HIMSS18: How digital technology is addressing today’s most pressing health crises
At a March 7 presentation at HIMSS18 given by Samsung Health, experts explained how technology is addressing health crises including chronic pain and geriatric care through telehealth, mobile devices and implantables.
The discussion included David Rhew, CMO and head of healthcare and fitness at Samsung Electronics America; John Valiton, CEO of Reemo Health; Nana Murugesan, VP of Samsung services at Samsung Electronics America; and Jim Willenbring, senior director for digital health and commercial and patient support operations at Medtronic.
Rhew began the session by outlining how virtual reality (VR) could be used to treat chronic pain. In his discussion, Rhew reiterated the importance and benefits of VR as a therapeutic tool rather than just a distraction tool. He cited research conducted at Cedars Sinai where 120 patients admitted to the hospital for pain saw an average 52 percent reduction in pain scores when comparing VR to viewing content on a television.
Rhew went on to explain the issues no longer lie with the science but with the awareness of VR. As the opioid crisis continues to worsen, organizations must investigate utilizing technology to address the chronic pain of patients. Through a variety of studies, VR has been associated with reducing or even eliminating the need for opiod-based pain treatment. With pain relief from using VR lasting up to 24 hours, the low awareness of the benefits to VR remain the barrier to implementation.
In Willenbring’s section of the discussion, he explained how implantable spinal cord simulators could also bring relief to chronic pain patients. The implantable device, which is planted like a pacemaker, emits a signal blocking the integration of pain signals and has shown to reduce pain scores of nine to a two. This viable option for the control and management of pain also doubles as a refillable drug pump and patient tracking device. Providers can remotely track patient activity through a mobile device for an improved insight into patient function.
Valiton’s focus shifted toward geriatric care and how families could “make sure mom was taken care of.” In his discussion, Valiton found seniors did not like to use the pendants for fall detection because it made them feel old and less independent. In response, Reemo Health developed a type of smartwatch that included a 24/7 live call center for fall detection. Additionally, Reemo Health developed a portal for family monitoring to watch wearers' sleep patterns and heart rate activity.
The discussion ended with Murugesan stating access is the key in keeping users engaged in their care and that Samsung Health’s aim is to provide access on all devices to its 300 million current users. Murugesan went on to explain the many assets of Samsung Health products which include a virtual personalized coach who uses data collected from sensors to provide insight on how users can lead more healthy lives, how telehealth could reduce the number of emergency room visits by a third and how the landscape of healthcare is shifting toward more long-term care for chronic disease through the utilization of technology.
Cara joined TriMed Media in 2016 and is currently a Senior Writer for Clinical Innovation & Technology. Originating from Detroit, Michigan, she holds a Bachelors in Health Communications from Grand Valley State University.