Innovations in Digital Health From a Global Perspective: Proceedings of PRC‐HI 2024

Abstract

The rapid evolution of digital health technologies has sparked transformative changes across the healthcare landscape. These advancements were at the heart of discussions during the recent academic conference co-organized by The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU) and University of California at Berkeley, the Pacific-Rim Conference on Healthcare Innovation (PRC-HI 2024), convening under the theme “The Future of Medicine: Integrating Robotics, AI and Healthcare.” This article distills the key developments and their implications for the future of healthcare, focusing on innovations in robotic surgery, health data science, and AI for medicine. Robotic surgery has become a cornerstone of modern surgical practices, offering enhanced precision, reduced recovery times, and lower complication rates. Dr. Xiaoyu Yin detailed advancements in robot-assisted pancreatic surgeries at FAH-SYSU, emphasizing the hospital's extensive experience with the Da Vinci surgical system. Since 2015, Dr. Yin has performed over 1000 robotic surgeries, including nearly 700 pancreatic resections. These procedures included advanced techniques such as robot-assisted Whipple procedures, organ-preserving pancreatectomies, and total pancreatectomies. His presentation highlighted the learning curves associated with these complex procedures, showcasing research on iterative improvements in surgical outcomes through case refinement and skill enhancement [1, 2]. Similarly, Dr. Junhang Luo presented a novel “gradual renal segmental artery off-clamping” technique for treating large renal tumors. By utilizing preoperative computed tomography (CT) reconstructions, the technique identifies renal arterial branches, allowing surgeons to precisely minimize ischemia to healthy tissue while ensuring effective tumor removal. Clinical data revealed significantly shorter ischemia times, reduced blood loss, and improved long-term renal function compared to traditional methods. Dr. Qingbo Huang shared groundbreaking work on robotic telesurgery, particularly focusing on its applications in regions with limited medical resources. Through successful demonstrations of remote surgeries between Beijing and distant locations such as Sanya, Dr. Huang's research highlighted how low-latency communication networks and advanced robotic systems can overcome geographical barriers [3]. Dr. Chao Cheng discussed the application of robotic surgery in thoracic procedures, particularly for lung cancer and large thymoma. His presentation highlighted how robotic systems enhance surgical precision and reduce recovery times, with notable success in segmentectomies and thymectomies [4]. The integration of 3D visualization and enhanced dexterity offered by robotic systems has transformed the management of challenging thoracic cases [5, 6]. Dr. Peter Nyirady presented on the potential of robotic surgery in addressing global surgical disparities. Highlighting the contributions of Semmelweis University, his team demonstrated how robotic systems have enhanced outcomes in urological surgeries. He also discussed future directions, such as semi-autonomous surgical systems, and the importance of training programs to keep pace with these advancements. Dr. Chris Fitzpatrick elaborated on the use of AI and data analytics in optimizing robotic surgical practices. Through platforms such as Case Insights, his research highlighted how analyzing surgical video data and performance metrics can identify skill gaps and provide actionable feedback for surgeons [7-10]. This approach has the potential to standardize training and improve surgical outcomes globally. Dr. Veronica Ahumada-Newhart introduced the potential of telepresence robots in improving social inclusion for children with mobility impairments. Her studies revealed that these robots enable remote participation in classroom activities, such as attending lessons and engaging in physical education, reducing feelings of isolation and fostering