Learnings From Our TTRN Conference: The Future of Healthcare is at Home
Traditionally, populations evolve in a pyramid-type constitution, as seen in the above figure on the left. It is a sustainable development, where the base-to-mid part of the pyramid takes care of the top lighter part of the pyramid. It is a strong structure, and it works. When the top part of the pyramid becomes heavier and heavier, we see an emerging unsustainable situation. Estimates today say that by 2034, the US 65+ aged adults will, for the first time in history, outnumber the younger 18- aged population. This is a burning platform. And when human hands can no longer carry the burden, we must look to non-human hands for help – which is where health tech and telehealth come into play.
The healthcare landscape can be so complicated, that no one really knows how to solve a thousand solvable problems
And while telehealth may seem like a near future discussion, we are in many ways talking about the present – "new mouse traps" are not a requisite for immediate success. To make a lasting impact right now, we already have many of the necessary tools, for as Dr. Vimal Mishra, Head of Digital Care at UC Davis Health, pointed out, 20-30% of all care can be serviced at home with our current technology.
Innovation without change is just research
This does not change the fact that the want and need for innovation is present throughout the ecosystems, and many actors and stakeholders keep thinking up new and better ways of doing healthcare; nevertheless, as Dr. Martin Vesterby made a strong point for, actual change — systemic, widespread adoption of these innovations — is the true test. And the current systems need to improve.
This sentiment emphasizes that while identifying and integrating telehealth is vital, its success depends on the broader ecosystem and infrastructure, from problem knowers, innovators, regulators, adapters to, ultimately, user acceptance. Each step must show a clear and vetted path to lifting the future of health care where it must be, and only a united ecosystem is a viable path forth.
... making sure innovative tech gets through the system is one part of the solution; the other part is to train staff to properly use it...
We Live in a World Where 20% Is the Golden Standard
The TTRN conference appeared to resonate with the idea that health tech and telehealth are emerging as beacons of hope. Their convergence foretells a healthcare future where patients experience comprehensive, individualized, and easily accessible treatment. While this direction offers much potential, it’s essential to tread with sensitivity, ensuring that the innovations are designed for user ease and that there’s adequate education and support amongst healthcare workers to navigate this digital healthcare frontier efficiently.
Surprisingly, despite the advantages of telehealth, the TTRN conference shed light on the fact that there’s a wide disparity in its adoption from hospital to hospital and nation to nation. For example, while some Californian hospitals report around 20% of doctor-to-patient communications through video, Denmark lags at just 1%. And the sentiments were unanimously that even 20% is far from where we should be. And please note Denmark is one of the world’s most digitalized countries - a leader in the EU. Most transactions are cashless, and almost all interaction with the authorities takes place online. Yet, the data shows learning is needed when we address implementing these digital tools, such as health care video-conferences over tele-conferences.
Professor Kristian Kidholm of Health Care Innovation at CIMT Denmark pointed out that many cutting-edge ideas typically begin in the US. That the US has an admirable entrepreneurial way of making these ideas come to light. Select US hospitals are, in particular, good at implementing smart solutions that allow for even acute patient care at home. Denmark has much to learn from this, he stresses.
We must speed up implementation of innovative telehealth solutions, but it is not only about implementation…
As the 21st century progresses, collaboration between nations and healthcare systems will be the lighthouse guiding the healthcare ship through turbulent waters. Nations must share insights, adapt best practices, and build robust frameworks to ensure that telehealth doesn't remain a buzzword but evolves into the default healthcare model. The future is not about whether telehealth will be an integral part of healthcare; it's about how seamlessly we integrate it into the fabric of evolving healthcare systems that challenge the business as usual.
At Innovation Centre Denmark, we aim to connect thought leaders, innovators, hospitals, and universities, fostering an environment where the finest ideas emerge. The term "integration" propels a comprehensive approach, encompassing the entire value chain from inception to realization. Silicon Valley and the Bay Area stand out for their capacity to transcend traditional boundaries, continuously seeking improved methods to achieve lasting and meaningful change. Health tech and telehealth are not only process/workflow optimization or a way of care that pushes the frontier on cost efficiency and accessibility; it is also on urgent care, chronic disease management, cognitive health monitoring, medication management, integration with EHR, social engagement, clinical intelligence, rehabilitation, interdisciplinary care… and predictive analysis keeping the individual healthy, for longer.
… and this leads us to this final quote from the TTRN 2023 conference:
Prevention is the key to solving the hospital problem
The abstracts from the TTRN conference are now published through the Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth, and can be downloaded here.
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