To keep healthcare human, we need better tech
While virtual doctor visits were available prior to 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic kicked them into overdrive: From 2018-2022, the percentage of American hospitals offering telehealth jumped over 14% to 86.9%. In 2021, McKinsey reported that the use of virtual care had stabilized at 38 times higher than before the pandemic. That same year, 85% of doctors offered it and 37% of adults surveyed had used it in the past year. In less than a decade, telehealth has gone from care alternative to industry staple. But with patients and providers increasingly dissatisfied with the quality of care, is this a positive development?
It can be. As the CEO of Sollis Health, a 24/7 concierge medical membership, I've seen how telehealth can be leveraged alongside features like premium tech-based services, healthcare personalization, and powerful proactive care to prioritize patient experience, support providers, and boost health outcomes—because 'high-tech' and 'human-centered' don't have to be mutually exclusive.
Premium tech-based services
More than ever, time is a luxury for both patients and healthcare providers: Patients are waiting longer for care while overworked providers are slowed down by administrative burdens and staffing shortages. This lack of time contributes to burnout on both sides, with a 2022 poll revealing that fewer than half of Americans feel that the healthcare system is ' generally handled well.' On the provider side, a 2024 survey showed that 48.2% of physicians reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout.
Tech-based services could help fill these gaps, alleviating these pressures on both sides. AI is just one example. By automating administrative tasks, streamlining preventive care, and even playing a role in diagnostics —like reading MRIs or X-rays—a smart rollout of AI could free providers to spend more intentional time with patients while making care more efficient and effective by finding cancer sooner and making precision medicine more comprehensive.
Healthcare personalization
Women are more likely to die from heart attacks —and yet, because of medical biases, they are also more likely to be misdiagnosed.
While a one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare has long been the norm, care that tailors medical treatments and interventions to the unique needs of individual patients not only improves health outcomes, but streamlines them, too. From simply making sure patients are comfortable before, during, and after exams, to providing access to wearables like Zio patches, targeted cancer diagnostics, and seamless care navigation, personalized healthcare can save time and money by enhancing prevention and refining diagnostics. It can also improve engagement and compliance: Healthcare strategies specifically tailored to an individual's needs makes patients feel more understood and cared for overall.
Powerful proactive care
You're probably already familiar with preventive care, which research shows could reduce premature cancer deaths by about 40%. Proactive care broadens preventive care's reach by deepening the connection between patients and providers with more and better communication while encouraging traditional preventive measures like health education, lifestyle changes—like quitting smoking or balanced eating habits—and screenings for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Unfortunately, in the United States only slightly more than half of recommended healthcare interventions are provided during the course of normal care, often due to a lack of time. Technological advances in preventive care have so much to offer, especially in terms of access. Thanks to the time-savings of telehealth, AI-driven diagnostics, app-based medical education and care, wearables, and more, proactive care becomes more accessible to those who need it, including at-risk patients, patients managing chronic conditions, and others who would benefit from the convenience of higher-tech care.
The future of healthcare is human-centered
Finding solutions to a healthcare system that's become too complex, transactional, and onerous doesn't mean ignoring technologies like telehealth—it means striking the delicate balance between the human touch and the cutting edge. Whether it's as simple as a warmer bedside manner or as advanced as AI-driven predictive analytics, human-centered healthcare is not just possible, but necessary, in this evolving landscape.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
11 minutes ago
- Medscape
Beard Stubble: Style Statement or Pathogen Paradise?
Human skin harbours billions of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Facial hair represents a unique microbiological environment. Beards maintain ideal temperature, moisture, pH, and nutrient levels to support a dense and diverse microbial population. Sebum, food debris, and dirt can accumulate on hair, further promoting microbial growth. Frequent touching of the beard, often with the hands, can spread germs from the environment. Research over the past 50 years has shown that bacteria and toxins can persist in beards even after washing. This has led to concerns that beards may harbour bacteria, which could increase the risk for infection. Healthcare Context In healthcare, beards remain a topic of debate, particularly regarding the spread of hospital-acquired infections. Studies have shown mixed results; some have found higher overall bacterial counts on the faces of bearded healthcare workers than on those of their clean-shaven peers, while others have reported no significant difference. One study comparing hygiene levels in human and dog MRI scans found that men's beards carried a higher microbiological load than canine fur, including potentially harmful bacteria. Interestingly, the same study also showed that bearded doctors were less likely to carry Staphylococcus aureus, a key cause of hospital-acquired infections, than clean-shaven doctors. In addition, patients treated by bearded surgeons did not have higher rates of postoperative infection. Skin Infections Beards can spread skin infections, such as impetigo, a contagious condition typically caused by S aureus, which can colonise facial hair. In rare cases, parasites such as pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) have been found in beards, eyelashes, or eyebrows, particularly in situations involving poor hygiene or close contact with an infected person. Beard Care Neglected or poorly maintained beards can cause skin irritation, inflammation, and infections. The underlying skin is sensitive, as it contains many blood vessels, nerves, and immune cells, and can be easily affected by oil, dead skin, and environmental factors. Experts recommend daily cleansing of the face and beard to effectively remove dirt, allergens, and microbes. Dermatologists also advise regular moisturisation, using a beard comb to clear out impurities, and trimming to manage stray hairs and support healthy growth. The hygiene of a beard largely depends on how well it is cared for; when cleaned daily, it does not pose a significant risk. This story was translated from Univadis Germany.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Cuyahoga could be first Ohio county to ban anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Northeast Ohio residents are calling on Cuyahoga County leaders to join municipalities across the state in outlawing anti-LGBTQ+ practices known as 'conversion therapy.' The Cuyahoga County Council introduced an ordinance on Tuesday to prohibit healthcare professionals from engaging in conversion therapy with minors and some adults deemed 'vulnerable.' Long considered 'anti-LGBTQ+,' the techniques use talk therapy and occasionally more invasive methods to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, like reducing or eliminating same-sex attraction. 'I'm casting my voice in favor of this county-wide ban, not just for myself but for the majority of my classmates who did not make it to see this day,' said Otto Tyson, a Cleveland resident and conversion therapy survivor, during the meeting. 'This is your chance to be on the right side of our county's history, to be the trusted adult in the room.' Ohio equal rights amendment would outlaw discrimination, void same-sex marriage ban The proposed ordinance is spearheaded by Brandon West, a 23-year-old Ohioan who championed his home city of Lorain to ban conversion therapy last year and then began advocating for Cuyahoga to do the same. His work is having a ripple effect: After Westerville became the 13th Ohio city to ban the practices earlier this year, the city's mayor joined several municipality leaders in urging other towns to do the same. West previously told NBC4 he is also pushing for prohibitions to be introduced in Vermilion and Oberlin. He said during Tuesday's meeting that the ordinances in other Ohio cities has encouraged youth to seek mental healthcare given it's guaranteed they won't be subjected to conversion therapy. 'After we passed a ban in Lorain, I had many messages come through from families with gay or trans kids, saying how they finally felt protected,' said West. 'Protected enough to get proper mental healthcare. [Lorain's] a city of 60,000-plus people. Imagine the effect it would have on a county with over 1 million.' Stephanie Ash, a director for the National Association of Social Workers' Ohio chapter, said during Tuesday's meeting there is no scientific basis for conversion therapy, calling the techniques 'physiological abuse' and 'rooted in the false and dangerous belief that LGBTQIA+ identities are disorders in need of correction.' She pointed to research that found youth who are subjected to conversion therapy face higher rates of depression, anxiety, self harm, and suicide. 'We know that one supportive adult in a young person's life can reduce the risk of suicide by 40%,' Ash said. 'This ordinance gives us the opportunity to be that supportive adult through our policies, our protections and our values. Banning conversion therapy is not about politics, it's about saving lives.' Ohio House will return this month to consider property tax provision veto overrides Brooks Boron, the president of Cleveland Stonewall Democrats, said conversion therapy is a 'discredited practice based on the false and harmful premise that being LGBTQIA+ is a disorder,' citing condemnations from the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Pediatrics. Boron argued the ban is needed given the practices continue 'to be inflicted upon our community and our youth across the state.' While Democratic legislators at the Ohio Statehouse reintroduced a bill in February to prohibit the practices statewide, the proposal has failed to gain support across the legislative aisle. 'Passing this ban sends a clear and powerful message that Cuyahoga County values its LGBTQIA+ residents, especially its youth, and that we are committed to protecting them from abuse that masquerades as treatment,' said Boron. 'This action would align our country with other municipalities across Ohio and the nation who've taken the stand to protect LGBTQIA+ individuals from this harmful practice.' Cuyahoga's ordinance now heads to the county's Health, Human Services and Aging Committee for review. If approved, practitioners could face civil penalties and the relevant licensing board, commission or entity tasked with review of professional conduct would be notified of violations by the county director of Health and Human Services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Medscape
42 minutes ago
- Medscape
Cardiac Arrest Survival Rises Over Last Two Decades
TOPLINE: While the incidence of cardiac arrest occurring outside the hospital has remained relatively stable, at about 81 per 100,000 person-years, between 2001 and 2020, data show survival rates improved from 14.7% to 18.9% during that period. This improvement corresponded with increased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), from 55.5% to 73.9%, and the use of early automated external defibrillators, from 2.2% to 10.9%. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 25,118 adults in King County, Washington, who had experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated by emergency medical services (EMS) between 2001 and 2020. Of those, 15,994 (63.7%) were men and 9124 were women; the median age was 65 years. Annual incidence calculations were stratified by sex, age group (less than 65 years and 65 years or older), and initial rhythm (shockable, nonshockable). The tesearchers evaluated temporal trends using Poisson regression for incidence and survival to hospital discharge, with resuscitation assessed in five-year groups. TAKEAWAY: Overall survival to hospital discharge improved significantly over time: 14.7% (859 of 5847 individuals) in 2001-2005, 17.4% (1024 of 5885 individuals) in 2006-2010, 19.3% (1232 of 6376 individuals) in 2011-2015, and 18.9% (1322 of 7010 individuals) in 2016-2020 (P < .001 for trend). Survival rates increased substantially for shockable OHCA, from 35% to 47.5%, and for nonshockable OHCA, from 6.4% to 10.1% between the periods spanning 2001-2005 and 2016-2020 (P < .001 for trend). Improvements were observed in both prehospital resuscitation (survival to hospital admission) and in-hospital survival (P < .001 for trend). Community response rose significantly, with bystander CPR increasing from 55.5% to 73.9% and early use of an automated external defibrillator rising from 2.2% to 10.9% (P < .001 for trend). IN PRACTICE: 'Resuscitation outcomes improved over time, a temporal trend that was evident overall and when stratified by presenting arrest rhythm,' the researchers reported. 'The outcome improvements corresponded to improvements in health services such as increase in bystander CPR, AED application before EMS among patients with shockable rhythm, and hospital-based care with targeted temperature management and coronary intervention. The results demonstrate the dynamic nature of OHCA incidence and resuscitation care and outcome that collectively help provide a foundational context to consider strategies of prevention and treatment.' SOURCE: The study was led by Owen McBride, MD, of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. It was published online July 16 in JAMA Cardiology. LIMITATIONS: According to the authors, while the study represents a singular regional experience that could affect generalizability, as OHCA incidence and outcome can vary based on geography. Some people who experience OHCA have an emergency response but do not receive resuscitation attempts due to signs of irreversible death or do-not-resuscitate orders, whereas some OHCA events do not receive a 911 medical response. DISCLOSURES: Michael Sayre, MD, reported receiving personal fees from Styker Emergency Response outside the submitted work. Thomas Rea, MD, MPH, reported receiving grants from Philips Medical Funding and the American Heart Association for research independent of the current publication. Additional disclosures are noted in the original article. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
