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Tag: chronic disease
02/07/2023

AI and Genetics Could Help Doctors Treat Alcohol Addiction, Research Shows

Article Excerpt: Imagine a patient has been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, and their health care provider is reviewing medication options to help them curb their drinking. The provider asks the patient some basic questions, like alcohol cravings and stress levels, and collects a blood sample for genetic testing. A computer model uses this information to determine which medication would most likely support the patient with managing their alcohol use. With the help of the model, the provider gives a medication recommendation that is the best fit for their patient.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/58msbx3c

Article Source: Medical Xpress

01/23/2023

Are Wearables Helpful for Dying Patients?

Article Excerpt: A 2019 study found that health tech wearables may improve the outpatient monitoring of cancer patients. The device could detect a decline in a patient’s condition and send the data to a doctor, catching the issue much earlier than the typical trip to the emergency department. This early catch supports patient comfort and reduces costly readmissions for the patient and the health system. Data collection could also improve telehealth visits by recording vital signs and other assessment data before or during appointments.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/ycyhh49h

Article Source: Health News

10/17/2022

Designing an electronic medical record alert to identify hospitalised patients with HIV: successes and challenges

El-Nahal W, Grader-Beck T, Gebo K, Holmes E, Herne K, Moore R, Thompson D, Berry S. Designing an electronic medical record alert to identify hospitalised patients with HIV: successes and challenges. BMJ Health Care Inform 2022;29:e100521. doi:10.1136/bmjhci-2021-100521

An electronic medical record (EMR) alert system was developed to use readily available data elements to accurately identify hospitalized people with HIV. Authors described the design and implementation of the EMR alert and methods to evaluate its accuracy for identifying people with HIV. Over 24 months, the EMR alert was used to notify an intervention team and data abstraction team in real time about admissions of people with HIV. Sensitivity was assessed by comparing the machine-learning alert system to manual chart reviews. Positive predictive value (probability that a patient with a positive test result actually has the disease), was assessed by false positives identified in chart review (not having HIV despite alert triggering). Results demonstrated high sensitivity (sensitivity=100%, 95% CI 82-100%) and good predictive value (84%, 95% CI 82-86%). A combination of data (diagnosis, prescriptions, and lab orders) in the EMR alert system achieved high sensitivity and positive predictive value in identifying people with HIV. ICD Code diagnoses were the strongest contributors to predictive value, compared to the other criteria. Use of data-driven alerts in electronic health record systems can facilitate the deployment of multidisciplinary teams for medication review, education, case management, and outpatient linkage to follow-up.

09/01/2022

Freakin’ Cool Tech: Rytek

Article Excerpt: RyTek Medical of Lebanon continues to find new ways to improve biomedical devices, having already found success in the areas of traumatic brain injury monitoring, early stroke detection, cancer sensing and imaging, and now dental surgery guidance through the use of bioimpedance-based medical technologies… Ryan Halter, founder and CEO of RyTek, and an associate professor of engineering at Dartmouth College, says he was approached by a dental surgeon who wanted Halter and his academic lab to tackle the challenge of providing feedback during surgery.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/276tuxfm

Article Source: Business NH

08/29/2022

Challenges and opportunities of telehealth digital equity to manage HIV and comorbidities for older persons living with HIV in New York State

Baim-Lance A, Angulo M, Chiasson MA, Lekas HM, Villarreal J, Cantos A, Kerr C, Nagaraja A, Yin MT, Gordon P. Challenges and opportunities of telehealth digital equity to manage HIV and comorbidities for older persons living with HIV in New York State. BMC Health Serv Res 22, 609 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08010-5

This study used mixed methods to investigate access, use and quality of HIV and other telehealth services for older people living with HIV (PLWH) during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants over 50 years of age and receiving HIV care in an urban academic medical center in New York City or in a rural federally qualified health center were enrolled (total N=80). The study administered a survey of closed and open-ended questions (in English or Spanish) in-person or via telephone. The survey assessed physical and mental health history and current health status, COVID-19 history, management of HIV and comorbidities during COVID-19, social support during COVID-19, and socio-demographics. Results found that telehealth access and use were impacted by several factors, including access to devices, connectivity, technology literacy, and privacy concerns. Seventy-four percent of participants had at least one telehealth visit for an HIV or specialty visit. Most (70%) participants who had at least one telehealth visit perceived it as worse than in-person. Specifically, participants felt the telehealth appointments were less interpersonal, prone to technical issues, and resulted in poorer outcomes (i.e., lack of receiving referrals and follow up care management). Reported barriers to telehealth included limited access to and reliability of technology, low technology literacy, and discomfort sharing with providers virtually. These findings inform the need for development of digital health interventions that are acceptable and feasible for older PLWH.

08/10/2022

Virtual Reality Could Completely Transform Mental Health—if We’re Ready

Article Excerpt: Virtual reality has quickly moved past its reputation as a niche video game console that nauseated its users (literally). Today’s VR is sleek, with capabilities once considered inconceivable—fully realized avatars that emote and cry; naturalistic scenery; and the ability to interact exclusively with one’s bare hands, no controllers involved. Proponents see a household use for VR, whether in the form of the so-called (and still ill-defined) “metaverse,” or simply as a way to connect with family and work on yourself. Some researchers have found the technology to be especially potent at solving mental health issues like anxiety, addiction, and social isolation. Today’s virtual reality startups are in the game of creating and perfecting illusions to help users cope with reality, not disconnect from it.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/5n8bfjjr

Article Source: The Daily Best

07/11/2022

13 Ways Smartphones Are Revolutionizing Healthcare

Article Excerpt: Social entrepreneur Ariel Beery and optics expert David Levitz had the inspiration to use the built-in camera of a smartphone to screen for cervical cancer — the fourth most common cancer affecting women globally and the second most common cancer for women in low-resource settings. “More than five billion people around the world have access to mobile phones, but not to a physician,” Beery told ISRAEL21c in 2014, when the prototype was being piloted in five countries.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/4vb8r8sc

Article Source: Israel21c

06/29/2022

Dealing with Medication-Related Weight Gain

Article Excerpt: Part of taking medications is knowing there may be side effects and talking to your doctor if they’re anything worse than mild. But there is one somewhat common side effect that many people find especially worrisome: weight gain. Few among us want to gain weight—and extra pounds are particularly distressing if they further complicate the condition for which you’re taking the medicine in the first place. Some drugs prescribed to treat heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and arthritis can cause weight gain, which can make the disease they are treating worse instead of better, says UNC Health geriatrician and obesity medicine specialist John A. Batsis, MD.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/2p8j7ydc

Article Source: UNC Health Talk

06/23/2022

Digital Therapeutics Are Modern Day Digital Engineers

Article Excerpt: Suffering from chronic pain or IBS ? or want to reverse newly diagnosed diabetes? Software engineers have exciting solutions that are backed by the USFDA. Digital therapeutics (DTx ) are the newer options for patients. They are high-quality mobile-friendly software application-driven interventions to prevent, manage or treat diseases. Backed by AI, they provide personalized solutions. Scientifically established and evidence-based, they can be as effective as pharmaceutical pills.

Full Article: https://tinyurl.com/yvp2k274

Article Source: BW Healthcare World