Human-Centered, Data-Centric Care at Home
We live our lives in homes, school, workplaces, and in the highways and byways, not within the four walls of a hospital or during a visit to a healthcare provider. If we frame health as an ongoing natural process that occurs in every moment and every day, influenced by both personal and external factors, including caregivers, we can begin to explore how leveraging the art of being human with the power of data science can empower an individual’s goal for health and vitality.
Quality of life cannot be assumed or prescribed; it is an intricate interplay between social, health, behavioral, and economic factors. In this transformative era, where the world of AI is rapidly advancing, technology can serve as a powerful enabler of quality of life. Intentionality in the design, application, adoption, and integration of these technologies is crucial to ensure their effectiveness and accessibility to all.
To successfully integrate human-centric approaches with data-driven technologies in home settings, several critical factors must be considered. A recent study in the European Heart Journal highlights recommendations to increase adoption of digital health solutions.
Eur Heart J Digit Health, Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2021, Pages 62–74, https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztab005
Health + Digital Literacy
A recent study in Health Equity found of patients study who were eligible for telehealth and virtual care in a Federally Qualified Health Center only 66% used the internet and 20% used banking apps on a mobile device.
Health and Digital literacy must also be prioritized, ensuring that data shared with patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers is presented in an easily understandable and actionable format, regardless of an individual’s background or technical expertise.
As a nurse, I will always remember when a family member who was taking an oral diabetes medications daily told me they no longer had diabetes because their blood glucose readings in the morning were less than 100. The data was real-time and actionable, but the health literacy impacted the health outcomes.
Passive data collection, such as through wearable devices or ambient sensors, can help to seamlessly gather valuable insights without placing an additional burden on patients or caregivers with a device interface.
Designing user interfaces with users early in technology development is paramount to facilitate data in a user-friendly format, such as intuitive dashboards or personalized recommendations.
Drawing parallels from the automotive industry, we can see how well-designed warning systems, such as clear dashboard indicators and audible alerts, can effectively communicate critical information to drivers, prompting them to take appropriate action. Similarly, data-driven insights must be conveyed in a manner that is accessible and meaningful to users with varying levels of health and digital literacy when they are in the home environment.
Human-centered
Technology can serve as a unifying force or a great divide, connecting geographically dispersed family members and caregivers or increasing health disparities. Secure platforms for video conferencing, messaging, and sharing health data can improve patient outcomes, strengthen bonds, and provide visibility between silos.
A key consideration is to integrate culturally adapted information when shaping human-centric approaches with data-driven technologies — particularly as care comes home. Home is where each of our respective cultures reside. And where health, comfort, and care come together. Culture is the glue that makes it work, especially in the final mile of care. — Paurvi Bhatt, President & Chief Impact Officer Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers
Technology can enhance, not replace, human connection, and by developing relevant, adaptable, and culturally sensitive technologies, we can create a healthcare ecosystem that empowers seamless collaboration and puts individuals and their caregivers as experts in their health journey at home.
Ethical, unbiased, secure data
Wubineh, Deriba, and Woldeyohannis in a recent March 2024
systematic literature review found AI in healthcare raises critical ethical and privacy issues, particularly concerning the protection of sensitive patient information and the avoidance of biases, which demands a comprehensive approach that prioritizes data security, regulatory compliance, and the promotion of equitable outcomes.
The Opportunity
https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1078143923004179
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) and virtual care has emerged as a game-changer, enabling healthcare providers to connect and track patient health data in real-time, identify potential issues early, and intervene promptly. However, to truly revolutionize care at home, RPM systems must evolve to be more inclusive and relevant, advanced, adopted and accessible. RPM is most effective when caregivers know someone cares about them is interacting with them and the data. Teamwork and communication between the care team, inclusive of the patient, caregivers, and providers is a winning combination.
The convergence of human-centric approaches and data-driven technologies in home settings presents both challenges and opportunities. To navigate this landscape effectively, we must prioritize seamless integration, widespread adoption, relevance, and accessibility of technology-enabled data.
The path forward requires a commitment to continuous innovation, collaboration, and education. By engaging all stakeholders in the process, from patients and their families to healthcare providers and technology developers, we can build a future where technology serves as a bridge, uniting us in our shared goal of providing compassionate, effective, and accessible care at home.
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