Nick EsquerThe topic of health care in the United States is one that is easily politicized. While it’s still a topic of debate that will never seem to get everyone on the same page, one thing that is arguably agreeable in the health care discussion is the benefit of incorporating advanced technology. From health care mobile apps and third-party startups, there seems to be a big push in the health care industry to streamline the processes involved and make it all more user-friendly.
Those ideas and others like them will be discussed at this year’s Hacking the Human: Digital Healthcare Solutions Conference and Health Expo, a daylong conference held at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus. On Friday, November 30, the Health Entrepreneurship Accelerator Lab, or HEALab from ASU’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation, will bring together industry influencers, student research exhibitions and tech demos, all with the goal of highlighting the future of innovation in health care.
“The Hacking the Human health innovation conference is focused on solutions that incorporate new technologies. Technology has the potential to disrupt healthcare at every level,” says Rick Hall, Director of Health Innovation Programs at Arizona State University.
Some of the technologies on display and on the docket for discussion include artificial intelligence, augmented reality, telemedicine, and wearable robotics. Portability and efficiency make many of the products at the conference interesting, notes Hall, and the diagnostic capabilities driven by data present promising solutions to some of the health care industry’s processing issues.
According to Hall, one solution that will be demonstrated at the conference is Scottsdale-based AdviNOW’s automated medical visit. The health care automation company uses augmented reality, artificial intelligence and telemedicine in the same solution to reduce costs of health care delivery while improving efficiency and addressing anticipated shortages of primary care providers.
Another kind of innovative technology that will be showcased comes from ASU startup Saccadous, which uses eye-tracking technology to reveal and follow the progression of neurological diseases and traumatic brain injury.
“These technologies have the potential to be disruptive and are likely to accelerate attention drawn to Arizona for healthcare innovation,” adds Hall.
For Hall, the event comes at a pivotal time for not only the health care industry, but Arizona’s place as an incubator. Health care tech companies are either starting up here from the roots, or nationally known health care companies are stretching out to Arizona to expand their reach, like Oscar Health, which will be pumping up its workforce and western U.S. operations here in Arizona by next year.
“Arizona is already being recognized for its entrepreneurial activity, and Arizona State University is contributing significantly to the innovative ecosystem that is now attracting companies to start and build their business. We have amazing hospital systems in Arizona that are dedicated to finding innovative solutions and a community that embraces new ideas,” notes Hall.
Hall and his fellow researchers are expecting about 150 students, faculty, staff and community leaders for the morning sessions, and around 700 people for the health expo itself, which will be held at the Phoenix Civic Space Park on Central Avenue and Fillmore.
Date: November 30, 2018 – 10:00am to 5:00pm
Location: AE England Building, ASU Downtown Campus: 424 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Joseph Kavetsky
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