We are all, on average, getting older. As a result, an increasing number of people require continuous care. This is particularly true in the modern West, where the common lifestyle, including stress and unhealthy eating habits, is not always conducive to healthy aging. Chronic diseases not only have significant consequences for the physical and mental well-being of patients but also exert considerable pressure on our healthcare system.
To reduce the likelihood of chronic illness, healthcare institutions are shifting from an intervention model to a prevention model. A prevention model utilizes (technical) means to detect and prevent medical issues before these signals lead to symptoms and develop into chronic conditions. IT innovations play a significant role in streamlining and implementing preventive care models more efficiently. Continue reading to find out how.
Preventive Care is Not New
The concept of preventive care is certainly not new. The medical field has embraced it for many decades. Vaccinations and annual check-ups are well-known methods to nip diseases in the bud before they lead to symptoms and chronic discomfort or ailments.
However, there is a significant difference between traditional and hypermodern preventive care. The digital transformation of healthcare has led to groundbreaking innovations that accelerate the shift from intervention to prevention on a large scale and at a rapid pace.
Examples of Modern Preventive Care
Through a few examples, we illustrate what preventive care looks like in the digital age.
Predictive Analytics
Thanks to technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), many healthcare organizations and hospitals have algorithms that feed on both historical data and real-time patient information. Combined with data from patient records and the insights and expertise of doctors and medical specialists, these algorithms make predictions about (potential) health risks someone may face. This enables intervention before unhealthy habits or minor physical warning signs turn into chronic health issues.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring refers to a wide range of solutions that allow healthcare teams to assess and sometimes treat patients outside the walls of conventional healthcare institutions. For example, the Biosensor, a device that allows doctors and nurses to monitor vital body functions of a patient remotely and in real-time, such as heart rate and breathing. Another example is sensors with fall detection that trigger an alarm if a patient or client falls.
Digital Patient Engagement
Digital methods for patient engagement, such as health-tracking apps and patient portals, empower individuals to play a more active role in managing their own health and well-being. They can measure crucial health values themselves (such as blood pressure, sugar levels, or vitamin levels) and input that data into a user-friendly and secure portal. The involved doctors also have access to that data and use it to provide targeted exercise and nutrition advice.
How Does Eurofiber Help?
To make preventive care successful and alleviate the burden of (chronic) diseases that the sector has been feeling for years, we need to go beyond just embracing modern digital health tools. It is also crucial to break down barriers between departments, specialists, patients, and caregivers. And bridge the gap between healthcare institutions and people at home. This starts with a fully redundant fiber-optic connection between, from, and to healthcare institutions.
Eurofiber has already connected a significant part of the healthcare ecosystem to its nationwide fiber-optic network. The foundation, namely the digital highway, is there for all of us to collaborate better, securely share client and patient information, promote remote care, integrate smart systems, and handle data insights intelligently.
Eurofiber supports this development and allows your healthcare institution to benefit from 100% redundancy and an independent and high-quality fiber-optic network. Additionally, Eurofiber has the sharpest SLA in the current connectivity market. In case of a disruption on our active network, we guarantee a repair time of 100% within 4 hours, and in case of a cable break, 100% within 8 hours.
More information
If you would like to learn more about preventive care and the associated technical possibilities, and are curious about Eurofiber's solutions that enable optimal connectivity and preventive care, feel free to call us at +32 (0)2 307 12 00 or fill out the contact form on our website.
