Digital Health Technologies for Public Health

The Dawn of a New Era in Healthcare: WHO Introduces SARAH In an age where digital transformation is revolutionizing every aspect of our lives, healthcare is no exception. On April 3, 2024, ahead of World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in digital health promotion: SARAH (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health). This innovative digital assistant fosters healthy habits and offers crucial health information, leveraging the power of generative artificial intelligence (AI). SARAH: A Milestone in AI-Powered Healthcare SARAH represents a significant leap forward from traditional health information avatars. Utilizing cutting-edge language models and technology, SARAH offers 24/7 interaction in eight different languages across any device. This level of accessibility and flexibility underscores WHO's commitment to making health information universally available, embodying this year's World Health Day motto, "My Health, My Right." Empowering Healthier Lifestyles SARAH's capabilities extend beyond mere information dissemination. By addressing major health topics, including mental health and healthy living, SARAH aims to guide individuals on their journey to optimal wellness. Particularly, SARAH can enlighten users about risk factors for major diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, offering actionable advice on quitting smoking, staying active, and stress management. Beyond Technology: A Vision for Equitable Healthcare WHO's initiative showcases technological prowess and envisions a future where everyone can access up-to-date, reliable health information. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes the digital future of health and calls for collaborative research to further harness AI's potential while addressing ethical considerations such as privacy, security, and equity. SARAH and the Future As SARAH evolves, continuously learning and adapting through generative AI, it sets a precedent for how technology can ethically and effectively support public health initiatives. This project builds on the legacy of Florence, SARAH's predecessor, which played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. The introduction of SARAH by WHO marks a pivotal moment in healthcare, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in enhancing health education and promoting preventive measures against diseases. It is a clarion call to developers, policymakers, and healthcare providers to prioritize ethical considerations in AI development, ensuring that the benefits of such technology are accessible to all. As we embrace this digital health revolution, let's engage in meaningful discussions on how AI can continue to innovate healthcare, making it more inclusive and effective for everyone, everywhere. Please share this with your colleagues Harvey Castro, MD, MBA. #DigitalHealth #AIInHealthcare #PublicHealthInnovation #SARAH #WorldHealthDay #WHO #HealthcareTechnology #DrGPT

>>>New Research: Large Scaled Pilot Building Blocks to Implement a #Telehealth #Clinic to Improve #PrimaryCare Access - https://lnkd.in/eF4Y3V_2 A #lowcost, large-scale digital health clinic was implemented in selected urban and rural communities in the #Philippines to provide solutions for primary care access. In collaboration with local authorities, the pilot telemedicine clinic was implemented for 3 days in January 2023. #Patients were registered and their vitals were assessed before they were seen by a #remote #UnitedStates-based licensed #physician who provided recommendations for treatment. #Medicaldevices with real-time streaming capabilities, such as electronic #stethoscopes, were utilized to enhance #remoteexams. A total of 322 patients were treated at the telehealth clinic, with 218 completing a #populationhealth survey. Did the clinic increase #patientaccess? What were the foundational #technologies used to set up the clinic to empower #physicians and #healthcare team to integrate #telemedicine with no background in #coding or #programming? What #lowcode/ #nocode building blocks can be used to design a tailored #digitalhealth program? At scale, can this model be replicated to equip local #healthcaresystems and #governments to reduce #inequality in digital health #access around the globe? For complete details, view the fully #openaccess #article at https://lnkd.in/eF4Y3V_2 ***Meet the #Authors*** > Annalicia Pickering, MD > Wardah Rafaqat, MD > Adi Balk > Milton Chen > Limuel Abrogena, MD > Shuhan He > Mary Showstark > Alexander Davis > Aidan Chen > Jarone Lee, MD MPH Lee ______________ Next Issue Submission Deadline: May 1, 2024 View the current issue at https://lnkd.in/eAN4jVk ______________ ABOUT Telehealth and Medicine Today (#THMT) brings practical frontline research and insights to readers, and spotlights the economic impact of digital health innovations advancing value based care. The #journal bridges research excellence with real world implementation – on topics that matter to clinicians. Editors invite you to submit high quality #research, #reviews, and opinions. #digitalhealthtechnologies #hospitals #virtualcare Stanford University School of Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Yale University #PhysicianAssistant Online Yale Institute for Global Health Ateneo de Manila University School of Medicine and Public Health VSee Ben-Gurion University of the Negev #telemedicine

We Have the 🛠️ Tools. The Potential 💡 Is Clear. Let’s Rethink ❤️🩹Cardiovascular Care ❤️🩹at Scale. A compelling review by Aline Pedroso, PhD and Rohan Khera in Nature Portfolio’s Cardiovascular Health. Great outline on how AI-powered wearables, PPG/ECG sensors, point-of-care ultrasound, and edge-AI models can and are transforming cardiovascular care—extending reach, reducing friction, and bringing precision to the front lines. 👉 Article: https://lnkd.in/eCNVj8_F Why this matters: ✅Community-based detection of arrhythmias and structural heart disease is feasible now. ✅Multimodal sensor + AI fusion improves prediction, risk stratification, and monitoring. ✅Cloud and edge tech enable privacy-preserving integration into clinical workflows. ✅Tools like AI-guided echocardiograms with GE HealthCare’s Caption Guidance (FDA-cleared for use by any medical professional) allow earlier, scalable echo screenings—no sonographer required. ✅These shifts are especially powerful in under-resourced or preventive care settings. Call to action for Health Systems, Payers, MedTech and Innovators: 1️⃣ Advance interoperability—connect consumer and bedside data with clinician workflows. 2️⃣ Fund pragmatic RCTs to validate outcomes, not just signal accuracy. 3️⃣ Build reimbursement models that reward early detection and smarter triage. 4️⃣ Design inclusively—this must close gaps, not widen them. 💡 We’re past proof of concept and evolve the platform. Time to implement boldly, equitably, and at scale. #DigitalHealth #AIinHealthcare #CardiovascularCare #HealthEquity #Wearables

Revolutionizing Early Detection of Chronic Kidney Diseases: Point-of-Care Testing & Carna Health Digital Health Platforms 🌍 Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant health burden, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Timely detection of CKD can be a life-saving measure, and innovative technologies have paved the way for improved screening methods. At Carna Health, we explore the transformative power of point-of-care testing devices for creatinine and our digital health platform as valuable tools in the early detection of CKD. Point-of-care testing devices for creatinine could revolutionize the diagnostic landscape for CKD. These portable Nova Biomedical devices allow for quick and accurate measurement of creatinine levels, a key indicator of kidney function. Their availability in low and middle-income countries will be a game-changer, as they eliminate the need for costly and time-consuming laboratory tests. With point-of-care testing, healthcare professionals can swiftly identify individuals at risk of CKD, enabling prompt intervention and management. In addition to point-of-care testing, the digital health platform offered by Carna Health has emerged as a powerful ally in the early detection of CKD. This user-friendly platform integrates health data directly captured from the POC Nova Biomedical device, providing a comprehensive overview of an individual's kidney health status. By leveraging advanced algorithms and potentially artificial intelligence, the platform can detect early signs of CKD, alerting healthcare providers and empowering individuals to take proactive measures. The combination of point-of-care testing devices and Carna Health digital health platforms offer a synergistic approach to early detection. By utilizing these tools, healthcare systems in low and middle-income countries can bridge the gap in access to diagnostics, enabling timely identification of CKD cases that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Advocating for integrating these innovative technologies into healthcare systems is crucial, ensuring their availability and affordability. By doing so, we can empower healthcare professionals, improve patient outcomes, and ultimately reduce the burden of CKD in low and middle-income countries. Let's embrace the potential of Carna Health to revolutionize the early detection of CKD. Together, we can make a lasting impact on global kidney health. #PublicHealth #KidneyHealth #EarlyDetection #CKD #PointOfCareTesting #DigitalHealth #CarnaHealth Carna Health Nova Biomedical Bogdan Milojkovic, MDSalvatore G Viscomi, MD David Vogel Boris Berat RONALD GOBINA Yannick Nlandu Mayamba Africa CDC