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In an era dominated by digital innovation, the healthcare industry stands at the crossroads of technological advancement and the imperative to protect sensitive patient information. The integration of electronic health records (EHR), telemedicine, and interconnected medical devices has undoubtedly enhanced patient care, but it has also exposed the healthcare sector to an escalating wave of cybersecurity threats.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful ally in enhancing patient care and streamlining clinical workflows. Among its many applications, AI is playing a pivotal role in assisting nursing professionals, revolutionising the way they deliver care and manage patient interactions. There are various ways in which AI can have a transformative impact on nursing care by improving efficiency, accuracy, and overall patient outcomes.

3D printing, or three-dimensional printing, has been around for a few years and has had several different applications in the arts, construction, scientific research, and other areas. This methodology has been growing in popularity.
In recent years, 3D printing has emerged as a groundbreaking technology with transformative potential across various industries, but its impact is particularly profound in healthcare. The integration of 3D printing into healthcare practices has ushered in a new era of personalised medicine, surgical precision, and innovative solutions.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many pundits have stated that the future of healthcare is virtual care. The beginning of this was demonstrated during that time when the demand for telemedicine increased exponentially. The circumstances of the pandemic – the high admission rates at health facilities and limitations on the movement of people – made it a necessity.

Since then, more people have been opting for this solution which allows them to seek care regardless of geographic location and without having to leave their homes.

With the growth of telehealth, the remote care technology market has boomed as people begin to demand – and doctors begin to see the benefits of – more patient involvement in their care.

Remote care technology has been touted as an essential part of the digital healthcare revolution and I agree that they complete the ecosystem within which patient care becomes the focus. It allows patients to keep track of their health and recovery and doctors to track patients’ progress or provide convalescent care away from a healthcare facility.

There has been a lot of talk lately about artificial intelligence (AI) and the increased role it will play in the future of several industries, including healthcare. AI has for a long time been a part of healthcare but with the development of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, the incorporation of AI in everyday life as a routine part of work has taken on new meaning.

A new and popular wave of technology used in healthcare in the last decade or so is personal remote-care devices such as fitness trackers. This started an increase in the development of wellness apps and more involvement by persons in their health and well-being.

Nursing migration has been a topic of discussion for more than a decade and still we continue to be plagued by a shortage of human resources in that profession, globally. In March this year, the World Health Organization indicated that “approximately 27 million men and women make up the global nursing and midwifery workforce. This accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the global health workforce. There is a global shortage of health workers, in particular nurses and midwives, who represent more than 50 per cent of the current shortage in health workers”.

Patient transfers within the public-health sector and even between the public and private sectors can take a lot of time, resources, and frustration to achieve. In healthcare, we do not always have the luxury of time when a patient’s life is at stake, and we generally do not have enough human resources to dedicate medical staff to phoning around various facilities to find a bed and an appointed physician to accept a patient.

ONE of the island's leading advocates for the digitisation of medical records, Doug Halsall, has given the Government his nod of approval for its decision to approve a $780-million contract to implement the second phase of its electronic health record (EHR) management system.

The EHR system is being designed to streamline Jamaica's public health sector and create greater efficiency through the use of technology.