RPM and Telehealth Tools: The Role of AI in Virtual Care
Dr. Kedar Mate, chief medical officer and cofounder of Qualified Health, a vendor of generative artificial intelligence infrastructure, believes that the focus in telehealth and remote patient monitoring should shift towards the robust infrastructure needed to support important AI technology.
The Importance of a Foundational AI Stack
According to Mate, hospitals and health systems need to move beyond point systems towards platforms that embed safety, equity, and real-world impact into virtual care delivery. He emphasizes that RPM and telehealth tools require a foundational AI stack to ensure safety, scalability, and effectiveness.
AI tools can help clinicians set threshold parameters for remote monitoring and provide critical alerts, integrating seamlessly into existing clinical workflows. This is crucial in remote care settings where early signals of potential issues are essential.
Additionally, robust data governance, interoperability standards, and fail-safe mechanisms are necessary to ensure that AI systems can flag edge cases for human intervention, prioritizing patient safety and care.
Transitioning to Operational AI in Virtual Care
Moving from fragmented experiments to operational AI that supports real-time clinical decision-making requires the integration of improvement science principles, multimodal data sources, and change management strategies. AI must enhance clinical judgment and decision-making, rather than replacing it.
Real-time decision support demands infrastructure capable of handling large volumes of clinical data while maintaining trust and reliability for clinicians to act on AI recommendations.
Governance, Monitoring, and Evaluation for Sustainable Virtual Care
Continuous monitoring with clinical outcome measures and process measures is essential to track the utilization and impact of AI tools in care delivery. Governance structures should prioritize equity and patient outcomes to ensure that AI models do not perpetuate existing disparities.
Evaluation frameworks must capture unintended consequences and system effects, allowing for rapid learning and adaptation to improve care delivery continuously.
Designing AI Systems for Equity in Telehealth
Designing AI systems for telehealth that support equity involves prioritizing populations marginalized by current healthcare systems. AI can expand access to quality care by addressing disparities through multilingual interfaces, culturally responsive care protocols, and flexible engagement options for patients.
Ultimately, the impact of AI deployment should be evaluated to determine if disparities in clinical outcomes have been reduced across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines post-implementation.
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The Benefits of Yoga for Mental Health
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and has become increasingly popular in recent years for its physical and mental health benefits. While many people turn to yoga for its physical benefits, such as increased flexibility and strength, its benefits for mental health are equally as important and impactful.
One of the key benefits of yoga for mental health is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. The practice of yoga involves controlled breathing and mindfulness, which can help calm the mind and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. By focusing on the present moment and letting go of worries and distractions, yoga can help individuals feel more at ease and relaxed.
In addition to reducing stress, yoga has also been shown to improve mood and promote feelings of well-being. The physical movements and poses of yoga can increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood. By practicing yoga regularly, individuals can experience a boost in their mood and overall sense of happiness.
Yoga can also be beneficial for those struggling with depression. Studies have shown that yoga can help reduce symptoms of depression by increasing levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. The practice of yoga can also improve self-awareness and self-acceptance, which can be particularly helpful for individuals struggling with negative self-talk and low self-esteem.
Furthermore, yoga can help individuals build resilience and cope with life’s challenges more effectively. By developing mindfulness and awareness through yoga, individuals can learn to navigate difficult emotions and situations with more ease and grace. This can lead to a greater sense of empowerment and control over one’s mental health.
Overall, the benefits of yoga for mental health are numerous and significant. Whether you are looking to reduce stress, improve mood, or build resilience, incorporating yoga into your routine can be a powerful tool for enhancing your mental well-being. So, roll out your mat and give yoga a try – your mind will thank you.
