Exploring AI-healthcare innovation: natural language processing-based patents analysis for technology-driven roadmapping

PurposeThe purposes of this paper are (1) to explore the overall development of AI technologies and applications that have been demonstrated to be fundamentally important in the healthcare industry, and their related commercialized products and (2) to identify technologies with promise as the basis of useful applications and profitable products in the AI-healthcare domain.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a technology-driven technology roadmap approach, combined with natural language processing (NLP)-based patents analysis, to identify promising and potentially profitable existing AI technologies and products in the domain of AI healthcare.FindingsRobotics technology exhibits huge potential in surgical and diagnostics applications. Intuitive Surgical Inc., manufacturer of the Da Vinci robotic system and Ion robotic lung-biopsy system, dominates the robotics-assisted surgical and diagnostic fields. Diagnostics and medical imaging are particularly active fields for the application of AI, not only for analysis of CT and MRI scans, but also for image archiving and communications.Originality/valueThis study is a pioneering attempt to clarify the interrelationships of particular promising technologies for application and related products in the AI-healthcare domain. Its findings provide critical information about the patent activities of key incumbent actors, and thus offer important insights into recent and current technological and product developments in the emergent AI-healthcare sector.

Barriers to clinical adoption of pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatry: a critical analysis

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the study of genetic influences on an individual’s response to medications. Improvements in the quality and quantity of PGx research over the past two decades have enabled the establishment of commercial markets for PGx tests. Nevertheless, PGx testing has yet to be adopted as a routine practice in clinical care. Accordingly, policy regulating the commercialization and reimbursement of PGx testing is in its infancy. Several papers have been published on the topic of challenges, or ‘barriers’ to clinical adoption of this healthcare innovation. However, many do not include recent evidence from randomized controlled trials, economic utility studies, and qualitative assessments of stakeholder opinions. The present paper revisits the most cited barriers to adoption of PGx testing: evidence for clinical utility, evidence for economic effectiveness, and stakeholder awareness. We consider these barriers in the context of reviewing PGx literature published over the past two decades and emphasize data from commercial PGx testing companies, since they have published the largest datasets. We conclude with a discussion of existing limitations to PGx testing and recommendations for progress.

State-of-the-Art: Biodesign based Innovation Ecosystems in Europe

Today's healthcare challenges with unmet clinical needs, high regulation and certification standards, and increasing costs demand faster innovation and technical translation. To address this challenge, Stanford released a fellowship called Biodesign, where need-based healthcare innovation is taught with the approach identify, invent and implement. Since then, different European institutions have adopted the Biodesign innovation approach and organized within the Biomedical Engineering- Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Alliance (BMEidea EU). The generation of successful healthcare innovation isn't only based on participating in an Innovation teaching program. It is much more a matter of having the right innovation ecosystem with an open creative mindset, experts, the respective stakeholders, and access to essential resources within reach (close to clinic). Through a qualitative survey, seven Biodesign based teaching programs in the EU were examined. The study from an academic perspective contains information covering Resources, Activities, Academic Performance, and Transfer Performance. The demand for new healthcare innovations, and especially innovation training programs that address challenges, developed collaboratively with the respective stakeholders, is increasing. Additionally, there is a growing expectation that innovation needs to reach the market quickly and be implemented accordingly. A Healthcare Innovation Ecosystem, where different entities function as a productive unit with a shared vision and committed to application-driven research and technology transfer, will increase innovation's success and adaptation.

Implementing the use of objective medication adherence data in routine clinical practice via the digital CFHealthHub platform: situation analysis and strategy development using the theoretical domains framework

Background Preventative inhaled treatments preserve lung function and reduce exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Self-reported adherence to these treatments is over-estimated. An online platform (CFHealthHub) has been developed with patients and clinicians to display real-time objective adherence data from dose-counting nebulisers, so that clinical teams can offer informed treatment support. Methods In this paper, we identify pre-implementation barriers to healthcare practitioners performing two key behaviours: accessing objective adherence data through the website CFHealthHub and discussing medication adherence with patients. We aimed to understand barriers during the pre-implementation phase, so that appropriate strategy could be developed for the scale up of implementing objective adherence data in 19 CF centres. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare practitioners working in three UK CF centres. Qualitative data were coded using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which describes 14 validated domains to implementation behaviour change. Results Analysis indicated that an implementation strategy should address all 14 domains of the TDF to successfully support implementation. Participants did not report routines or habits for using objective adherence data in clinical care. Examples of salient barriers included skills, beliefs in consequences, and social influence and professional roles. The results also affirmed a requirement to address organisational barriers. Relevant behaviour change techniques were selected to develop implementation strategy modules using the behaviour change wheel approach to intervention development. ConclusionsThis paper demonstrates the value of applying the TDF at pre-implementation, to understand context and to support the development of a situationally relevant implementation strategy. Contribution to the literature· Research indicates that the implementation of healthcare innovations may be more likely to succeed when context and theory are taken into consideration. · In this study, healthcare professionals identified barriers to two behaviours that were key to the implementation of a national Cystic Fibrosis (CF) healthcare innovation. By coding barriers to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), a contextually relevant implementation strategy was developed, with a focus on clinician behaviour change. · The study highlights the challenges CF teams face when implementing new remote monitoring of medication adherence, and provides an important opportunity to apply the TDF in the pre-implementation phase of a healthcare innovation.

Grants, Funding, Awards and Recognition in Healthcare Innovation

For an idea to be validated, prototyped and tested, adequate financial planning plays a major role in the long journey of the idea from the brains to the market. There are various ways of getting funds for the startup. The founders usually start with their own money from their savings or some borrowings from family and friends which is called bootstrapping and is very common and crucial, akin to doctors starting their own clinics and small nursing homes. As they start to grow, large funds are needed in the early stage to set the foot firm with the help of an angel investor/ seed investor which is like starting a full-fledged hospital. The Venture capitalist comes in at a stage when the idea is proven and started with operations, early-stage customers and has a major potential to expand, just like when more branches of hospitals are planned. Private equity companies and investment banks are those who are keen to invest in companies who have proved themselves beyond doubt with strong leadership in the market and are looking for a major return on investment by making the company bigger, which is like planning a pan India network of the hospital chain. These investments happen multiple times or rounds at various stages of the company usually termed series A to series D or E and ultimately leading to the Initial Public Offering when it goes public from private holding. This funding journey is a well-planned effort quite specific to the investment stage, investor type, and their preferences. The recognition of the startups and their ideas plays a major role in them reaching to market and access to funding opportunities. The funding and national recognition from various govt. and private agencies such as BIRAC, FICCI, NASSCOM, Wellcome trust, and Villgro and international agencies such as CAMTech, Bill and Melinda gates foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, Stanford, and Harvard gives the much needed attention from the potential investors and is a major advantage which should be utilized well. Social media recognition plays a major role in recent times which has the potential to make an innovation “viral” and reach millions of customers and make relevant investors and govt. agencies notice, which can be a huge breakthrough for the company if the innovation has a social impact. We would like to make this article more practical, experiential, and contextual for better connect with pediatrician colleagues.

A Physician’s Commentary on Electronic Health Records in the United States Medical Practice

This commentary presents a point of view on how the arrival of electronic health records (EHR) in the United States (U.S.) has changed physicians’ practice. EHR implementation has pros and cons. EHR systems have been a great asset during the pandemic and help with efficiency, safety, and cost reduction. Despite their benefits, healthcare providers and organizations still face challenges, including usability and interoperability across systems, contributing to physicians’ burnout. Can physicians adopt new technologies and adapt to current challenges? Is it the right time for physicians to stop being observers and become active participants in the process of healthcare innovation and implementation?

Positive Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Health Measures on Healthcare

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, several unexpected positive outcomes have surfaced. The WHO public health measures have positively transformed people’s behaviour and lifestyles. The pandemic has prompted more focus on self-care and health awareness. Hand hygiene practice has been greatly emphasised. The acceptance rate for the use of personal protective equipment, such as face masks, has been remarkable. People with co-morbid conditions are paying more attention to their primary illnesses by improving diets and exercise methods. People are more willing to accept and act on public health messages. The pandemic lockdowns have not only successfully mitigated the transmission of coronavirus, but they have also indirectly reduced the hospital admission rates for endemic community respiratory infections and trauma-related emergencies like motor vehicle accidents. Fetomaternal health and wellness have significantly improved during the pandemic. The abrupt emergence of COVID-19 has also led to a massive societal shift on tobacco smoking cessation. Smokers are compelled to reflect on the harmful effects of cigarette smoking in relation to COVID-19. Issues of mental, relational and sexual health are put in the spotlight during the pandemic. People are investing more time in themselves, family and relationships. The world has seen an unprecedented global race in healthcare innovation and technology development in tackling the same global issue. Artificial intelligence, including robots and drones, have been rapidly developed and employed for healthcare as well as food and delivery services in order to minimise human physical contact. This article discusses several unforeseen positive impacts on healthcare that emerged from the COVID-19 public health measures that have been implemented. The positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic should be highlighted in order to provide hope to our community.