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AR/VR technologies in medical training and treatment can
revolutionize health care practice beyond education. According to
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these technologies may be
able to deliver new types of treatments and diagnostics and change
how and where care is delivered. At press time, the agency lists 39
authorized medical devices that incorporate AR and VR across medical
disciplines. These include a variety of specialized systems that can
provide AR support to surgeons, a therapy system for amblyopia
( " lazy eye " ), and a treatment program that may provide chronic
lower back pain relief without pharmaceutical intervention.
According to FDA, AR and VR may be able to deliver some types
of clinical services - including services normally delivered only in
clinics and hospitals - to patients in their homes or other nonclinical
settings. Further, FDA speculates that such services could help
patients, including the socioeconomically vulnerable, underserved
communities, and the elderly or disabled, to access needed health
care services when accessing them in person would otherwise be
difficult. In turn, this could make it easier, and more likely, for patients
to complete treatment and for providers to monitor treatment.
Wearable Technologies Can Provide Great Opportunities but Also
Present Challenges
Wearable health sensors are being used by an increasing number of consumers. These devices include
fitness trackers, smartwatches, glucose monitors, and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors. Consumers
use these sensors to monitor their own health and fitness, and, in some cases, to share data with health
care providers and insurers. These devices can provide important and valuable insights into a patient's
health, which providers can, in turn, utilize to tailor treatment and care.
According to Drug Topics Journal, 80% of patients have used the
internet to search for health information, and 42% of adults are
using digital health tracking devices such as Fitbits or smartwatches
with health sensors. With this widespread growth, it is no wonder
that new smart technologies are emerging at a rapid pace. These
advancements are already transforming industries throughout
the world. Health care and pharmacy have been no exception.
One of the main advantages of wearable sensors is that they
can provide continuous and real-time metrics. Depending
on the types of sensors being used, this can include a patient's
heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen saturation,
and body temperature. The data can help pharmacists and other
health care providers monitor the effectiveness and safety of
medications and detect any adverse events or drug interactions.
For example, some clinicians are using continuous glucose
monitoring (CGM) sensors for this purpose. CGM sensors sit
under the skin (typically in the patient's arm or stomach) and
provide constant information on glucose levels to an external
monitor, such as an application on a smartwatch or smartphone.
Patients can use that data to monitor their glucose levels
more closely, while providers can adjust their medications
and other treatments. The technology is particularly valuable
for patients undergoing intensive insulin therapy, who have
hypoglycemia unawareness, or who have high or low blood sugar.
Similarly, many smartwatches now have limited ECG
monitors, which can measure heart activity and reveal any
potential abnormalities. Patients who wear these devices
might be alerted to signs of certain irregular heart rhythms,
and these devices can even be used by cardiologists and
other providers to diagnose and treat heart conditions.
Another benefit of wearable technology is the way it can
improve patient engagement and adherence to medications.
For instance, some devices can track medication intake and
send notifications to patients and their caregivers. Such
devices might also connect to online platforms or apps
that provide educational resources and other support.
Finally, wearable sensors may also facilitate remote
monitoring and telehealth services, which can improve access
and quality of care for patients who live in remote areas
or have mobility limitations. Smartwatches, for example,
can transmit vital readings such as heart rate to providers,
reducing the need for physical visits to a clinic or hospital.
The list of these types of technologies is already expansive
and likely to grow over the coming years. They include
electronic skin patches, hydration and sweat sensors, pregnancy
and newborn monitors, smart clothing, and even smart
bandages that can detect infections, release medications,
and provide progress reports on how a wound is healing.
With the potential for all this new data, there are some
challenges. Most notably is how to ensure that the data collected
are kept private and secure and used ethically. Those utilizing
this technology may also need to determine how to integrate the
data from these wearables into new or existing health systems.
This may require common standards and protocols to ensure that
the different systems can communicate with each other. Another
challenge is learning how to ensure that pharmacist education and
training includes information about how best to use this data.
Wearable sensors offer both opportunities and challenges for
improving pharmacy practice. Pharmacists and other health
care professionals need to keep up with the latest developments
and best practices regarding wearable sensors, as well as how
to educate patients on using them correctly and safely.
Considering these concerns about personal health information,
data integration, and the ethics of use, NABP will continue
to keep the boards of pharmacy informed about these
technologies and potential regulatory issues that may arise.
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Innovations-Magazine-June-2023

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