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Digital medicine, 6 ways to make it patient-friendly

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The requests for online visits double, the downloads of applications dedicated to health and prevention increase by 25%, the new apps of this kind released on the market grow by 200 units a day. The Covid-19 pandemic is also changing our habits in the health sector, accelerating a process, that of digitalization, which involves almost all sectors of our life. Simplification is the watchword: 80% say, in fact, that they rely exclusively on this factor when choosing suppliers. The question arises whether and to what extent this trend, associated with the changes induced by the pandemic, will continue to continue afterwards and what characteristics will the healthcare of the future have. In seeking an answer, 6 essential “ingredients” were identified that the interaction between doctor and patient should always have.

The comfort

In a survey of nearly 3,500 Americans, nearly 2 in 3 citizens said interacting with current services is stressful for them. Welcoming the person, also opening the digital doors of the healthcare system, is increasingly central to meeting the needs not only of the patient, but also of the structures and operators. The ability to plan appointments in a virtual way, for example, collect requests and send prescriptions online are all operations that can help the former to better manage their calendar, and the latter to quickly define the necessary spaces and staff. By reducing stress for everyone.

The customization

Getting to know your interlocutor is the first step to start a fruitful dialogue for all parties. Instead, in many cases communications from health institutions are perceived as not centered on real needs, or as ineffective. In this field, artificial intelligence can help to get to know the user better. For example, some might prefer a digital reminder 48 hours before the doctor’s appointment, while others might prefer the classic phone call made the day before. The AI ​​helps us to understand with whom to adopt a certain communication style and with whom a different approach. Also to personalize the services, such as a tailor-made suit, it is therefore important to collect and digitally store the data of the individual, to be stored in a secure and private virtual location.

Accessibility

Inequalities are another big problem. The World Health Organization has estimated that by 2030 as many as 5 billion people will not be able to access health services. Breaking down walls is essential to ensure that everyone can receive adequate care. Telemedicine, which includes digital tools for remote image acquisition, can help us in this and can facilitate access to treatment. There are projects, for example, which provide for the creation of virtual healthcare stations: small telemedicine environments, to be deployed throughout the territory (in shops or in the town hall), where advanced technologies allow the person to receive quality assistance. Sometimes, on the contrary, to bring down the walls you have to go back to more traditional methods of communication, especially in places where the internet and technologies are less widespread and in general when patients have less digital literacy.

Participation in the treatment path

Making the person the center of care means first of all involving them. Participation begins with an awareness of the problem and how the treatment will take place, to be discussed with the doctor. In this case, digital tutoring systems can be added to more classic tools, for example preoperative coaching, which in addition to guiding the patient serves to reduce hospitalization times and the risk of avoidable new hospitalizations. Today, then, the digital twin, a growing technology in this sector, provides a representation of the individual within the care path and allows him to visualize all the stages he will have to face.

The connection

While being hyper-connected at work can be a source of stress, in health it can be a great advantage. In this case we are not talking about hyperconnection, but about continuous monitoring: wearable biosensors – electrodes, patches, microneedles – increasingly technological and less bulky. These tools, which measure different parameters of health and are used in various pathologies (and even when you are well), do not require the constant presence or attention of a specialist or a strong commitment to the patient. On the contrary, they simplify the process and increase the convenience for both of you. Today these systems extend to various sectors of health care. One example is a new ultra-portable remote electronic fetal monitoring system. This method reduces unnecessary interactions between clinicians and expectant mothers, especially in cases where the risk of contagion from Covid-19 is high.

Attention to prevention

Digital healthcare cannot fail to take into account the fact that life expectancy is increasing and that medicine is increasingly personalized and precise. In this context, people are also more prepared and attentive to health and lifestyles. Tools that facilitate attention to prevention are and will be increasingly useful and used.

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