Page 29 - EngineerIt May 2021

TECHNOLOGY FOR DIGITAL HEALTH

Rewind just two years back and such levels of virtual enthusiasm would simply not
have existed. Yet, the forcing hand of the pandemic has changed the dynamic between the
choice, concern and convenience of how we engage with health services.
Take the UK as an example; before the virus, video appointments made up only one
percent of the 340 million annual visits to primary care doctors and nurses in Britain’s
National Health Service. But as the outbreak accelerated, as the NHS encouraged all of
the UK’s 7,000 GP surgeries to reduce face-to-face appointments, we saw physical A&E
visits across all unit types drop by 57% (vs the year before), while online doctor platforms
like Push Doctor saw a 70% weekly increase in consultations. A similar trend continues to
grow in Germany, not least since diagnoses from online doctors are now considered proof
to warrant sick leave in the eyes of employers.
The pandemic removed the choice of having face-to-face routine consultations, forcing
many to overcome long held concerns about the safety and security of virtual meetings
with medical professionals. Now, we accept and realise the logic of a ten minute video call
to discuss blood sample results versus travelling to a physical waiting room and sharing
this confined space with other patients for an unknown amount of time.
As this convenience starts to trump concern in certain healthcare scenarios, Jens Kögler
consumers are waking up to the broader opportunities new digital services can bring. We
are now that much braver and more confident in nascent digital healthcare technologies away from medical facilities, thanks to
like AI; today, 40% of consumers would place their trust in a computer that can detect and sensors and real-time data monitoring
recognise anomalies, for example cancerous cells, over a human doctor. And mistrust predicting when they will need medical
of data use in healthcare – previously a huge hurdle to overcome – is subsiding; 60% assistance. Almost half, meanwhile,
are now comfortable with doctors having completely accurate data about their daily lives, have faith in technology significantly
such as rates of exercise to diet and nutrition, in order to receive better health guidance lowering the risk of invasive surgery
and counsel. Forty-five per cent of Europeans are even comfortable or excited about a within the next five years, as 51%
more qualified doctor conducting invasive surgery via remote robotics than a less qualified believe it can meaningfully improve the
doctor operating in person – more a vision for the future than current common practice, quality of life of vulnerable people, such
but an indicator of where things could head. as the elderly or disabled.
Life after the big digital switch: the appetite for innovation Realising the future of healthcare
While the pandemic was the big digital switch, a major catalyst for change, what is now It is this consumer belief in, and
fuelling the growing consumer enthusiasm in digital healthcare? I believe a domino- demand for, digital healthcare services
effect adoption of new technologies is eroding doubt, fear and scepticism of the role that is laying down the challenge for
of ‘digital’ in protecting ourselves, friends and families. Those taking the first steps in both industry and government. As with
accepting technology’s potential to monitor, diagnose and improve their health and the introduction of the stethoscope,
wellbeing are helping shift mainstream consumer perceptions for the longer term. the first steps are sometimes the
Consider the move we’ve already made beyond using a quick Google search to hardest, but the big digital switch of
‘diagnose’ broad symptoms – evidenced by the explosion in online services such as 2020 has kick-started this domino-
Doctorlink, the AI-enabled digital doctor that can suggest treatment plans, or apps like effect of enthusiasm and excitement
Ada which, built by a neuroscientist and a doctor, has completed 20 million symptom whereby consumers clearly feel less
assessments. We’re at a point where wearable fitness devices monitor our vital statistics wary of technology in their patient care.
everyday with increasing granularity and where motion sensors can aid remote recovery – What’s more, given the intense and
for example, determining whether patients are putting enough weight on their knees after ever-growing pressures on healthcare
knee surgery and completing prescribed exercises, rather than the past method of daily, workers and the systems themselves,
face-to-face progress updates. I’m confident we’ll see an even greater
And that’s before the potential to properly exploit state-of-the-art applications such digital appetite from more of the
as augmented and virtual reality and AI. The results and diversity of use cases here are population to find a future-proof system
breathtaking. From rapid analysis of certain disease patterns to pinpointing the risk of that works for everybody.
respiratory diseases via an algorithm that simply runs over x-ray images of patients’ chests, This all means that the opportunity is
to comparing findings with, theoretically, millions of other patients to recommend the best there for the taking. As new care models
treatment, AI can help us make decisions faster and better, combining infinite different and services have been accelerated,
data sources we as human beings are not able to. It could, for example, help measure the now is the time to create, deliver and
growth of a tumour and illustrate the trend in milliseconds – giving the radiologist the gift of protect great applications, services and
time, to really concentrate on the important thinking that requires creativity and experience. experiences – powered by a flexible,
And the message from consumers is that they want more of these innovations. consistent and intrinsically secure digital
Two-thirds now identify themselves as ‘digitally curious’ or ‘digital explorers’ – a ready foundation – to meet the expectations of
and receptive audience for new digital services, one with a growing belief in the power consumers and transform the cost, quality
of technology to benefit the health and wellbeing of themselves, their friends and their and delivery of patient care forever. A
families. Fifty-eight per cent of consumers, for example, are comfortable or excited that brave new virtual world of healthcare tech
family members with a chronic/long-term illness could have the freedom to live further awaits, we just need to realise it. n

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