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AI leads as Pharmaceutical Technology lists five of the most popular tweets on healthtech in Q1 2022 based on data from GlobalData’s Healthcare Influencer Platform.

The top tweets are based on total engagements (likes and retweets) received on tweets from more than 150 healthtech experts tracked by GlobalData’s Healthcare Influencer platform during the first quarter (Q1) of 2022.

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1. Eric Topol’s tweet on applications of AI in health and medicine

Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, shared an article on how AI can be applied in health and medicine. The article shared findings from a two year review of developments in medical AI including studies that aimed to demonstrate the utility of medical AI systems. The use of AI tools in medical practice is currently low despite several studies showing their efficacy.

The effectiveness of AI systems in healthcare was tested in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that involved setups wherein humans received assistance from AI to check the technology’s accuracy and other metrics. The studies showed that AI assistance helped in improving clinical experts’ sensitivity although their specificity was lowered. Furthermore, AI assistance benefited less experienced clinicians than experienced clinicians.

Technical aspects such as the accuracy of AI play a key role in determining the usefulness of the technology in clinical settings, the article noted. Incorrect predictions, for example, can hinder clinical performance despite correct predictions being helpful. Furthermore, the use of medical AI systems faces a number of challenges including user trust, high cost, and regulatory issues. AI systems used for image analysis, for example, require additional equipment to capture images of whole slides, which is often unavailable at health systems. In addition, regulatory issues such as accuracy, ethical use of data and bias are also impacting the deployment of AI in healthcare and clinical settings.

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Username: Eric Topol

Twitter handle: @EricTopol

Likes: 354

Retweets: 126

2. Brennan Spiegel’s tweet on a virtual clinic IBS/VR programme developed by Cedars-Sinai

Brennan Spiegel, director of health services research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, shared an article on the non-profit healthcare organisation developing the irritable bowel syndrome virtual reality (IBS/VR) virtual clinic. The novel VR programme is aimed at boosting patients’ brain-gut axis and improve their quality of life. Patients with IBS can use the virtual clinic to learn and practise IBS behavioural methods from the comfort of their own homes.

The virtual clinic includes various areas that patients can navigate to learn about IBS such as exam room, chill out room, zoom out room, pain release room, and trophy room. The urgent care area, for example, can help patients with acute IBS symptoms, while the skill centre can aid with long-term IBS management by improving cognitive behavioural methods and learning new approaches. IBS/VR is currently being tested with IBS patients, the article highlighted.

Username: Brennan Spiegel

Twitter handle: @BrennanSpiegel

Likes: 108

Retweets: 27

3. Daniel Kraft’s tweet on wireless e-health patches developed at Osaka University

Daniel Kraft, chair at the XPRIZE Pandemic & Health Alliance, an alliance formed to develop solutions for Covid-19, shared an article on researchers at Osaka University in Japan developing wireless e-health patch that does not require charging. The ultra-thin patch monitors heart rate and other vital signs and can assist doctors in monitoring their patients’ health on a regular basis.

The patches feature a ferroelectric substance that can power itself by converting natural movements into small electric charges through the piezoelectric effect. Researchers claim that the patches can generate up to 200 millijoules each day from normal movement, if placed on a joint such as the knees or elbows, thereby providing sufficient power to regularly monitor a patient’s cardiovascular variables.

The patches are hardly visible due to their thin material, making everyday health monitoring less intrusive and uncomfortable. The data collected by the patches can be monitored using a smartphone or computer, the article highlighted.

Username: Daniel Kraft

Twitter handle: @daniel_kraft

Likes: 74

Retweets: 52

4. John Nosta’s tweet on the need to bring further innovation to telemedicine

John Nosta, president at healthcare think tank NostaLab, shared an article on the need to transform telemedicine into more advanced and transformational technology. Telemedicine has the potential to serve as an ongoing and continuous engagement tool, which physicians can use to improve care rather than merely provide an alternative for an office visit. Telemedicine visits can be made more interactive and productive for both the patient and the physician by combining available technologies with user education, the article detailed.

Patients’ real-time data and analytics, for example, can be integrated with other digital health solutions that are currently available to provide a unique and relevant insight into their daily lives. The article detailed that the general public can now access medical services and tools that were previously only available to doctors through a number of accurate and low-cost consumer technologies such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) test. Patients and physicians will need to incorporate these innovations to develop long-term modalities, according to the article.

Username: John Nosta

Twitter handle: @JohnNosta

Likes: 52

Retweets: 28

5. Glen Gilmore’s tweet on the Metaverse platform making healthcare more accessible

Glen Gilmore, principal of consulting and digital marketing firm Gilmore Business Network, shared an article on how the Metaverse platform can make healthcare more accessible and efficient. Telecommunication company AT&T highlighted that augmented reality (AR) and VR technologies can help with medical training for complicated procedures. The technologies can assist trainees to gain the required skills by creating low-risk virtual training settings enabling them to succeed during practical uses without putting patients at risk.

Furthermore, AI is being used by healthcare providers to quickly diagnose and analyse medical issues, assisting with effective identification, preventative care, and potential treatments. The technology is expected to bring new wellness options for Metaverse consumers and healthcare professionals through user consent, the article noted.

Username: Glen Gilmore

Twitter handle: @GlenGilmore

Likes: 40

Retweets: 35