Tag: Healthcare

New Technologies That Can Help Improve The Life Expectancy Of The Irish

The downsides of the modern way of life are threatening the health of nations across the world. In Ireland alone, over 10,000 people died last year from cardiovascular-related diseases, and the most common cause of death was unpredictable strokes and heart failure. 

However, there are promising signs of improvement with the help of technological advances that can increase the life expectancy of the nation. Keep on reading as we’ll discuss some of the new technologies on the way.

This table by this comparison website reveals that the Irish life expectancy past 65 is significantly lacking behind other countries. Of course, like with every new technology, these revolutionary approaches are often not available to everyone. The availability is rather due to scarce medical supplies than to a lack of sufficient funds. Scientists are working on commercializing these new technologies, reducing the costs of production, and improving the chance for everyone to use them. If the new approaches and discoveries are successful, chances are these technologies will be more available to many. Until then, many hospitals still have to make selective decisions on which patients are a priority to receive treatment.

MRI and CT scans 

New improvements have been made in the field of CT and MRI scans. The new advancements are estimated to ease the diagnoses and discovery of hidden tumours and underlying issues. The standard scans came with flaws and establishing a correct diagnosis has been known to be an issue. Thankfully, the new advancements may allow for more precise and more accurate diagnoses, and with the early discovery of tumours and cancer cells, the treatments and their effectiveness will be increased. 

Biopharmaceuticals 

The number of prevalent diseases has risen over the years, despite the many advancements made, as simultaneously the number of factors contributing to the spreading of diseases has risen as well. 

As the statistics suggested, in Ireland alone, over 40,000 people are fighting these diseases each year. The biopharmaceutical industry has had an astonishing rise in the last decade. The technology behind it allows for more effective treatment of metabolic diseases and even cancer. These technologies rely on living cells, modified through cutting-edge methods. The range of diseases treatable with the technology is astonishingly broad. The modified organisms or cells are used in the treatment of cancerous cells, allergies, inflammatory tissue, and gene therapies. The treatment is specifically meant for rare disorders, but also represents an effective method of fighting cancer. 

Control and management 

We have so far listed the most common health concerns and issues such as cardiovascular problems, strokes, tumours, and genetic disorders. However, another common problem has become diabetes, which approximately 6% of the population of Ireland deal with. Thankfully, with sensors and insulin checkers, regulating your sugar levels has never been easier and more effective. 

Better control over the issues allows for a more effective treatment. And trackers and sensors are also available for other issues: respiratory monitoring, cardiac monitoring, and health monitoring of the body during invasive treatments, like chemo. Wearables now can allow people to track the pulse and overall condition of their body. 

The control and management of such serious conditions, and even the regular control of healthy individuals, will drastically reduce death outcomes and allow longer life and more productive ones. 

These bright numbers suggest a better future for the vast portion of the population. Over 200,000 individuals in Ireland have been successful in treating cancer and surviving after several sessions of chemo and radiation. Surviving a stroke or heart attack has become standard with checkers monitoring cardiac disease and with bypass operations having an almost 100% success rate. The future looks optimistic, and we can only hope the best is yet to come. 

Aramark Launches World-First Solution Inpatient Feeding

Aramark, the market-leading foodservice and integrated workplace solutions provider, launches DISH; a Digital Innovation Solution for Healthcare. The transformative platform offers a bespoke digital ordering system for healthcare environments.

Developed in Ireland, DISH combines pioneering technology with innovative customised menus into a seamless, integrated, digital healthcare solution. The platform offers unrivalled reliability, efficiencies and support for patients, healthcare staff and foodservice workers, transforming the patient experience. Available for use in a wide range of public and private healthcare settings, pilot testing has shown that busy hospitals can save 2,000 man hours of administrative work per annum, while also removing the potential for human error in the patient ordering process.

Created in collaboration with Nutritics, an industry leader in nutrition and food management software, DISH focuses on improving patient safety, removing potential errors in data collation, displays allergens, ingredients, and nutritional composition, texture, and identifies appropriate therapeutic meal options.

Smart ordering, supported by technology, minimises the risk for patients with food allergies and reduces touch points and contact between patients and hospital staff. It helps to ease communication barriers with certain patient groups. Written, visual and verbal menu choices are all designed in compliance with HIQA requirements.

DISH can also fully integrate into each hospital’s patient management system, calculate specific individual nutritional requirements, including stress factors and activity level, which can be utilised by the hospital’s dietetic and clinical teams. It is an all-round solution ensuring connectivity and continuance of care.

 

Elbha Purcell, Head of Dietetics and Wellbeing, Aramark Northern Europe “Everyone knows the pressure that Ireland’s Healthcare system is under, so we set out to create a solution that improves efficiency, quality, and safety, as well as reducing food and paper waste. It was critical for us that DISH can truly transform the inpatient feeding experience in every setting, serving everyone involved in the process.

“In equal importance, we made sure that DISH drives efficiencies, sustainable practices, and cost savings, removing an unnecessary environment impact and cost of the existing process. It reduces time from kitchen to pantry to patient, taking pressure off frontline staff, and helping to reduce food waste.”

 

Shane Flynn, Managing Director for Aramark Food Services, Facilities Management & Avoca, Ireland commented “Aramark stays on the cutting edge of innovative technology. Our long-standing partnerships in Ireland’s healthcare sector are a reflection of our expert teams’ deep operational and nutritional knowledge, innovative thinking, and safety-focus, which enables us to develop customised programs for every organisation we serve.

“We’re also proud to partner with industry leaders on the development of new systems and often bring these solutions to our clients so that we can solve for the very real challenges that they face.

I’m excited for the transformation this solution can bring and look forward to seeing this Irish innovation grow and serve Aramark’s Healthcare partners and patients around the globe.”

5 Key Drivers Behind the Embedded PC Boom

Living alongside smart devices has become a convenient and comfortable practice for all of us, but little do we realize the sophisticated performance that lies within. Embedded systems are sought after in almost every industry today as they vastly improve communication and connectivity with multiple devices and networks. Though many industries have suffered huge setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact has been neutral on the embedded systems market. According to a recent survey, Global Embedded Systems Market is estimated to reach $291.25 billion by 2025, registering a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025. So what are the factors propelling the demand for such embedded systems? Here are five key drivers behind the boom:

 

1. Rising Demand for Hybrid Vehicles

Automatic transmission, anti-lock braking systems, keyless entry or security systems, and drift detection are examples of some applications controlled by embedded systems in a vehicle. However, recently, there is a growing demand for vehicles outfitted with car-to-road communication facilities and efficient navigation. Furthermore, shifting focus towards hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV) to control emission is estimated to further fuel the embedded systems market growth.

 

2. Smart Consumer Electronics

Embedded systems have found their way into our everyday life through integration into various consumer electronics. Appliances such as home security systems, fridges, and ovens make use of embedded systems which aid in collecting user input, info regarding the functioning and modification of appliances, and controlling the appliance itself. This continued rise in demand for smart electronics is expected to drive the embedded systems market growth in the next five years.

 

3. Advancement of Healthcare Systems

Various equipment in the medical industry incorporates embedded systems. From scanning machines to imaging systems to sonography equipment, all machinery is built around and controlled by integrated networks. Even handheld and portable medical equipment used to monitor essential signs make wide use of embedded systems. All these advancements in healthcare are anticipated to propel the demand for embedded systems applications at a CAGR of 8.35% from 2016 to 2021. 

 

4. Need for High Precision Military Devices

Embedded systems are incorporated across a plethora of military applications such as intelligence, communications, and reconnaissance. As military tech like UAVs moves beyond outdated surveillance methods, the demand for more processing power, secure communication, remote control, and I/O flexibility has increased. Companies such as ADL Embedded Solutions are geared towards building better, more powerful, and durable embedded systems that can be deployed onto the field, and this further facilitates the growth of the market.

 

5. Continued Expansion of IoT

Adoption and expansion of IoT and connected devices are on the rise across all industries worldwide. Countless vendors are making significant efforts to provide interoperability in a range of connected devices, gateways, entertainment systems, and smart homes. This has increased the demand for embedded computer boards such as SBCs, COMs, and stand-alone boards. Therefore, the rising demand for IoT devices is expected to foster the growth of the global embedded systems market. 

 

With embedded systems becoming a significant part of our lives and being integrated across all applications, it’s safe to assume that the boom of the embedded systems market is here to stay.  

New health insurance comparison site launches to help curb customer confusion. #Health #Insurance #HealthCareCompare

HealthCare Compare (HCC.ie) has today, launched its new platform which aims to remove the confusion and overpaying associated with health insurance plans. The Dublin based company hopes to help consumers make informed decisions on reviewing cover at the renewal stage. HCC.ie is unique in that it helps users identify the most suitable healthcare plan to suit their requirements and budgets through its advanced comparison tools and advice from health insurance specialists.

 

The launch comes during one of the busiest periods for the sector (November to March) which sees thousands of policies up for renewal. According to the HIA, 2,289,000 Irish people currently have health insurance policies. With over 320 on the market and 2 in 5 Irish people purchasing health insurance, many consumers are becoming overwhelmed with options, resulting in many overpaying. In addition to this, research has revealed an inertia or fear when it comes to changing providers. According to recent figures from the ESRI, 14% of Irish people claim it is too much hassle to switch insurers with 11.2% saying they couldn’t be bothered. It was also found that 7.2% of people said they failed to change providers as it was too difficult to compare plans.

HCC.ie offers a wide range of easy to navigate plans from Ireland’s three providers, Irish Life Health, Laya Healthcare and VHI. HealthCare Compare enables consumers to choose the right insurance premium for them through conducting a full review of their insurance wants and needs and providing users with alternative plans that are a better fit. Through the site, consumers can compare all insurance plans through selecting the type of cover they require, whether it be a basic, corporate or high end plan. They can then select their annual budget, outline the level of excess they would be willing to pay and tailor their premium through selecting which benefits are most important to them. Some of the benefits they can select include cardiac, maternity, fertility, back pain and prescriptions among others. HealthCare Compare also hopes to recruit at least 10 insurance experts across Ireland over the next six months. This opens the idea for those looking for insurance coverage a bit more scope.

The concept for HCC.ie came from young female health insurance expert Barbara Sheahan. She developed the concept for a personalised insurance premium comparison platform following her years of experience within the industry. Sheahan noticed a sizable gap in the market for a health insurance policy comparison platform that would better inform consumers on the best plan for them and their families.

 

Commenting on the launch of HealthCare Compare, Managing Director Barbara Sheahen said:

“We are delighted to have launched our personalised health insurance comparison site to give consumers better insight into the benefits and cost savings associated with selecting a health insurance plan. December to March is when most consumers renew their health insurance, and we understand it can be difficult to sieve through the endless options available. Although many would like to review their options, fear of change and inertia prevents them from doing so. Through HCC.ie we hope to be able to help consumers identify the most suitable plan for them at the best rate, whether that includes fertility benefits, maternity, cardiac, health screening, counselling. Our team of experts will help advise on the most suitable options available, helping them navigate their way through the huge, often-confusing maze of options available to them. We offer a personal service and ensure everyone fully understands the benefits of their plan by simplifying the overwhelming amount of information into their key requirements.”

Workhuman Launches Thank You Healthcare, A Global Gathering Place for Sharing Stories of Gratitude for Our Healthcare Heroes. #Healthcare #Workhuman

Today, Workhuman, a leading provider of social recognition platforms, launched Thank You Healthcare, a global gathering place to share personal stories of thanks and gratitude to healthcare workers, and to witness the local impact of humanity across the globe during this time of crisis.

COVID-19 has created an incredible swell of public appreciation for today’s healthcare heroes – from car parades to standing ovations to public applause – and Thank You Healthcare is a virtual community for these emotions, allowing humanity to shine through in these difficult times.

Workhuman’s Thank You Healthcare Global Gratitude Map showcases the spread of gratitude across the globe using curated and collected thank you moments to healthcare workers fragmented across various social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, to create an immersive graphic of global positivity. This interactive map is designed to be a powerful antithesis to the daily displays of the spread of the virus. It also shows the trends where gratitude hot spots continue to grow and emerge. From the map, individuals are encouraged to say Thank You to their personal healthcare connections by leveraging Workhuman’s global employee recognition product, specifically configured for recognising the workers at the world’s hospitals.

“Workhuman has been leading the movement of gratitude in the workplace for more than 20 years, and during this unprecedented time, we knew it was our responsibility to do what we do best and facilitate gratitude toward one set of workers in particular – healthcare,” said Eric Mosley, Workhuman co-founder and CEO. “Thank You Healthcare is a reflection of the global recognition that everyone is feeling; it’s the consistent visualisation of hope that we need to get through this time. We’re providing the world with a map to see all the good and enabling the community to actively participate to bring it to light.”

With more than 4 million moments of gratitude already shared, the global community aims to give those providing gratitude the feeling that they’ve been able to make a difference, while showing healthcare workers around the globe just how important they are.

Speaking about the Thank You Healthcare campaign, former Ireland and Leinster rugby star Jamie Heaslip added: “I’ve been blown away by the courage and commitment shown by our healthcare workers since the outbreak of this crisis in Ireland. They are putting their own health and well-being on the line to save the lives of others. It’s great to now have this platform available so people can come together and show the depth of their appreciation for all the efforts being made by healthcare workers to combat this pandemic. I hope the Thank You Healthcare campaign will act as a source of strength for these workers as they continue the fight against Covid-19.”

“We know these are challenging times for healthcare workers and their families. Thank You Healthcare’s Global Gratitude Map showcases positivity hot zones, moments of gratitude to healthcare workers, and the aggregation of thank you,” said Steve Pemberton, Workhuman CHRO. “By sharing stories of gratitude and recognition with the world and by reading those moments shared by others, we are uplifted and hopeful. Thank You Healthcare is truly a global community where all people, particularly those in healthcare, can feel and know they are loved, supported, appreciated, and connected.”

To view the incredible messages of gratitude being shared or to add your own personalized thank you, please visit Workhuman.com/ThankYouHealthcare.

Wearables Pivot to Healthcare, Printed Electronics Wins. #Health #Wearables #IDTechEx

One of the fastest growing segments within the $64 Bn wearable technology industry will be medical wearables, which will grow to $19.7 Billion in 2024, according to IDTechEx Research.

Healthcare Sensor Innovations 2020, hosted in San Jose on March 17-18, identifies and assesses the opportunities for printed and flexible electronics in healthcare as the technology enables a new wave of medical wearable devices.

Presenting on healthcare sensor innovations, IDTechEx, hosts of the event, are delighted to announce the keynote presentations will be from Medtronic, GE Research, Starkey Hearing Technologies, Google and Maxim Integrated.

 

The event explores how new form factors of electronics have unleashed medical device companies from mostly rigid electronics to be able to offer more comfortable flexible and even stretchable wearable sensor platforms, such as electronic skin patches that can provide continuous monitoring. By enabling this capability, printed electronics wins. The opportunity for electronic skin patches, including case studies and results from medical and commercial activities, will be covered by presentations from NextFlex, Lief Therapeutics, Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center and Blue Spark Technologies.

The event features presentations and exhibits from organizations leveraging advanced materials – printed or otherwise – which are being used to create new capabilities of biosensors to enable point of care sensors.

 

Organizations presenting on new sensors designed for healthcare include Parker Hannifin, Hexoskin, Imec, Melexis, Hitronics, Reveal Biosensors and many others.

 

“Printed electronics is demonstrating its broad applicability in healthcare,” states Raghu Das, CEO of IDTechEx. “From being used to create flexible and stretchable electrodes, to creating flexible batteries and a broad range of bio sensors, healthcare sensors present a high growth opportunity for printed electronics with sustainable margins.”

 

Healthcare Sensor Innovations 2020 is strategically held in San Jose, California, because healthcare organizations have been establishing a presence in silicon valley as the two worlds of life sciences and electronics intersect, creating solutions to solve huge challenges and create opportunities in point-of-care sensors and continuous monitoring.

 

From medical device companies and pharmaceuticals to sensor and electronics companies: meet the leaders in the world of sensor innovations for healthcare. Learn more at www.HealthcareSensorInnovations.com/USA.