siliconindia | | December 20189Healthcare as we know is poised for a new enriching chapter ahead and Patient Centricity is likely to be redefined in the coming decaderecently, CRISPR/Cas9, which can edit human genes fast, accurately, and is cheap to remove unwanted mutations. There is a good possibility that this could lead to cure or better quality of life.Another variation of personalized medicine that is undergoing a revolution right in front of our eyes is in the field of wearables that are now monitoring a host of bio-parameters in real time. In a sense, we are already in the era of Bionic Man, and caught-up with popular culture and science fiction. Mind reading devices are already here and some very interesting ideas are being explored for the healthcare sector. While it sounds fantastic, a comfortable wearable headset reads EKG signals in real-time and based on certain personalized mapping of the brain signals is able to understand the thoughts and execute commands, including IoT devices automatically. Imagine the use cases in a smart healthcare facility and the kind of personalized care that could be provided to an incapacitated recuperating patient. Already, so many parameters such as ECG, Heart Rate, Pulse, BP, Temperature, Fall Detection and Diabetes monitoring are happening on a single non-intrusive device. Some are in the form of a smartwatch or an IoT-enabled patch or even a ring. With some small sample even A1C, Thyroid, Lipid profiles and Basic Urine Routine can be reliably done at home on a compact easy to use device. All of them are paired with smart analytics leveraging massive data, both the individuals and a wide reference range. By using machine or deep learning, a new age of prevention, early detection and intervention is upon us. AI-based engines are monitoring constantly, determining if the subject is normal along with any deviations and then based on multiple factors are alerting the subject of a possible oncoming illness even before the subject feels the conditions' early effects. Recently the USFDA approved a hearing aid from Bose, which is a self-fitting device. This is a huge news, as it is the first device in its segment that is now available over the counter. A patient can use an app and make all adjustments required. Earlier, this required trained medical personnel to do the same task. Not only it proved disruptive to the incumbents and the entire eco-system behind, it also opens the possibilities of similar self-care for other chronic conditions. The Tricorder from the popular Hollywood movie Star Trek, it seems, is amongst us.This transformation journey, which began recently, will only strengthen in the next 10 years, opening-up new opportunities for innovators. Care providers will also be able to leverage many of the same new technologies and those late in the game risk being left behind. The juggernaut of change is on the back; many recent innovations that have taken centre stage, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Cloud Computing, Mobility & IoT, Miniaturization, RPA, Ubiquitous High Speed Connectivity, and New Sensor Technologies, to name a few. To top it all, these are now at costs that can touch lives of the masses. Healthcare as we know is poised for a new enriching chapter ahead and Patient Centricity is likely to be redefined in the coming decade.
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