Overview of the Rapid Technological Advancements in Healthcare
How patients are cared for and how doctors practise have been profoundly affected by the rapid and revolutionary rise of technological innovation in the healthcare industry in recent years. Telemedicine has seen a huge increase in the usage of video chats and smartphone applications for remote consultations, diagnosis, and treatment, giving patients more convenience in gaining access to medical care, especially in the aftermath of the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are becoming more popular in the medical field because of their potential to enhance diagnosis, assess medical data, predict patient outcomes, and allow more accurate and timely therapies(Maroju RG et al., 2023). The IoT has allowed for the development of wearable devices that may be used to keep tabs on a person's fitness level, monitor their vital signs, and even spot the beginnings of a health condition. Automation and robots are helping with routine tasks, drug distribution, and surgical procedures in hospitals to increase efficiency and reduce human error. Genomic medicine, which tailors therapies to each patient by analysing their DNA, is more accessible and cost-effective. 3D printing is revolutionising the production of implants, prosthetics, and individualised medical tools(Al Bassam N et al., 2021).
Blockchain technology is also being used to automate medical records, ensure data integrity, and protect the privacy of patients' personal information. These advancements will improve patient care, reduce costs, and increase system efficiency, promising a brighter future for the healthcare industry as a whole. However, these innovations also come with ethical, privacy, and legal limits that must be carefully considered and adapted to in order to reach their full potential (Saeed H et al., 2022).
The Convergence of Digital Health and AI
The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health offers exciting new possibilities for enhancing medical assessment and treatment. Because of this, the healthcare system is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Wearables, mobile health applications, and electronic health records (EHRs) are all part of the expanding field of digital health. These technologies generate massive amounts of data, and AI is a powerful method for extracting meaningful insights from that data (Bajwa J et al., 2021)
There are several applications of AI in digital health:
Diagnosis and Predictive Analytics: MRIs and X-rays are no match for the precision with which artificial intelligence algorithms analyse such images. They may also be able to detect at-risk patients and predict sickness patterns via analysis of EHRs and patient data, allowing for early treatments.
In personalised medicine, AI helps to customise treatment plans according to each individual's genetic make-up, medical history, and way of life. Precision medicine aims to maximise therapeutic benefit while reducing unwanted side effects (Hosny A et al., 2018).
Wearables and the Internet of Things enable remote monitoring of health data in real time. With the use of AI, patients may monitor their own health and alert their doctors to any discrepancies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in the drug discovery process to detect and predict the success rates of enormous datasets being processed, speeding up the creation of innovative medications.
Patients now have access to their medical records, questions answered, and treatment recommendations 24/7 thanks to AI-powered chatbots and virtual health assistants.(McKee M, et al., 2022)
Although this convergence holds much potential, challenges remain. Proper use of AI in healthcare requires new approaches to privacy, data security, and regulatory frameworks. The healthcare workforce also needs education on how to use AI applications in their job.To sum up, the marriage of AI with digital health represents a sea shift in the medical field. It has the potential to improve patient outcomes, optimise healthcare operations, and fundamentally alter modern healthcare delivery (Stanford FC, 2022).