Using ChatGPT Offline: How Small Language Models Can Aid Healthcare Professionals
By now, you might have come across the term large language models (LLMs), which is a type of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). If not, you have likely encountered GenAI applications that are based on LLMs. This includes the likes of ChatGPT, Google Bard and Microsoft Copilot. While such models have proved useful, in the healthcare setting, they come with new sets of regulatory, ethical and privacy concerns.
Recently, another type of language model has been gaining attention in the GenAI field: the small language model (SLM). It even holds the promise of addressing some of the challenges with integrating LLMs i...
Source: The Medical Futurist - March 12, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Pranavsingh Dhunnoo Tags: TMF large language models small language models SLM Source Type: blogs
The Wearable Health Tracker Landscape: 18 Devices On 18 Body Parts
Over the last decade, Dr Meskó, The Medical Futurist has had his hands on more than 150 digital health devices, turning his (and our) life into a real-world tech lab. Yet, for all that testing, the wearable universe keeps expanding beyond our reach. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the field throws a curveball, like earrings that measure your body temperature, introducing us to entirely new categories and possibilities. It’s clear that the innovation train in wearable tech hasn’t slowed down; if anything, it’s picking up speed.
Our latest infographic dives into this fast-changing world, m...
Source: The Medical Futurist - March 7, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF wearables health sensors health trackers Source Type: blogs
What Does Virtual First Mean In Healthcare?
In recent years, the term “virtual first” has been gaining traction in the healthcare space. Health insurance companies have been adopting such approaches and there’s even the IMPACT consortium from the Digital Medicine Society that was formed to support virtual first initiatives.
However, the novelty of the concept and similarities with terms such as “telehealth” or “virtual visits” indicate the need for a proper introduction. This is what we aim to do with this article that gets us acquainted with the concept, compares it with other similar approaches and considers some of its challenges.
What i...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 29, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Pranavsingh Dhunnoo Tags: TMF virtual-first healthcare virtual first hybrid care Source Type: blogs
Why Flight Emergency Medical Kits Need A Digital Health Upgrade
A few weeks ago a doctor used an Apple Watch to aid an elderly woman who suffered a medical emergency on a flight. NHS doctor Rashid Riaz, from Hereford, borrowed the device from a flight attendant to check the patient’s oxygen levels.
“The Apple Watch helped me find out the patient had low oxygen saturation,” the medic explained. Later, he also called on all airlines to consider having emergency physician kits as standard, which would ideally include tools to take basic measurements, diabetic and blood pressure meters, and an oxygen saturation monitor.
We all know that aircraft have some medical su...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 27, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: berci.mesko Tags: Future of Medicine Health Sensors & Trackers portable diagnostics emergency medicine Healthcare technology flight medicine wearables Source Type: blogs
Digital Health, Menopause, And The $150 Billion Ignorance
The idea of this story came from personal experience. During the past year, I have spent countless hours and a bucketload of money trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with my health. I was feeling worse and worse, having various symptoms, totally inexplicable with my impeccable test results. During this journey, not a single doctor asked or suggested that my symptoms may come from entering perimenopause – the stage of life of women preceding menopause.
I am 47 years old, and as I have learned since then, extremely average in starting to have perimenopause symptoms at the age of 47. Also very average ...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 22, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Lifestyle medicine female health menopause tech Source Type: blogs
7 Must-Have Features Of The Perfect Digital Health Platform
Searching for a great digital health platform feels like looking for a needle in a haystack. We have heaps of options, but one that genuinely delivers the goods? That’s a rare find.
So, let’s dive into what the perfect digital health platform should embody. But first, let’s clearly define what we’re discussing.
A digital health platform is a centralized hub for managing patient care, streamlining healthcare operations, and empowering patients to take a more active role in their health. It is software-based and integrates tools like electronic health records, telemedicine, secure communi...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 20, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF digital health digital health platform features Source Type: blogs
The Current State And Future Of Biohacking
For years at The Medical Futurist, we’ve covered countless digital health devices and technologies, and how they can empower patients in the digital health age. These share the common feature of augmenting the patient experience, and such augmentations can be taken to the next level via biohacking.
In this article, we’ll introduce the biohacking concept, illustrate it with examples of biohackers (you might be one already!) and contemplate its impact on the future of digital health.
What is biohacking?
As the term itself suggests, “biohacking” generally refers to the act of hacking or modifying biolog...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 15, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Pranavsingh Dhunnoo Tags: TMF implants biohacking grinders Source Type: blogs
Career Guide In Digital Health And Healthcare AI
It seems like every other day, someone reaches out to us – aiming their questions at Dr. Meskó, our lead researcher – seeking career advice. Now, let’s set the record straight: doling out career guidance isn’t exactly what we do. Yet, here we are, writing this article. Why? Even though we’re not career advisors, we’re right in the thick of the digital health and healthcare AI world. From this spot, we have a good overview of what you need to get into these booming fields.
So, while we might not be career counselors, here are our two cents on which direction to take –...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 13, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Source Type: blogs
Hackers, Breaches And The Value Of Health Data: 2024 E-Book Update
As solutions like remote care are becoming the norm, 3D printing disrupts the normal supply chain and the number of life science studies on tools like artificial intelligence (AI) skyrocket, it’s become clear that we are not anticipating the digital health era; we are in the digital health era. This was to come sooner or later, but the pandemic accelerated the process by years.
However, along with the enhanced healthcare landscape that digital health brings along, there is the pressing issue of privacy. To put it bluntly, there is no digital health without sacrificing a part of our privacy. The advanced technolo...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 8, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Pranavsingh Dhunnoo Tags: Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Health Sensors & Trackers Healthcare Policy Security & Privacy facebook data privacy google data security deepmind EHR Hospital cybersecurity genetic sequencing smartphone data breach big t Source Type: blogs
Will Patients Have To Pay For Using AI In Their Healthcare?
This article discussed how the author was asked if she wanted to pay $40 extra for additional AI analysis in mammography. In her case a Manhattan radiology clinic offered an AI analysis of their mammogram for an additional $40, not covered by insurance. This scenario was echoed at a clinic in suburban Baltimore, where patients were similarly offered AI-assisted mammography for a $40 fee. These instances mark the initial real-world applications of AI in patient care but also introduce new factors to the healthcare equation.
To make things more complicated, we can’t look for a single, universal solution here. Heal...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 6, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Artificial Intelligence in Medicine AI in healthcare AI in medicine Source Type: blogs
5 Insights Of The Medical Futurist ’ s 100 Digital Health And AI Companies Of 2024
We are proud to introduce The Medical Futurist’s 100 Digital Health And AI Companies Of 2024 infographic. We create this list year after year and it is always among our most popular, most shared visuals. Our aim here is not to create a ranking, nor a toplist, but to highlight companies to watch this year.
The reason to publish this list is simple: the digital health realm is saturated with hype, distinguishing the promising players from the noise is a challenge. The annual list is our way of cutting through the clamor to spotlight those we believe are genuinely making strides in this space.
Disclosure
Just l...
Source: The Medical Futurist - February 1, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Digital Health Research top 100 Source Type: blogs
Apple Watch Series 9 Review: From Health Monitoring To Lifestyle Integration
As part of The Medical Futurist team, I am lucky enough to live in a world where cutting-edge technology is never too far away. Our lead researcher, Dr. Meskó, is a veteran in testing over a hundred different devices, setting a high benchmark in our reviews. I have a much more limited experience, but spending these past years with this team expanded my knowledge and understanding of digital health technology. So when I upgraded to a Series 9 Apple Watch, it was obvious that a review will follow.
As the whole wide world, our core team is divided by our preferences: Apple or Android? I’m on the Apple side, with my unw...
Source: The Medical Futurist - January 30, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Health Sensors & Trackers smartwatch Apple watch review Source Type: blogs
7 Things To Expect From AI In Healthcare This Year
The past year was all about artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on its integration into healthcare in our universe. At The Medical Futurist, we have extensively explored how AI is reshaping the healthcare landscape, outlining what to expect and how to prepare for these transformative changes.
As we move into 2024, it’s time to continue our forward-looking journey. This year promises to be a blend of consolidation and revolution. Some trends we’ve previously identified are beginning to solidify and integrate into the fabric of healthcare systems, while others are just starting to unfold.
In th...
Source: The Medical Futurist - January 25, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF AI AI in medicine artificial intelligence artificial intelligence in healthcare Source Type: blogs
What Will Blood Testing Look Like In The Near Future?
The traditional process of blood draw is familiar to everyone. It typically involves visiting a healthcare facility where a professional, such as a nurse or phlebotomist, draws the blood. Patients then wait for results that are often challenging for non-professionals to interpret.
This analysis aims to explore how this universally recognized procedure has evolved recently and how it is expected to change in the next 5-10 years, especially in the context of digital health.
Initially, blood draw was a purely manual process, requiring skilled professionals for both the drawing and the analysis. The procedure and e...
Source: The Medical Futurist - January 23, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF lab test blood draw Source Type: blogs
A Step-By-Step Guide To Measuring Sleep
This study provides indirect evidence that the genes predisposing adults to insomnia may also contribute to poor sleep from toddlerhood through adolescence, suggesting the existence of a ‘poor sleeper’ trait that persists throughout a lifetime.
Regardless of our genes, we don’t learn as children how to achieve (the best possible) quality sleep nor understand what good sleep specifically means for us as individuals.
We previously have written about sleep tracking multiple times, you can also check back here for example.
Let’s quickly get over a few basic questions!
Is it fundamental to ...
Source: The Medical Futurist - January 18, 2024 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF digital health sleep tracking sleep optimization how to sleep better Source Type: blogs