health services wherever they are (save for some shipping restrictions). Truly globalised healthcare might be just around the corner\u003C\u002Fp>\n",16,29589,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33],521,499,800,[35],207,[],[],[39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56],1803,1987,4047,1571,4769,1617,5519,1619,5521,1621,5531,1631,5533,1681,5535,1683,5613,1693,[58,14,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67],"post-29531","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-future-medicine","category-healthcare-design","category-healthcare-policy","tag-digital-health",{"id":24,"alt_text":69,"caption":70,"description":27,"media_type":71,"media_details":72,"post":5,"source_url":105},"Cross-border healthcare: medicine delivery to patient care","Digital Health Makes Healthcare Globalised – Dr Meskó as a practicing patient from the future had his DNA tested by a company in Australia, ECG records from the U.S., fitness data from France, microbiome test result from the UK – all of which he shows to his GP in Hungary. A globalised healthcare meant that the patient ultimately receives state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment, wherever s\u002Fhe is.","image",{"width":73,"height":74,"file":75,"sizes":76,"image_meta":103},1920,1080,"2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01.png",{"medium":77,"large":83,"thumbnail":88,"medium_large":92,"1536x1536":93,"2048x2048":98},{"file":78,"width":79,"height":80,"mime-type":81,"source_url":82},"195_tmf-01-370x208.png","370","208","image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-370x208.png",{"file":84,"width":85,"height":86,"mime-type":81,"source_url":87},"195_tmf-01-768x432.png","768","432","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-768x432.png",{"file":89,"width":90,"height":90,"mime-type":81,"source_url":91},"195_tmf-01-150x150.png","150","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-150x150.png",{"file":84,"width":85,"height":86,"mime-type":81,"source_url":87},{"file":94,"width":95,"height":96,"mime-type":81,"source_url":97},"195_tmf-01-1536x864.png","1536","864","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-1536x864.png",{"file":99,"width":100,"height":101,"mime-type":81,"source_url":102},"195_tmf-01-2048x1152.png","2048","1152","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":104,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":104,"copyright":27,"focal_length":104,"iso":104,"shutter_speed":104,"title":27,"orientation":104},"0","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01.png",{"cta_type":107,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":108,"related_posts_footer":111,"related_posts":20},"subscribe",[109,110],27927,25985,[112,113],13151,13929,{"yoast_wpseo_title":115,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":116,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"Digital Health Makes Healthcare Globalised - The Medical Futurist","Patients can access quality digital health services wherever they are (save for some shipping restrictions). How far is truly globalised healthcare?",{"self":118,"collection":124,"about":127,"author":130,"replies":133,"version-history":136,"predecessor-version":140,"wp:featuredmedia":144,"wp:attachment":147,"wp:term":150,"curies":166},[119],{"href":120,"targetHints":121},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F29531",{"allow":122},[123],"GET",[125],{"href":126},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[128],{"href":129},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[131],{"embeddable":26,"href":132},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F16",[134],{"embeddable":26,"href":135},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=29531",[137],{"count":138,"href":139},11,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F29531\u002Frevisions",[141],{"id":142,"href":143},47036,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F29531\u002Frevisions\u002F47036",[145],{"embeddable":26,"href":146},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F29589",[148],{"href":149},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=29531",[151,154,157,160,163],{"taxonomy":152,"embeddable":26,"href":153},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=29531",{"taxonomy":155,"embeddable":26,"href":156},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=29531",{"taxonomy":158,"embeddable":26,"href":159},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=29531",{"taxonomy":161,"embeddable":26,"href":162},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=29531",{"taxonomy":164,"embeddable":26,"href":165},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=29531",[167],{"name":168,"href":169,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[171],{"id":113,"date":172,"date_gmt":173,"guid":174,"modified":176,"modified_gmt":177,"slug":178,"status":13,"type":14,"link":179,"title":180,"content":182,"excerpt":184,"author":186,"featured_media":187,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":20,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":188,"categories":189,"tags":190,"project_category":199,"contact_email_category":200,"yst_prominent_words":201,"class_list":205,"better_featured_image":215,"acf":251,"yoast_meta":252,"_links":255},"2016-09-08T15:00:04","2016-09-08T13:00:04",{"rendered":175},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=13929","2021-12-06T01:02:42","2021-12-06T00:02:42","policy-makers-can-boost-digital-health-and-through-that-reform-healthcare-systems","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fpolicy-makers-can-boost-digital-health-and-through-that-reform-healthcare-systems",{"rendered":181},"Policy-Makers Should Boost Digital Health",{"rendered":183,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\"> \u003Ctbody> \u003Ctr> \u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"> \u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp> \u003C\u002Ftd> \u003C\u002Ftr> \u003C\u002Ftbody> \u003C\u002Ftable> \u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Healthcare systems can become more sustainable with the help of disruptive health technologies through changing the building blocks of the system: the patients and the doctors. Such a bottom-up method should also be facilitated by policy-makers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Healthcare is unsustainable.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>That simple, but powerful statement is true in many countries around the globe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Col class=\"wp-block-list\">\u003Cli style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fhealth\u002Fhealthcarecostsunsustainableinadvancedeconomieswithoutreform.htm\">According to OECD projections\u003C\u002Fa>, in Europe, public expenditure on health and long-term care in OECD countries is \u003Cstrong>set to increase\u003C\u002Fstrong> from around 6% of GDP today to almost 9% of GDP in 2030 and as much as 14% by 2060, unless governments can contain costs. The international organization also found that the causes for the rising public costs stem from the growing needs of ageing populations, the rising incomes driving higher expectation – and the introduction of new technologies.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli style=\"text-align: justify;\">The number of medical professionals \u003Cstrong>does not keep up\u003C\u002Fstrong> with the growing needs of ageing or increasing populations, there are many places with doctor or nurse shortages.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u003Cstrong>Technology is outpacing\u003C\u002Fstrong> the healthcare systems and the bureaucratic authorization systems allowing innovative treatment methods or new pharmaceutical solutions.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Fol>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is an alarming situation and I believe that on the long-run only a bottom-up change with the help of disruptive health technologies can allow for arriving at more sustainable health systems while preserving the human touch as the highest priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>First and foremost, the individuals in the bottom of the pyramid must change.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The way patients manage their health and disease; and the way physicians practice medicine need to adopt to the increasingly technological world. For the latter, it is simply indispensable for survival. Imagine the scenario in which digitally versed patients find solutions faster through untested and unregulated technologies than their caregivers! Healthcare would sink into chaos and an even worse system than without any change at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, I believe the solution is the following: first of all to understand how digital technologies and healthcare can live in fruitful symbiosis, and then to facilitate the bottom-up changes, the driving force behind the organic development in healthcare. The individuals in the bottom of the pyramid start changing the system. We have seen such movements from those of \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fe-patients.net\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">empowered patients\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fthecourse.webicina.com\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tech-savvy physicians\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fpatient-doctor-satisfaction.jpg\" alt=\"Patient and Doctor - Healthcare system\" class=\"wp-image-13933\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fpatient-doctor-satisfaction.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fpatient-doctor-satisfaction-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fpatient-doctor-satisfaction-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fpatient-doctor-satisfaction-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>But what if policy makers worldwide would facilitate the change? \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>What if they could create a framework which welcomes innovation and still keeps patients safe? What if they would help people understand the dangers and the advantages of the upcoming technological revolution? Sounds impossible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are promising examples to look up to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>1) \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Flife-style\u002Fhealth-and-families\u002Fhealth-news\u002Fnorway-under-pressure-to-ban-sale-of-tobacco-to-adults-a6795971.html\">\u003Cstrong>Norway’s biggest medical organization wants to ban the sale of cigarettes to adults\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In a drive towards a smoke-free society by 2035, the Norwegian Medical Association (NMA) announced in January 2016, it is pressing the government to back its proposal for a ban on tobacco sales to citizens born after the year 2000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The association hopes that the proposed legislation will mean future generations will be unable to buy tobacco in the Nordic country. Such a way, the NMA wants to avoid criminalization of the use of tobacco, and it rather wants to introduce a general denial to access to the harmful substance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"810\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fnorway-smoking-ban.jpg\" alt=\"Norway smoking ban - Healthcare systems\" class=\"wp-image-13934\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fnorway-smoking-ban.jpg 810w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fnorway-smoking-ban-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fnorway-smoking-ban-512x341.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fnorway-smoking-ban-375x250.jpg 375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, while the idea is pioneering, neither the Norwegian government nor opposition parties believe that it is currently feasible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>2) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fsociety\u002F2016\u002Fjun\u002F17\u002Fnhs-to-offer-free-devices-and-apps-to-help-people-manage-illnesses\">\u003Cstrong>The British health service offers advice and apps to help patients manage chronic diseases\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In June, The Guardian British daily reported that millions of people will receive devices and apps free on the National Health Service (NHS) to help them manage conditions such as diabetes and heart disease in a major drive to use technology to reduce patient deaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A panel of experts will approve the first 10 to 15 such devices and apps later this year. Patients will be able to access them from April 2017.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Such solutions, as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.alivecor.com\u002Fen\u002F\">AliveCore\u003C\u002Fa> or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mycopdteam.com\u002Fmobile\">MyCOPD\u003C\u002Fa> can save thousands of lives while saving millions of pounds for the British health service. AliveCore, a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-healthcare-wearables\u002F\">mobile heart monitor that gives electrocardiogram readings\u003C\u002Fa> within 30 seconds, can detect, monitor and manage arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats. They are a key cause of sudden cardiac death, which kills 100,000 people across the UK every year. MyCOPD is already used by some patients in Porthmouth due to the NHS’s latest action, and it helps those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as emphysema and bronchitis, to manage their condition on their smartphone or tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fnhs-app-programme.gif\" alt=\"NHS - Healthcare systems\" class=\"wp-image-13935\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the NHS urged doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to embrace the growing opportunities technology offers both to help promote health and tackle the service’s chronic financial problems by saving on treatment and rehabilitation costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>I hope other developed and developing countries will very soon follow the British example.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>3) \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2016\u002Fapr\u002F18\u002Fnetherlands-parliament-electric-car-petrol-diesel-ban-by-2025\">\u003Cstrong>The Netherlands considers banning petrol and diesel by 2025, boosting electric cars\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although the third example does not originate from the field of healthcare, it is important to also have a wider comprehensive view about global trends which have an impact on healthcare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In April, The Guardian reported that Dutch politicians have voted through a motion calling on the country to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars starting in 2025. If the Senate passes the bill, it will become legally binding. Originally, the bill contained the general ban on petrol and diesel cars, but it was toned down so as to allow existing cars to stay in use, but would “strive to prevent” the sales of any future ones, ensuring that Dutch roads gradually electrify over the next decade or so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Felectric-car-in-the-netherlands.jpg\" alt=\"Electric Car - Healthcare Systems\" class=\"wp-image-13936\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Felectric-car-in-the-netherlands.jpg 640w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Felectric-car-in-the-netherlands-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Felectric-car-in-the-netherlands-333x250.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is a groundbreaking initiative both for the environment and general health issues. It would be great if other countries followed the Dutch example. Just think about the unsustainable situation in Beijing, China, where environmental and health risks are as high as never before due to the exponentially growing car industry and the factories burning coal for production. How great would it be if policy-makers adopted similar measures to improve the quality of life in China?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Let’s push policy-makers towards change!\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As healthcare systems are unsustainable and full of sub-optimal solutions for patients, in the last years it has become clear that it is extremely difficult to navigate through such systems. Patient movements such as the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthit.gov\u002Fpatients-families\u002Fblue-button\u002Fabout-blue-button\">Blue Button Initiative\u003C\u002Fa> which enables patients to know more about their own healthcare data, and the idea of \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fparticipatorymedicine.org\u002F\">Participatory Healthcare\u003C\u002Fa> all attempt to improve the situation and enable patients to armor themselves in the face of challenges coming from a poorly designed system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>How easier would it be to dedicate the same effort to a cause which is facilitated by governments and policy makers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Let’s push them into this direction by showing them promising examples like the ones above.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":185,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2016. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,13982,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[32,33],[191,192,193,194,195,196,197,198],246,275,289,313,519,546,547,548,[],[],[42,50,54,202,203,204],3189,3829,4911,[206,14,59,60,61,62,63,65,66,207,208,209,210,211,212,213,214],"post-13929","tag-future","tag-healthcare","tag-innovation","tag-medicine","tag-gc4","tag-healthcare-systems","tag-policy-making","tag-healthcare-policy",{"id":187,"alt_text":216,"caption":217,"description":27,"media_type":71,"media_details":218,"post":113,"source_url":250},"ecg","Vector illustration of electrocardiogram line on blue soft background",{"width":219,"height":220,"file":221,"sizes":222,"image_meta":248},870,351,"2016\u002F08\u002Fabstract-background.jpg",{"medium":223,"large":229,"thumbnail":234,"medium_large":238,"large_old_512x207":239,"medium_old_458x185":243},{"file":224,"width":225,"height":226,"mime-type":227,"source_url":228},"abstract-background-370x208.jpg",370,208,"image\u002Fjpeg","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fabstract-background-370x208.jpg",{"file":230,"width":231,"height":232,"mime-type":227,"source_url":233},"abstract-background-768x310.jpg",768,310,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fabstract-background-768x310.jpg",{"file":235,"width":236,"height":236,"mime-type":227,"source_url":237},"abstract-background-150x150.jpg",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fabstract-background-150x150.jpg",{"file":230,"width":231,"height":232,"mime-type":227,"source_url":233},{"file":240,"width":241,"height":35,"mime-type":227,"source_url":242},"abstract-background-512x207.jpg",512,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fabstract-background-512x207.jpg",{"file":244,"width":245,"height":246,"mime-type":227,"source_url":247},"abstract-background-458x185.jpg",458,185,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fabstract-background-458x185.jpg",{"aperture":104,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":104,"copyright":27,"focal_length":104,"iso":104,"shutter_speed":104,"title":27,"orientation":104,"keywords":249},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2016\u002F08\u002Fabstract-background.jpg",{"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20,"related_posts_footer":20,"related_posts":20},{"yoast_wpseo_title":253,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":254,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":179},"Policy-Makers Should Boost Digital Health - The Medical Futurist","Healthcare systems can become more sustainable through disruptive health technologies. A bottom-up change can be facilitated by policy-makers.",{"self":256,"collection":261,"about":263,"author":265,"replies":268,"version-history":271,"predecessor-version":274,"wp:featuredmedia":278,"wp:attachment":281,"wp:term":284,"curies":295},[257],{"href":258,"targetHints":259},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13929",{"allow":260},[123],[262],{"href":126},[264],{"href":129},[266],{"embeddable":26,"href":267},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[269],{"embeddable":26,"href":270},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=13929",[272],{"count":186,"href":273},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13929\u002Frevisions",[275],{"id":276,"href":277},37267,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13929\u002Frevisions\u002F37267",[279],{"embeddable":26,"href":280},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F13982",[282],{"href":283},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=13929",[285,287,289,291,293],{"taxonomy":152,"embeddable":26,"href":286},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=13929",{"taxonomy":155,"embeddable":26,"href":288},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=13929",{"taxonomy":158,"embeddable":26,"href":290},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=13929",{"taxonomy":161,"embeddable":26,"href":292},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=13929",{"taxonomy":164,"embeddable":26,"href":294},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=13929",[296],{"name":168,"href":169,"templated":26},[],1785847814325]