Top 8 Digital Health News of the Week
Bertalan Meskó, MD, PhD
Director of The Medical Futurist Institute (Keynote Speaker, Researcher, Author & Futurist)
The wave of vaccinations is in full swing. As of today, over 550 million doses have been administered around the world. However, it is of serious concern that vaccinated people tend not to follow the rules – and this could trigger further waves. It’s hard to accept, but handwashing, social distancing and mask-wearing are still a must for all of us.
But there is also good news: it’s incredible to see that my published research, on which I based my PhD 9 years ago, actually just became a viable product. A pharma company came out with a kit that uses our results and does exactly what we envisioned back then. Even more, a brand new paper by The Medical Futurist Institute was published this week on the future of cardiology.
STUDY OF 36.5M PEOPLE REVEALS HUGE JUMP IN PANDEMIC TELEHEALTH USE
A cohort study of more than 36 million people in the U.S. found a dramatic increase in telehealth use during the pandemic. In the first four months of COVID-19, telehealth visits accounted for 23.6% of all interactions – compared with 0.3% of contacts during the same time period in 2019.
Finally, a good study of COVID's impact on telemedicine! It's based on U.S. data but I'm sure we would see similar numbers worldwide.
UVD ROBOTS ARE WORKING TO PROTECT SCHOOL KIDS IN NEW MEXICO
UVD robot has been selected by the Gallup McKinley County Schools in New Mexico to supply their robots to 34 schools, two administrative buildings and one warehouse to help fight against the Coronavirus and other infectious diseases. Superintendent Michael Hyatt said, “we wanted a larger, longer-term disinfection solution, adding a layer of protection that would disinfect the surfaces and the air in our buildings and help fight COVID, colds, flu and infectious diseases for years to come."
Up until now, we’ve only seen such disinfecting robots in hospitals. Now they seem to have arrived in schools as well.
VIRTUAL SCHOOL CAN BE DAMAGING TO CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH, SAYS CDC STUDY
Virtual instruction may pose more risks to the mental health and wellness of children and parents than in-person learning, according to a study published by the CDC. Children in digital education were less physically active, spent less time outside and spent less time with friends.
A sad reminder is stating the obvious. No doubt, virtual schooling is indeed damaging to our children. But honestly: what else can we do now?!
COVID TECH GAP SEEN WIDENING INEQUALITY IN BRITAIN
A stark divide in people’s use of COVID-related technology such as contact-tracing apps risks disenfranchising some of Britain’s most disadvantaged communities, researchers said, calling for a more inclusive approach to digital health. The most clinically vulnerable, poorest and oldest were most likely to lack technology access.
MORE NEWS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE
E-HEALTH AFRICA – Beyond Covid-19: The Future Of E-Health In Africa
MENTAL HEALTH – The Therapist in Your Smartphone
ROBOTICS – Tiny Robots Can Now Smuggle Drugs Into Brain Tumors
BIOPRINTING – UK scientists showcase sonolithography, a new ultrasound-based 3D bioprinting technique
Owner-Paramount Palliative and Hospice of Texas, LLC
3 年QHi Qi
Pharmacy Technician at CVS Health
3 年Thanks for sharing
Professor at Higher technical school in Uzice Serbia
3 年I am free to state: it is nice that there are technologies. The virtual world cannot replace the real world in any form.