Faces of Digital Health

In this episode Gary Monk, independent consultant with over 25 years in the pharma and healthcare sectors where he worked in roles from R&D to business IT and strategic marketing, talks about the current state of digital therapeutics, remote patient monitoring, the potential of AI in healthcare, and the challenges with data integration. He also shares his personal insights on the use of wearables and their impact on health anxiety.Key Discussion Points:Digital Therapeutics and Integration Challenges Fragmentation in the Space: Many digital therapeutics are siloed, with individual apps that do not integrate well with each other or broader healthcare systems.Potential for Holistic Solutions: apps and digital therapeutics need to be more connected, for example, integrating with wearables or offering treatments.Uncertain Future: While optimistic in the long term, Gary is cautious about short-term setbacks, noting that companies in this space may struggle without proper evidence and reimbursement models in place.Remote Patient Monitoring and Virtual CareExcitement Around Remote Monitoring: there are benefits of remote monitoring, especially for elderly and chronically ill patients, allowing them to stay home longer and safer.Expanding Beyond Monitoring: Discussion expands on using technology not just for monitoring but also for providing interventions, such as reminders, voice support, and even predictive capabilities like fall prevention.Wearables and Real-World DataThe Importance of Continuous Data: long-term, imperfect data may be more valuable than short-term, highly accurate clinical data in certain cases, such as tracking motor function.Personal Experience with Wearables: Despite his enthusiasm for digital health, Gary admits he no longer uses wearables due to anxiety caused by over-monitoring and lack of actionable insights.AI in HealthcareCautious Optimism: While excited about AI’s potential, AI needs to be integrated thoughtfully into healthcare workflows. He points out that many current AI solutions are useful but not yet integrated into clinical practice.Ethical Questions Around AI: The conversation touches on whether AI should be used to predict diseases, especially if no treatment is available. This is particularly relevant in areas like Alzheimer’s research.Integration as a Key BarrierThe Real Challenge: Both speakers agree that integration is one of the biggest hurdles in digital health today. As various apps and AI tools proliferate, getting them to work within existing systems, like clinical workflows, remains difficult.Example from Clinical TrialsEven in areas like remote clinical trials, which are technically feasible, organizations are struggling to keep up due to complex internal processes and outdated systems.www.facesofdigitalhealth.com https://fodh.substack.com/p/ai-digital-health-pharma

If social media and smartphones are the root cause of the new mental health epidemic in younger generations, how successful can digital interventions be in addressing mental health issues? In this discussion, recorded at Digital Health and AI Innovation Summit in Boston in October, Katherine Wolfe-Lyga, Mental health professional and former college administrator, Vice President at BetterMynd, discussed:Digital Mental Health Interventions: Digital health solutions, especially telehealth, have improved access to mental health care, particularly for students in rural areas and those reluctant to seek help in person. The stigma around seeking mental health care is still significant but decreasing.Equity and Access: Colleges have become more inclusive, admitting students from underprivileged backgrounds who often face challenges that current campus support systems are not fully equipped to address. Digital interventions are helping bridge these gaps.Impact of Smartphones and Social Media: The pervasive use of smartphones and social media contributes to social isolation and mental health challenges, with many students relying on these platforms for comfort rather than fostering real interpersonal connections. Schools banning or limiting phone use have seen positive effects on student engagement and communication.Digital Interventions as Both Cause and Cure: While smartphones and social media contribute to mental health issues, digital interventions like teletherapy can offer solutions. The challenge is ensuring that digital tools are used minimally and efficiently to support mental health, without exacerbating the problems of overuse.Brain Development: There is evidence suggesting that the development of the prefrontal cortex in young people is delayed, potentially due to changes in societal behavior and technology use, affecting their decision-making abilities and impulse control.Mental Health Interventions and Technology: Technology can help alleviate loneliness and improve community connections, but it must be used responsibly. Ethical concerns exist around the efficacy of some digital mental health tools, as not all apps claiming to support well-being are truly effective.Positive Trends: Successful interventions include digital platforms that provide access to diverse therapists, helping students connect with professionals who share similar identities or expertise. This encourages more students to seek help and supports the reduction of mental health issues like loneliness.www.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

In this episode of Faces of Digital Health, Michael, an experienced innovator with over 80 patents and a professor in multiple countries, joins to discuss the future of digital health. The conversation dives deep into the concepts of innovation, patent strategies, and the challenges in digital health funding. Michael shares his insights on current investment trends, the future of healthcare, and the potential of technologies like AI and digital tools to redefine medicine.Website: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/Key Points:The Role of Patents in Innovation:Michael holds 80 patents, but only a few have translated into successful innovations. Patents serve as a starting point for innovation, not necessarily as a direct path to commercialization.Challenges in Patent Development:The difficulty in checking if something has already been patented due to the 18-month confidentiality period. Patenting as a strategy to establish a foundation for future projects and startups.Current State of Digital Health Funding:2024 has seen significant investment, especially in the U.S. market, but COVID-19 still skews comparisons.Michael believes digital health should go beyond improving administrative workflows and focus on new forms of medicine, such as combining AI, sensors, and IoT.Investment Challenges and New Approaches:There is no current business model for preventive healthcare, but it’s essential for long-term health impact. Michael advocates for shifting from analog to digital processes and creating personalized, predictive healthcare.5P Future of Health Investment Fund:Michael has started an investment fund called "5P Future of Health," focusing on long-term impact rather than immediate profits.Emphasis on personalized, participative healthcare, and developing tools that address health issues before they become critical.Vision for the Future of Healthcare:Transition healthcare from hospitals to home-based systems, using affordable and accessible diagnostic tools. The need for democratizing healthcare and creating business models that are inclusive, not just profit-driven.

Better is a healthcare IT provider of a healthcare data platform, low-code tools that help healthcare organisations to rapidly build applications that suit their specific need and hospital medication management software, working across 20 markets.In this episode, based on 30+ years of experience, Tomaz Gornik, CEO of Better explained:- what is a data platform in healthcare,- what motivates vendors to NOT lock customers in their systems- EHDS implementation from the healthcare IT perspective,- the power of legislation and tender processes in shaping the future of digital health,- how do digital health vendors get the first customer in healthcare,- How do companies survive the long sales cycles - 3 or more years in public systems, and how is this impacting their business models,- the role of design in health,- and more.Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/

There are over 200 hospital trusts in the UK, encompassing more than 1,200 hospitals. With those numbers and a population of 67 million, the United Kingdom represents quite a large market. However, selling to the NHS is anything but easy. Mindy Simon is Co-Director at the NHS Innovation Accelerator. She is responsible for the program's execution and provides guidance to innovators and startups that already have customers. In this episode, Mindy talked about the importance of gaining visibility within the NHS, which she says is the biggest struggle for startups. We also discussed tender processes that contribute to innovation procurement and the challenges related to the requirements in tenders. For example, startups need to be mindful of their carbon emissions—how much space software uses in the cloud or how equipment is disposed of, if you're a provider of hardware.Apply for the accelerator by 14 October 2024: https://nhsaccelerator.com/apply/apply-nia-2025-intake/Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/Website: https://www.facesofdigitalhealth.com/

Daniel Kraft, a Stanford and Harvard trained physician-scientist and innovator, dives into the intricacies of health and behavior change. He emphasizes foundational health practices like sleep, diet, and exercise, while discussing the shift from longevity to healthspan. Kraft highlights the challenge of sustaining behavior change in digital health, introduces the concept of personalized AI health coaching, and explores AI's potential to alleviate clinician burnout. He also touches on the evolution of care from hospitals to home settings for improved patient experiences.

This episode features Dr. Chelsea Sumner discussing NVIDIA's significant role in healthcare, particularly in its work with AI startups. Key areas of focus include NVIDIA’s contributions to medical imaging, genomics, and drug discovery, and its innovative tools like Clara and NIMs. The conversation highlights how NVIDIA collaborates with startups, its global footprint, and insights into AI’s transformative potential in healthcare.Key Points: NVIDIA’s Role in Healthcare: GPUs in Healthcare: NVIDIA's graphics processing units (GPUs) power AI and are pivotal in medical imaging, genomics, and drug discovery. Clara Platform: A suite of healthcare-focused AI tools supporting genomics (Parabricks), medical imaging (Moni), robotics (Isaac), and drug discovery (BioNemo). Collaboration with Startups: Inception Program: NVIDIA supports over 3,000 healthcare startups globally, offering them tools, resources, and access to venture capital (VCA). Diverse Startup Sizes: Startups range from small two-person teams to large-scale companies with 800+ employees. Examples of Partnerships: Mendel AI: Improved deployment efficiency by 75% using NVIDIA’s Inference Microservices (NIMs). Hippocratic AI: Developing empathetic AI avatars for patient interactions. Abridge: AI-powered clinical conversations that can generate clinical notes, saving clinicians time. What Are NIMs? NIMs (NVIDIA Inference Microservices): These microservices streamline AI model deployment, enabling faster and easier integration of AI models into applications. Key Healthcare Innovations: Genome Sequencing: NVIDIA set a world record for genome sequencing in under 6 hours, highlighting advancements in personalized medicine. GI Genius with Medtronic: AI-assisted colonoscopy tool leveraging NVIDIA’s technology to detect polyps, aiding in colorectal cancer prevention. J&J MedTech Collaboration: Connecting digital ecosystems for surgery to provide real-time insights to medical professionals. Global Healthcare Impact: NVIDIA operates in healthcare ecosystems worldwide, collaborating with startups and partners in North and Latin America, Europe, China, and APAC regions. Their technologies are integrated with global academic medical centers, research institutions, and conferences like RSNA and Health U.S. Future of AI in Healthcare: Digital Biology, Surgery, and Health: Key areas where generative AI will impact healthcare, from diagnostics to personalized treatment. Model Transparency (Model Cards): NVIDIA’s trustworthy AI initiatives include model cards, which offer transparency into AI models' development and data, aiding in mitigating bias. www.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/

This episode gives an in-depth insight into healthcare digitalization in Portugal. Cátia Sousa Pinto, Head of Global Digital Health and International Affairs at SPMS - shared services of ministry of health of Portugal talked about healthcare digitalization in Portugal, European Health Data Space (EHDS), patient data and more.Key Points Summary Portugal's Digital Health System Design: To accelerate digital health development, Portugal created a national eHealth agency (SPMS) over a decade ago. SPMS Role: SPMS plays a dual role, not only regulating but also developing and maintaining ICT solutions for Portugal's healthcare system. This centralization helps prevent fragmentation and ensures interoperability. European Health Data Space (EHDS): EHDS is the EU's regulatory framework for cross-border health data sharing, building on initiatives like MyHealth@EU. The goal is to allow seamless healthcare across Europe, where any EU citizen can access healthcare in other countries as if they were at home. My Health at EU: A foundational initiative that enables cross-border exchange of health data like patient summaries and e-prescriptions between EU countries. Patient Data: Catia emphasized the importance of patients controlling their health data and being able to share it across healthcare providers. This includes e-prescriptions, laboratory results, and, eventually, medical images. Portugal's National Electronic Health Record: A key project for the country is the creation of a unified electronic health record system, allowing citizens to access all of their health data, both public and private, from a single source. Use of EU Funding: Portugal has allocated €300 million from the EU's recovery funds for digital health transformation, focusing on infrastructure, citizen-centric services, and reducing the burden on healthcare professionals. Challenges and Future Outlook: The integration of digital health into national governance and improving interoperability between systems remain ongoing challenges. Katia stressed the importance of moving towards real-time, structured health data to improve future healthcare outcomes. www.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/Show notes:[00:02:00] - Overview of Digital Health in Portugal[00:06:00] - National-Level Initiatives and Successes[00:10:00] - European Health Data Space (EHDS) and My Health at EU[00:16:00] - Cross-Border Care and Digital Infrastructure[00:20:00] - The Role of SPMS in Portugal’s Digital Health Journey[00:30:00] - Challenges and Workforce Management in Digital Health[00:34:00] - Benefits of Centralization in Small Countries[00:38:00] - Electronic Health Records and Expanding Digital Services, Secondary use of data [00:42:00] - Portugal’s National Electronic Health Record[00:46:00] - Future Vision for Health Data Integration

In this episode Anne Forsyth, Director of Clinical Applications and Support at Women’s College Hospital in Canada, discusses the challenges and opportunities in optimizing healthcare IT systems, particularly in data management and digital literacy. She shares her experiences transitioning from a policy role to a hospital setting and emphasizes the importance of data governance, workflow design, and continuous improvement in digital health projects.Key Takeaways: Community and Collaboration: Canada’s digital health community is a significant asset in advancing healthcare IT. AI and Data Standards: The adoption of AI in healthcare is promising but requires robust data governance and standards. Importance of Fundamentals: Good governance, workflow optimization, and training are crucial in creating sustainable healthcare IT systems. Digital Health Literacy: Clinicians need focused training on using digital tools correctly rather than deep technical knowledge. Cybersecurity Preparedness: Hospitals must prioritize business continuity planning to prepare for potential cyber attacks. www.facesofdigitalhealth.com Newsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Show notes: [00:04:00] Optimism in Canadian Digital Health[00:06:00] The Role of AI and Data Standards[00:08:00] Transition from Policy to Practice[00:10:00] The Fundamentals of IT in Healthcare[00:16:00] Tackling Unstructured Data[00:22:00] Continuous Improvement in Healthcare IT[00:26:00] Digital Health Literacy for Clinicians[00:34:00] Cybersecurity and Business Continuity[00:38:00] Closing Remarks and Advice The importance of strong relationships with vendors and clinicians in solving technical challenges in healthcare IT. Final thoughts on the continuous nature of digital health optimization and the need for sustainable, well-communicated strategies.

In healthcare, consultants are present more often than we might realise: they work with healthcare providers to improve clinical efficiency, manage costs, implement new technologies, or streamline administrative processes. They can help with regulatory compliance, help insurance companies design new poducts, governments hire them to help with policy development, program evaluation, and implementation of new regulations. In this episode we take a look under the hood of consultancy work, where governments make biggest mistakes and how consultants approach problem-solving.Mehdi Khaled is Internal Medicine Doctor and Fortune 50 Health Tech Executive, with over 25 years of international experience. He has helped shaping many large-scale, transformative digital health projects across four continents and within 40 health systems. As a Managing Partner at Seha, he specializes in developing and executing cutting-edge health and digital health strategies, with a strong emphasis on the meaningful use of data to drive health system improvements.www.facesofdigitalhealth.comNewsletter: https://fodh.substack.com/ Topics covered: 00:04 - The Role of Consultants in Healthcare00:06 - Challenges of Accountability00:08 - Core Principles for Healthcare00:10 - Singapore’s Healthcare Success00:12 - Implementing Technology in Healthcare00:14 - The Balance Between Technology and Clinical Needs00:16 - The Importance of Clinical Engagement00:18 - Managing Technology in HealthcareExploration of the concept of "management debt," where poor decision-making leads to the accumulation of ineffective technologies.00:20 - Cultural Differences in Healthcare00:22 - Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Digital Health00:24 - Case Studies and Real-World Examples00:26 - The Need for Long-Term Vision00:28 - Lessons from Singapore and Catalonia00:30 - Technology-Driven Change in Healthcare00:32 - Overcoming Barriers to Innovation00:34 - The Future of Digital Health00:36 - Building Local Capacity00:38 - Avoiding Dependency on Consultants00:40 - Final Thoughts on Healthcare Consulting