Consumer Electronic Show 2018: A Focus on Digital Health Tools

Abstract

This past fall, I was invited to serve on the planning committee for the Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education, an ongoing, convening activity of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. I — a nonnurse — was also asked to give a presentation at a workshop titled Improving Health Professional Education and Practice Through Technology. The workshop, and the opportunities to learn about the different uses of technologies to foster interprofessional teamwork, were invigorating. Speakers told of innovations across the globe in areas such as immersive virtual environments, social media, and digital learning. We also had some rapid-fire sessions and innovator tables where we could examine new tools. The focus was on positive as well as unintended consequences of technology and how to bridge the gap between education and practice. (To view the presentations and access videos and slides, visit www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Activities/Global/InnovationHealthProfEducation/2017-NOV-16.aspx.) I began my presentation with basics about connected care, and then I shared a patient story, “Meet Josephine.” (See a video of my presentation, as supplemental video 1 (https://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Activities/Global/InnovationHealthProfEducation/2017-NOV-16/Videos/Session-3-Videos/23-Skiba-Video.aspx).) Josephine, 86 years old, was recently discharged to her daughter’s home after a hip and femur fracture. I used her story to illustrate how a smart home and smart devices could connect with Josephine’s health ecosystem, within which Josephine, as a partner in care, could interact with an extensive interprofessional team of health care providers. In the conversation following the presentation, questions focused on accessibility and how one could afford these digital tools. We spoke of the potential of a digital divide and also how insurance companies and hospitals might make these health tools available. Many asked how many of these technologies were currently available, and I had to admit that some of the technologies I described were those imagined for the future. DEVICES FOR JOSEPHINE Then came January and CES 2018, the annual Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas. Reading about this year’s show, I realized that the devices in my scenario were becoming more available in the consumer marketplace. CES 2018 was not just for technology geeks but was now attracting more health care professionals. Sarasohn-Kahn (2018) summed up CES 2018: “Health is the new black if this year’s annual CES 2018 is an indicator. Even the new connected cars have a health story to tell at this yearly get-together of shiny new-new things in consumer-facing technology.” Let’s look at the world of digital health 2018. Two videos speak to growth in the consumer marketplace: CES 2018 I.E. Health and Human Touch (supplemental video 2 (https://youtu.be/5ZxLVX16yQQ)) and CES 2018: Health CGTN (supplemental video 3 (https://youtu.be/674-vXalj9U)). Let’s take a look at some of the latest digital health tools that will enter into the connected care ecosystem that might be useful for the 86-year-old Josephine. Josephine can be connected via Medically Home Group (www.medicallyhome.com/) to her interprofessional team from its mission control unit and have in-home, on-demand virtual visits. Her Samsung Family Hub refrigerator is readily available. Besides being a social connector for the family, the refrigerator is now a voice assistant that can help with recipes, provide alerts about food allergies, answer questions, and connect with other family members. It can also connect with a payment system and use coupons and loyalty cards to order groceries. It will be only a matter of time before this refrigerator transforms into a health hub that helps with medication reminders, orders medications, and sends questions to Josephine’s primary care team. If Josephine is nervous about another fall, she has several options. One is fashionable smart sho