Conway MacLean, DPM, Journal Columnist
The future is now. Today's technology was like something out of his science fiction novel a few years ago. Prosthetic limbs controlled by thought, genetically modified pigs bred for organ transplantation into humans, self-driving cars – all these amazing advances are part of our world (but not yet everyday items) maybe).
For many Americans, owning a cell phone is not an option. However, mobile phones are an early predictor of personal technology and are an area of great interest in the technology field. Medicine became interested when personal sensors were developed that allowed individuals in remote locations to monitor some aspect of another person's health.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is the term developed for this direction in electronics, with the help of home telemedicine. This concept allows mobile medical devices to be used to collect specific information about a particular patient and send that information to the appropriate healthcare provider. Depending on what is being monitored, a number of factors that influence health can be examined.
More general elements of overall health include heart rate, blood pressure, weight change, breathing, and sleep. These devices are rapidly becoming an important part of chronic disease management and a variety of conditions. The benefits of allowing doctors to monitor minute-to-minute changes in blood sugar levels in people with diabetes or the breathing of people with lung disease are important to many populations.
The use of these smart technologies is likely to grow even further over the next decade. Bluetooth-enabled weight scales and blood pressure monitors for people with cardiovascular disease, these and other devices are helping many Americans benefit from 24/7 monitoring of their vitals and other health factors It is becoming pervasive in people's homes and bodies.
Some of these measurements, like blood sugar levels, are predictable and obvious. Indeed, with the prevalence of diabetes, checking your blood sugar levels can help promote health and well-being. But as our capabilities in the personal electronics field expand and advance, so too do RPM's applications.
As with other emerging opportunities, we are learning what can be applied to these developing options for remote health assessment. One of particular interest to people dealing with diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers are temperature-sensing mats. These non-healing defects are “container” In other words, about half of all hospitalizations due to diabetes involve the skin. When you consider the costs involved in treating these wounds, it becomes clear why technology that helps reduce these expenses is of interest.
The morbidity and mortality associated with diabetic foot ulcers is staggering. Foot ulcers occurred in 80% of major diabetic lower extremity amputations (foot, ankle, leg). However, the first sign of skin damage is usually a slight increase in body temperature, so early detection of this change leads to preventive measures. Stopping the processes that lead to infection and amputation is a major goal, and skin ulcers are a defining event on this difficult path.
A rectangular rubbery mat. When a person momentarily stands on it, sensors within the mat are able to detect the skin temperature of the soles of their feet at multiple points. An increase in body temperature, which precedes the formation of an ulcer, can be detected more than a week before the breakdown of the skin. If the system is working properly, both parties will be notified in a timely manner and intervention will be initiated.
There are now sensors that can be worn on the ankle and used for home exercise programs, allowing doctors to monitor a patient's participation in and performance in prescribed activities. Equipment is also used for people who are prone to falls. This is a major problem in an aging society, where the risk of walking becoming unstable due to multiple diseases is increasing. Statistics show that most of these injuries occur in the home, so innocent bystanders do not call emergency services. RPM monitors user location and fall occurrences and notifies appropriate parties in a timely manner.
People find motivation in being able to evaluate changes made and exercise performed, whether it's being able to see their progress, accurately visualize calories burned, or simply confirm healthy sleep patterns. . Indeed, convenience is a clear advantage for RPM. These devices can send data directly to your healthcare provider, reducing the need to visit your primary care office for tests and regular monitoring.
Naturally, there are concerns. Perhaps the most important one is about data. Health information is highly personal, and improper access to it can have serious economic and social consequences. Some people worry that just because they are wearing a monitor, they will become overly dependent on RPM and neglect necessary medical care. It is beneficial to listen to your body and not ignore the signals it sends.
As with any technology, accuracy issues can occur. Is the data received by the sensor and sent to the provider correct? Many things could lead to the answer being “no!” Cost is also a further concern, as these monitoring devices can be expensive. However, depending on the conditions, the service may be covered by Medicare. For other diseases and certain types of monitors, this is not the case (yet) and these are usually kept out of reach for most people.
Although implantable monitors have not been specifically discussed, research in this direction is expected to explode within the next decade. For a decade, people have had credit card chips implanted in their hands, providing the ultimate shopping convenience. “wave hands”. How long will it be before a live phone fits in your hand?Field of biotechnology, electronic devices implanted in the body “permanent” It is no longer a figment of the imagination. Indeed, we have entered her sci-fi realm.
At this early stage of development, issues abound, including issues of trust, certainly issues of redemption, and issues of their fair distribution. However, there is no doubt that the capabilities of health monitoring devices will continue to evolve and offer exciting prospects for healthcare. “Will we become more machines than humans?” This is a good question, but one that has no answer at this primitive level of complexity. The current and future benefits of remote patient monitoring simply guarantee that it will have a prominent place in U.S. healthcare.
Editor's note: Dr. Conway McLean is a podiatrist currently practicing foot and ankle medicine in the Upper Peninsula. MacLean lectures internationally in surgery and wound care and holds certification in both as a subspecialty in orthopedic therapy. Dr. MacLean welcomes questions, comments, and suggestions at drcmclean@penmed.com.
