Interclean Shanghai

How Dermatologists Use Technology to Identify Skin Cancer

How Dermatologists Use Technology

Want to know how doctors are catching skin cancer faster than ever before?

The technology revolution in dermatology is absolutely mind-blowing. We’re talking about AI systems that can spot deadly melanomas in seconds, handheld devices that see beneath your skin, and digital tools that are literally saving thousands of lives every year.

Traditional skin cancer detection relied heavily on the naked eye and years of training. But even the most experienced dermatologists can miss early signs of cancer…

That’s where cutting-edge technology steps in to change everything.

What you’ll discover:

  • Revolutionary AI Detection Methods
  • Digital Dermoscopy Breakthroughs
  • Smartphone Apps That Actually Work
  • The Future of Skin Cancer Screening

Revolutionary AI Detection Methods

Artificial intelligence is completely transforming how dermatologists detect skin cancer.

And the results are incredible.

Recent studies show that AI algorithms achieve 87% sensitivity in detecting malignant lesions – that’s better than many human specialists working without tech assistance.

But here’s what’s really exciting…

AI doesn’t get tired. It doesn’t have bad days. And it can analyze thousands of images in the time it takes a doctor to examine just one patient.

The technology works by training deep learning models on massive datasets of skin lesions. These neural networks learn to recognize patterns that even trained eyes might miss. When a suspicious mole or lesion is photographed, the AI can instantly flag potential cancers with remarkable accuracy.

How AI Actually Works in Practice

Think of AI as your dermatologist’s super-powered assistant.

The process is surprisingly simple. A high-resolution image gets fed into the system, and within seconds, the AI provides a risk assessment. It’s not replacing doctors – it’s making them incredibly more effective.

Here’s why this matters:

Early detection is everything with skin cancer. Melanoma has a 99% survival rate when caught in its earliest stages. But once it spreads, survival rates plummet dramatically.

Professional skin cancer clinics are now integrating these AI systems into their daily workflows. The technology helps prioritize which patients need immediate attention and which can safely wait for routine follow-ups.

Digital Dermoscopy Breakthroughs

Remember when dermatologists used simple magnifying glasses?

Those days are long gone.

Digital dermoscopy represents one of the biggest leaps forward in skin cancer detection technology. These sophisticated instruments capture incredibly detailed images of skin lesions, revealing structures invisible to the naked eye.

The game-changer?

Modern dermoscopes can magnify skin lesions up to 100x while using specialized lighting to highlight different tissue layers. This level of detail allows doctors to spot cancer indicators that would be completely missed during standard visual examinations.

What Makes Digital Dermoscopy So Powerful

The technology reveals the “architecture” beneath your skin’s surface.

Cancerous lesions have specific patterns – irregular blood vessels, asymmetrical pigmentation, and chaotic cellular structures. Digital dermoscopy makes these warning signs crystal clear.

But here’s where it gets really interesting…

Many modern dermoscopes integrate directly with AI analysis software. The moment an image is captured, intelligent algorithms begin analyzing it for cancer markers. This combination of high-resolution imaging and artificial intelligence creates an incredibly powerful diagnostic tool.

Professional dermatologists report that digital dermoscopy increases their diagnostic confidence by over 40%.

The technology also creates permanent digital records, allowing doctors to track changes in suspicious lesions over time. This longitudinal monitoring is crucial for catching slow-developing cancers that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Smartphone Apps That Actually Work

Here’s something that might surprise you…

Your smartphone can now detect skin cancer with FDA-approved accuracy.

We’re not talking about those questionable health apps you see advertised everywhere. These are legitimate medical devices that happen to work through your phone.

FDA-Approved Mobile Technology

In 2024, the FDA authorized DermaSensor – the first AI-enabled device designed for primary care physicians to detect skin cancer. The device shows 96% sensitivity for detecting the three most common skin cancers.

Here’s how it works:

The handheld device connects to a smartphone and uses spectroscopic analysis to examine suspicious lesions. It takes multiple spectral recordings and provides an instant cancer risk assessment on a scale of 0-10.

But smartphone technology goes beyond specialized devices…

Several apps now use your phone’s camera combined with AI analysis to evaluate skin lesions. While these shouldn’t replace professional medical advice, they’re incredibly useful for monitoring changes and deciding when to see a dermatologist.

The Real-World Impact

Think about the accessibility factor here.

Traditional skin cancer screening requires a trip to the dermatologist, which can involve weeks of waiting and significant costs. Smartphone-based screening can happen instantly, anywhere.

This is particularly game-changing for rural areas where dermatology specialists are scarce. A primary care physician equipped with AI-powered smartphone technology can provide specialist-level skin cancer screening without referring patients to distant clinics.

The technology is literally bringing expert-level dermatology to every corner of the world.

The Future of Skin Cancer Screening

Want to know what’s coming next?

The future of skin cancer detection looks absolutely incredible.

Researchers are developing technologies that sound like science fiction. We’re talking about wearable devices that continuously monitor your skin, AI systems that can predict cancer risk before lesions even appear, and non-invasive scanners that can detect cancers at the cellular level.

Emerging Technologies

Multi-modal AI systems are the next big breakthrough.

These advanced platforms don’t just analyze images – they integrate patient history, genetic factors, environmental exposure data, and real-time skin monitoring to provide comprehensive cancer risk assessments.

Reflectance confocal microscopy is another exciting development. This non-invasive imaging technique can visualize skin structures at nearly cellular resolution, potentially eliminating the need for many surgical biopsies.

Here’s what’s really exciting:

Some research teams are developing “smart mirrors” equipped with AI analysis capabilities. Imagine looking in your bathroom mirror and receiving an instant skin cancer screening every morning.

The Statistics Tell the Story

The numbers around skin cancer are sobering but also hopeful.

Nearly 20 Americans die from melanoma every day, but advanced detection technology is rapidly changing these statistics. Death rates from melanoma have declined by nearly 4% annually since 2014, largely due to earlier detection and improved treatments.

With 104,960 invasive melanoma cases projected for 2025, the need for advanced screening technology has never been more critical.

Technology is also addressing healthcare disparities. While melanoma survival rates vary significantly by race and ethnicity, AI-powered screening tools are being specifically trained on diverse datasets to provide accurate results across all skin types.

Breaking Down Access Barriers

Here’s something most people don’t realize…

The biggest challenge in skin cancer detection isn’t the technology – it’s access.

Many people simply can’t get to dermatologists when they need screening. Wait times can stretch for months, and costs can be prohibitive. This is where technology becomes truly revolutionary.

Telemedicine and Remote Screening

Teledermatology platforms are exploding in popularity, and for good reason.

Patients can now upload high-quality images of suspicious lesions and receive expert analysis within hours or days instead of waiting months for appointments. AI pre-screening tools help prioritize urgent cases, ensuring that potentially dangerous lesions get immediate attention.

The technology also enables “store-and-forward” diagnosis.

This means images can be captured using standardized equipment and sent to specialists anywhere in the world for analysis. A patient in rural Montana can receive skin cancer screening from a world-class dermatologist in New York City.

Looking Ahead

The transformation happening in skin cancer detection is just the beginning.

As these technologies become more sophisticated and widely available, we’re going to see dramatic improvements in early detection rates. That means more lives saved and better outcomes for patients everywhere.

The combination of AI analysis, advanced imaging, and smartphone accessibility is creating a perfect storm of innovation.

But remember – technology enhances medical care, it doesn’t replace it. If you notice any changes in your skin, new growths, or suspicious lesions, don’t rely solely on apps or home screening tools. See a qualified dermatologist who can combine cutting-edge technology with years of medical expertise.

Wrapping Up the Tech Revolution

Technology is revolutionizing skin cancer detection in ways we couldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. From AI systems that outperform human specialists to smartphone apps with FDA approval, the tools available today are incredibly powerful.

The key takeaways:

  • AI detection achieves remarkable accuracy rates
  • Digital dermoscopy reveals cancer signs invisible to naked eyes
  • Smartphone technology brings expert screening to everyone
  • Future innovations will make detection even faster and more accessible

Early detection remains the most critical factor in skin cancer survival. With these technological advances, catching cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages is becoming easier than ever before.

The future of skin cancer detection is bright, and it’s happening right now.

Ethical AI Investment: The Key to Sustainable Healthcare Innovation in Europe

Keles

In this exclusive interview, HHM Global (Hospital& Healthcare Management) sits down with Laurent Van Lerberghe and David Buller, the Managing Partners of KELES, deeply engaged in ethical AI investments, particularly within the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. The conversation explores their insights into the role of ethical AI in business, challenges in transparency and accountability, compliance with evolving regulations, and how to effectively measure societal impact in AI-driven healthcare solutions.

____________________________________________________________________

HHM Global (Hospital & Healthcare Management):

Q. Ethical AI has become a widely discussed concept, especially in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. But when we speak specifically about ethical AI-driven businesses, how do you define them?

Laurent Van Lerberghe:

I’ll start here. Ethical AI, particularly in healthcare, is absolutely indispensable. We’ve worked closely with patients and treatments for many years, and ethics has always been our guiding principle. Now, with AI, that foundation remains unchanged — but we must establish clear rules governing its use.

One of the most critical aspects is how we handle, access, and utilize patient data. Patient data is essential for developing robust AI tools that can support treatment and diagnosis. However, it’s imperative that this data is anonymized and that we maintain absolute respect for patient privacy. We don’t view these regulations as limitations; rather, they provide a structured framework within which we can responsibly harness AI’s potential.

Another pivotal point is our ethical obligation to employ AI in healthcare. AI accelerates research, enables remote digital trials, supports diagnosis, and elevates overall patient care. So, in many ways, there’s an obligation to leverage AI to deliver better outcomes for patients.

_______________________________________________________________________

Q. Ethics is indeed the core of any business. But when it comes to transparency and accountability in healthcare, especially with AI, what are the biggest challenges you foresee? How are you ensuring that these principles are upheld?

David Buller:

One of the biggest challenges is the sheer number of stakeholders — healthcare providers, payers, clinicians, patients, technology partners. It’s not a single entity overseeing everything, which naturally adds complexity.

The key is fostering trust across the entire ecosystem. Transparency and accountability must be embedded from the outset to engage all stakeholders effectively. This trust is fundamental to making AI in healthcare not only viable but genuinely impactful for patients and the broader community.

Laurent Van Lerberghe:

Exactly. Building this ecosystem responsibly is crucial. Together with David, we’ve been very deliberate in choosing world-class partners — not only the teams we work with directly but also the startups that KELES invests in.

In Europe, for example, GDPR has been a transformative force. Initially, it raised significant challenges, but over time, it has become standard practice, even for startups. GDPR has introduced essential guardrails, which enhance patient confidence in how their data is managed.

_______________________________________________________________________

Q. Speaking of compliance, there are many evolving regulations worldwide concerning data security. As investors, how do you evaluate AI startups to ensure they comply, especially with European data protection laws?

David Buller:

This is part of our SFDR framework. Ensuring compliance is absolutely essential. In some ways, it’s become more straightforward — regulations like GDPR, the EU AI Act, and others have become baseline expectations for companies. We require our portfolio companies to actively report on their compliance, and we conduct our own rigorous checks.

However, it’s about more than just meeting regulatory requirements. Regulations are necessary but not always sufficient. We focus on ensuring that proper guardrails are established, not merely as control mechanisms, but as tools to drive ethical AI adoption. For example, AI can play a pivotal role in addressing bias and improving diversity in clinical trials and diagnostics, ensuring broader patient inclusion.

So, it’s not just about ticking boxes — it’s about embedding ethics into practice through AI.

_______________________________________________________________________

Q. How should investors and startups work together to achieve social objectives, especially when both have different focuses? How do you measure the social impact of AI-driven healthcare solutions alongside your financial returns?

Laurent Van Lerberghe:

Measuring the social impact of AI-driven healthcare solutions, alongside financial returns, involves multiple layers. First, there’s regulatory compliance. Many of the companies we engage with must obtain local or European certifications, which set essential benchmarks. These companies often collaborate with platforms like Apple Store, Google Play, or partner directly with hospitals, all of which require strict certification protocols. These layers serve as critical safeguards.

Moreover, as investors, we proactively share insights with startups when we identify potential risks, helping them navigate challenges early. Take GDPR, for example — companies have had to significantly elevate their standards, which has notably improved data protection practices.

With new regulations like the AI Act and Data Act, startups must remain agile. While they may not possess the same data access as tech giants, there’s a clear cultural shift toward integrating these regulations into daily operations. What once seemed complex has evolved into routine practice. We specifically seek out companies where compliance is not an afterthought but an integrated, automated part of their business model.

The second crucial factor is ensuring that these companies are genuinely leveraging AI. Honestly, in today’s healthcare landscape, it’s becoming ethically questionable not to use AI. Our objective, through the funds we provide, is to accelerate AI adoption and propel the transformation of the healthcare sector.

David Buller:

To build on that, when it comes to measuring societal impact, we look at both macro and micro levels. Broadly, we aim for greater healthcare accessibility, improved service availability, and enhanced patient outcomes. These are our long-term benchmarks.

In the short term, we focus on tangible indicators:

  • Is healthcare becoming more efficient?
  • Are we reaching more patients at lower costs and in shorter times?
  • Are diagnoses happening faster?
  • Is prevention more achievable?
  • Can new drugs be developed more swiftly and affordably?

These metrics help us track the societal value of AI-powered healthcare solutions. Ultimately, they provide a clear pathway to understanding how these innovations are not only reshaping the healthcare landscape but making a meaningful difference in people’s lives worldwide.

_______________________________________________________________________

Q. You’re also active in the Middle East and Singapore. How do you see the European healthcare system differing from other regions? What does it take for Europe to lead globally in AI for healthcare?

Laurent Van Lerberghe:

If we’re discussing Europe’s leadership in AI, it’s clear that Europe — including the UK and Switzerland — has an exceptional talent pool, especially within our universities. Europe is undeniably at the forefront in knowledge creation and AI advancements. I recently attended a conference at Hôtel-Dieu in Paris, one of Europe’s oldest hospitals. We had American participants there, and they were genuinely impressed by the level of innovation here. They certainly don’t view Europe as lagging; in some areas, they even see us leading.

However, one of the challenges they highlighted is scalability. In the U.S., despite its complexities, you can scale innovations relatively quickly due to the market’s size. For Europe, the next major step is mastering how to scale rapidly, and this is a priority for us at KELES.

Another critical point is ensuring that innovations are widely accessible across Europe. We want advancements in diagnostics and patient care to reach beyond wealthier populations or select facilities. Our goal in R&D is to accelerate the pipeline and deliver innovations to patients sooner. I’ll pause here and let David share insights about regions like the Middle East and Asia.

David Buller:

Yes, I think it’s important to recognize that Europe — including the UK — is arguably third globally in healthcare innovation. Look at DeepMind’s AlphaFold, developed alongside the European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge. We’re witnessing groundbreaking work, particularly between France and the UK, in AI and drug discovery.

We already have a strong foundation. The next step is to continue investing in R&D and supporting startups from university spinouts through their entire funding journey — from seed stage to growth stage, where KELES typically steps in. We’re fully committed to building on this momentum and elevating Europe’s position on the global stage.
_______________________________________________________________________

Q. When evaluating startups, two critical factors come to mind: innovation and ethical responsibility. What parameters do you consider when assessing startups, and what is KELES’ long-term vision in this space?

Laurent Van Lerberghe:

You know, KELES is Europe’s first digital health fund certified by PwC as an SFDR9 fund. This distinction stems from our firm commitment to these priorities. We collaborated closely with PwC to craft a highly specific framework, which ensures our investments are consistently steered in the right direction.

That framework reflects the clear vision that David and I share for KELES. To be specific, we place the ‘S’ of ESG and governance at the very heart of our approach to digital health and healthcare more broadly. One of our foremost criteria is accessibility—ensuring that the largest possible population can benefit from the solutions being developed. The next is availability—guaranteeing that these treatments, diagnostics, and innovations are not just theoretical but actively implemented in real-world settings.

From an environmental standpoint, we prioritise solutions and companies that avoid causing significant harm, establishing appropriate safeguards from the outset. And of course, governance is absolutely vital. We ensure that the companies we back uphold robust governance structures and align with best practices.

Our approach is highly pragmatic and actionable, equipping us to genuinely guide companies towards achieving these standards. I firmly believe that this methodology not only fosters positive social impact and ethical responsibility but also propels superior performance in the market. It’s about achieving both: meaningful social contribution and strong returns.

David Buller:

Exactly, and to build on that, there’s obviously the crucial aspect of governance and ethical safeguards, particularly regarding ethical AI. As Laurent highlighted, it’s all about striking the right balance between driving high returns and maintaining ethical integrity. Ultimately, superior returns are generated by breakthrough, transformative technologies — innovations that revolutionise healthcare systems, redefine patient care pathways, and accelerate drug development in life sciences.

So, what we’re actively seeking are innovative technologies with global scaling potential, while ensuring that these advancements operate within the essential frameworks of ethical AI and sound governance.

_______________________________________________________________________

Q. What specific gaps did you find in the market that motivated you to launch KELES?

Laurent Van Lerberghe:

The gap we identified primarily revolves around scaling innovative companies. Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed incredible innovations emerge across various countries and regions. Now, the imperative is to elevate these innovations to a much larger scale, so they can truly drive availability and accessibility, and transform healthcare as patients experience it every day.

Our central mission at KELES is to target growth-stage opportunities, with the ambition of creating category leaders — what we call alpha unicorns — in Europe, and ultimately, global champions. These companies will expand patient options for managing their healthcare, which remains a clear objective for us.

If we look at the three segments we prioritise: firstly, accelerating R&D to bring new molecules to market — an area still marked by significant unmet needs. Secondly, diagnostics, where AI and advanced imaging technologies are driving rapid progress and unlocking tremendous potential. Thirdly, patient care, both within hospital settings and beyond.

One more point — without AI and funds like KELES, we risk continuing the situation we currently face in Europe and other parts of the world: aging populations, shrinking healthcare workforces, and overburdened hospitals. Digital tools and AI can empower the remaining healthcare professionals, allowing them to deliver high-quality care to more patients. Through a fund like KELES, which scales these solutions, we can enable the widespread adoption of these innovations across Europe and beyond.

David Buller:

To add to that, what KELES offers — and what we identified as a major market opportunity — is the chance to harness this immense wave of innovation within Europe. These trailblazing innovators urgently need funding at the growth stage, along with deep industry expertise.

Between Laurent, myself, and our extensive team of advisors, we bring profound experience across AI, global pharmaceuticals, and healthcare systems. We’re not merely providing capital; we’re delivering a comprehensive framework — encompassing SFDR compliance and ethical AI and healthcare data practices — to truly improve healthcare outcomes. This complete package is what we’re bringing to the table to advance innovation in AI and healthcare, especially across Europe.

_______________________________________________________________________

Q. Would you like to add anything further about KELES’s objectives in the market, or share any advice or insights for our audience before we conclude?

Laurent Van Lerberghe:

Yes, to summarise a few essential points — KELES is fundamentally a growth-stage digital health fund. We’re aiming for €250 million in assets under management, and we’re confidently on track for our first close in the first half of 2025. We have a pan-European scope, including the UK and Switzerland, because integrating diverse markets is key to achieving scale.

KELES is addressing a distinct market gap: there are remarkably few growth-stage funds capable of providing substantial investments. Moreover, profiles like David’s, mine, and those of our wider team — all experienced healthcare operators — are precisely what is required to guide these companies successfully through the scaling process in Europe.

We’re standing at the beginning of an exciting growth wave. We anticipate seeing several companies reach critical inflection points, unlocking remarkable value creation.

David Buller:

Building on Laurent’s points, my advice to companies either embarking on their innovation journey or approaching a scaling inflection point is this: don’t be disheartened by regulations or the perceived scarcity of growth-stage capital. KELES exists to bridge precisely this gap.

There’s a tremendous opportunity waiting to be seized. And when it’s done right — with ethical AI, robust governance, and a relentless focus on improving health outcomes — the impact can be truly transformative. Our entire team, along with the capital and expertise we bring, is committed to helping these companies realise their potential and deliver meaningful outcomes.

_______________________________________________________________________

As our conversation with Laurent Van Lerberghe and David Buller draws to a close, it becomes clear that KELES is not only investing in groundbreaking AI innovations but is equally steadfast in embedding ethics, transparency, and societal impact at the core of its mission. Positioned at the forefront of Europe’s digital health evolution, KELES combines powerful capital, deep healthcare expertise, and an unwavering commitment to ethical AI and governance.

Their vision reinforces a future where healthcare solutions are not only pioneering but also accessible, trustworthy, and transformative on a global scale. By guiding visionary companies toward sustainable success, KELES is paving the way for a new era of healthcare innovation — one where patients, providers, and innovators collectively benefit, and the promise of meaningful, lasting impact is fully realised.

The Role of Family Therapy in Overcoming Substance Abuse

The Role of Family Therapy

Want to help someone you love beat addiction?

Here’s the thing… Most people think addiction recovery is all about the individual. They focus on detox, medications, and personal willpower. But here’s what they’re missing:

Family plays a massive role in addiction recovery.

The statistics are clear. According to research from the CDC, 3 out of 4 people recover from addiction. And families who get involved in the recovery process see much better results.

More than one in 10 children under age 18 live with at least one adult who has a substance use disorder. That’s a lot of families dealing with this stuff…

But here’s the good news: When families work together through therapy, recovery rates improve dramatically.

Here’s What You’ll Discover:

  • Why Family Therapy Changes Everything
  • The Numbers Don’t Lie: Statistical Proof
  • Different Types of Family Therapy That Work
  • How to Get Started (Even When It’s Hard)

Why Family Therapy Changes Everything

Addiction doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

When someone struggles with substance abuse, the whole family feels it. Everyone gets affected. The spouse who lies awake at night worrying. The kids who walk on eggshells. The parents who don’t know what they did wrong.

Here’s the problem: Traditional addiction treatment focuses only on the person using substances. But addiction is a family disease. It changes how everyone in the family thinks, feels, and behaves.

Think about it…

If only one person changes but the family dynamics stay the same, what happens? The person in recovery comes home to the same environment, the same triggers, the same patterns. It’s like trying to plant a healthy seed in toxic soil.

That’s where family therapy comes in. It changes the entire ecosystem.

Family therapy doesn’t just help the person with addiction. It helps everyone heal together. The approach recognizes that children with an addicted parent are up to four times more likely to develop a similar disorder, but family support can be one of the strongest protective factors.

When families learn new communication skills, set healthy boundaries, and understand addiction as a disease rather than a moral failing, everything changes. That’s why comprehensive treatment programs like Red Ribbon Recovery Indiana emphasize family involvement as a cornerstone of effective addiction recovery.

The person in recovery gets the support they need. The family members get the tools they need to help without enabling.

Pretty cool, right?

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Statistical Proof

Here’s exactly why family therapy works so well…

A meta-analysis found family counseling for adolescent SUDs to be more effective than several individual and group approaches or treatment as usual. This isn’t just one study – it’s a comprehensive review of multiple studies.

But the statistics get even better. 48.5 million people aged 12 or older experienced substance use disorders in the past year. That’s a massive number. And most of these people have families who are struggling right alongside them.

Here’s what the research shows:

  • Family therapy increases treatment engagement
  • It improves retention rates (people stay in treatment longer)
  • It’s more cost-effective than other approaches
  • It reduces relapse rates significantly

The really interesting part? Family therapy doesn’t just help during treatment. It creates lasting changes that protect against relapse months and years later.

Different Types of Family Therapy That Work

Not all family therapy is created equal. There are several approaches that have been specifically designed for addiction recovery, and they all work a little differently.

Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT)

This one’s for married couples or partners living together. It works by creating a daily “Recovery Contract” where the person with addiction commits to staying sober each day, and their partner commits to supporting them.

Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT)

MDFT is particularly effective for teenagers with substance abuse problems. It looks at the whole picture – the individual, the family, the school, the community.

Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)

Here’s where it gets really interesting… CRAFT is designed for families where the person with addiction isn’t ready to get help yet. It teaches family members how to encourage their loved one to enter treatment without being confrontational.

Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)

BSFT focuses on changing the family interactions that might be contributing to the addiction. It’s called “brief” because it’s typically shorter than other approaches – usually 12-24 sessions.

How to Get Started (Even When It’s Hard)

Getting the whole family involved in therapy isn’t always easy. People have different levels of readiness, different schedules, and different comfort levels with sharing personal information.

Here’s how to make it work:

Start with whoever is willing. Even if the person with addiction isn’t ready for family therapy yet, other family members can begin their own healing process.

Find the right therapist. Look for someone who specializes in addiction and family systems. They should understand how addiction affects family dynamics and have experience with evidence-based approaches.

Set realistic expectations. Family therapy isn’t a quick fix. It takes time to change patterns that have been developing for months or years.

Be patient with the process. There will be difficult conversations. People might get defensive or emotional. That’s normal and often necessary for healing to occur.

For families seeking comprehensive therapy in addiction recovery, professional treatment programs offer specialized family therapy services. These programs understand that recovery works best when the whole family is involved in the healing process.

The Science Behind Family Systems

Understanding why family therapy works requires looking at how addiction affects family systems. Families naturally try to maintain balance, even when that balance is unhealthy.

When someone develops an addiction, family members often take on new roles to compensate. The spouse might become the sole breadwinner and caretaker. Children might become “parentified” and take on adult responsibilities.

Family therapy helps identify these roles and teaches everyone how to step into healthier patterns. It’s about understanding how the system works and making changes that support everyone’s wellbeing.

Breaking the Cycle for Future Generations

One of the most powerful aspects of family therapy is its ability to break generational cycles of addiction. When families learn healthy communication skills and effective problem-solving strategies, they pass these skills on to their children.

This is huge. Children of parents with addiction are at much higher risk of developing substance abuse problems themselves. But family therapy can dramatically reduce this risk.

Getting Past the Resistance

One of the biggest challenges with family therapy is getting everyone on board. People often resist for different reasons:

“It’s not my problem, it’s his problem.”

“I don’t want to air our dirty laundry to a stranger.”

“Therapy is for weak people.”

“We should be able to handle this ourselves.”

These concerns are understandable, but they often keep families stuck in unhealthy patterns. The reality is that addiction affects everyone, and healing requires everyone’s participation.

A skilled family therapist can help address these concerns and create a safe space for everyone to share their experiences.

Time to Get Moving

Recovery from addiction is challenging, but it’s absolutely possible. When families work together through therapy, they increase the chances of overcoming substance abuse while building stronger relationships, better communication skills, and healthier coping strategies.

The numbers prove it. The research supports it. And thousands of families are living proof that with the right help, recovery is not just possible – it’s probable.

Don’t wait for things to get worse. Don’t wait for rock bottom. If addiction has affected your family, family therapy could be the game-changer you’ve been looking for.

Your family’s healing journey starts with a single step. Are you ready to take it?

Digital Twins Proving Its Worth in Customized Drugs & Beyond

Futuristic Healthcare Analysis

Digital twins are rapidly coming up as a very powerful tool when it comes to customized medicine and even beyond. In terms of healthcare, digital twins happen to serve as virtual representations as far as a patient’s body, specific organs, body parts, and systems are concerned, mostly such as circulatory and nervous systems.

It is well to be noted that the functional modelling of the state along with the behavior of the body or its components happens to have the potential to go ahead and offer information when it comes to clinical as well as research applications. The objective is to in a way stimulate how an organ system, or even the whole body, happens to respond to the stimuli and along with it the circumstances in terms of clinical relevance to the patient, therefore driving effective conclusions that are very useful.

The fact is that these models can as well be predictive, descriptive, prescriptive, or even generative, thereby being capable enough to fill the missing or unavailable data. A major challenge is precisely replicating the physiological, physicochemical, and anatomical characteristics, and also, when required, psychological characteristics that are relevant to each specific use case.

It is well to be noted that coming up with clinically useful digital twins happens to depend on integrating diverse data sources, which happens to be a very technically intricate task. But when successful, it helps with a dynamic dialogue along with the model so as to assess its present state, anticipate evolution, and also stimulate responses to certain interventions like therapies.

It is absolutely significant so as to stress that digital twin simulations are customized to every individual patient; they do not represent a generic or archetypal patient, but the objective is to create a customized model that happens to cater to a particular individual. One instance is the project led by the Spanish National Cancer Research Center—CNIO, which happens to be developing digital twins of women having advanced cancer by way of using artificial intelligence. Titled as high-definition oncology in women’s cancer, this initiative is part of precision medicine infrastructure associated with the science and technology program.

Apparently, these digital twins happen to consist of numerous layers of information, which are integrated within one single model that goes on to reflect reality for certain specific applications.

Within the aforementioned project, a wide array of data was incorporated within the digital twin models, which spanned tumor metabolism, gene as well as protein expression, physiological indicators like circadian rhythms, physical activity, and heart rate along with emotional well-being, as well as conventional clinical data right from diagnostics to treatment protocols.

It is worth noting that adding more such layers to the information happens to elevate the model’s complexity as well as precision, thereby helping with an incremental enhancement and at the same time going ahead and also expanding functionality. A very notable innovation within this case happens to be the biological clock model, which has been developed by CNIO and goes on to estimate the biological age of a patient. This can very help in the evaluation whether the biological age speeds up or slows, especially during a particular disease progression, thereby offering insights within the treatment effect. This may as well guide clinicians in terms of altering the treatment intensity and also, at the same time, modifying the therapeutic combinations as per the evolving biological state as far as the patient is concerned.

The layers of information that are used, along with their integration, happen to be a key aspect of every digital twin, thereby making sure that it not only operates but, at the same time, is clinically relevant too.

In several ways, digital twins happen to serve as maps both literally as well as figuratively. In the most direct sense, they can as well guide the planning when it comes to physical interventions like surgical procedures.

Wider Applications

Besides stimulating the effects when it comes to the therapies, digital twins can also model the natural progression when it comes to diseases and also support certain long-term care planning. They may help in predicting the onset of certain conditions, especially the ones that are related to hereditary diseases, wherein the risk factors are present; however, the symptoms are yet to appear.

Apparently, these models go on to offer valuable tools in terms of proactive risk prevention as well as management. When we talk about prevention, the capacity to present a robust, data-driven case, even if it is derived from certain simulations, can also help to persuade the patients and enhance the adherence to guidelines pertaining to preventive care.

Medical Device Integration

From a particular perspective, digital twins go on to resemble a very technologically driven crystal ball. Once it is refined, these models can as well enable the clinicians to go ahead and discover certain alternative therapeutic scenarios and along with it also pinpoint the most effective treatment strategy which is relevant and outcome-oriented. This goes ahead and helps in minimizing the dependence when it comes to the trial-and-error scenario and also enables with faster data-driven assistance in an environment that is very much controlled – A sort of clinical sandbox.

Apparently, a major area of synergy happens to lie between the medical devices and digital twins. Variable technologies, for example, can go ahead and even supply real time or periodic health which can dynamically update the digital twin of the patient. Conversely, digital twins can also elevate the medical device field by way of helping with optimisation of certain devices, configurations or even implant certain placements. Their integration within the body as well as potential physiological effects can get modeled as well as stimulated well in advance by enabling a more precise as well as customized intervention.

These models can also help to synthesize as well as manage massive volumes of intricate data. By way of serving as intelligent filters, they happen to decrease the cognitive load on clinicians, offer Very clear visualizations and simulations, which happen to support a more confident decision making specifically within intricate or uncertain clinical situations.

Consideration Based on Application and Regulations

Digital twins happen to hold immense promise throughout a wide array of medical applications, right from early diagnosis, prognosis, and even customized therapy selection to tracking of treatment and also relapse prevention. In fields like cardiology, neurology, and oncology, these models have already gone on to show a huge potential. Digital twins have been applied already across cardiology, neurology, and oncology. Stressing on Spain-based development, two of the recent advances which have been featured by Univadis Spain, which Is a Medscape network platform stand out – one happens to involve digital twins usage for research on the human brain in order to uncover mechanisms which are linked to psychosis remission and other one happens to demonstrate the usage of digital twins improvements within the diagnosis when it comes true ventricular contractions, which are premature.

It is well to be noted that while the field happens to be evolving very fast, it still remains within its early stages. Though the technical hurdles as well as regulatory complexities are anticipated, the long-term potential happens to be very significant. Digital twins can as well help with faster as well as safer evaluation when it comes to multiple treatment parts along with supporting virtual experimentation within a risk-free environment. One of the major challenges is clinical validation. Digital twins Have to be tested with the real-world longitudinal data and also thereby have to demonstrate the anticipations and predictions offer added value as compared to the present clinical guidelines. Equally crucial happens to be the development of cross-border data infrastructure, which is interoperable and that enables capable, coordinated Adoption throughout the healthcare systems across the world.

The last and the most critical aspect to consider happens to be data privacy and ownership, as well as the ethical use of the digital twins. Beyond data, the fundamental questions arise on the digital twin models – who owns a person’s digital twin, or are these models transferable, and if yes, under what conditions? It is well to be noted that the informed consent happens to be central in order to address these kinds of issues and at the same time also ensure that there happens to be a responsible use of digital twin technologies within the clinical practice.

The fact is that the usage of digital twins when we talk of clinical trials is already being discovered, and also taking the rightful shape and the potential happens to extend far beyond the medical training as well as patient education, especially when we talk of explaining therapeutic choices. As technology happens to evolve and which is indeed taking place at a very accelerated pace than one could imagine, the range in terms of future applications of digital twins continues to broaden and right so.

5 Top nurse staffing apps for medical facilities

5 Top nurse staffing apps

Healthcare staffing costs are escalating with no sign of letting up.

According to Precedence Research, the healthcare staffing market in the U.S. was valued at just under $20 billion in 2024 and is projected to double in value by 2034.

With a global nursing shortage straining workforce supply, facility administrators are understandably stressed as they walk a tight rope with their finance department on one side and their nursing staff on the other.

So, what’s that facility administrator supposed to do?

Listen to their finance team and lean hard on the nursing staff who are already frustrated, overworked, and burnt out?

Or, listen to their nursing staff and spend the money to boost numbers for better staffing ratios?

Here’s where nurse staffing apps offer healthcare staffing solutions that have the potential to appease both sides through cost-effective, on-demand nurse staffing.

At least, that’s what these apps claim. We’re here to take a look.

How do nurse staffing apps work?

Nurse staffing apps have digitized the process of sourcing clinicians for healthcare facilities’ staffing needs—no more endless paperwork, phone tag, or email chains.

When a medical facility has shift call outs, vacancies, or a staff member going on leave, it can turn to an app and find qualified nursing clinicians to cover the shifts.

The specific business model of these apps varies; they may employ their own talent pool of nursing clinicians and “loan” them out, operate as a marketplace where independent contractors can pick up PRN nursing jobs, or a hybrid of the two.

5 Best nurse staffing apps

Nurse staffing apps are pushing traditional staffing agencies out the door by transforming a cumbersome bureaucratic process into one that’s as easy as ordering take-out for supper.

Here’s an in-depth look at the top nurse staffing apps in the U.S. market today.

1. Nursa

The Nursa platform operates as an open marketplace for independent contractor nursing clinicians. It boasts a talent pool of over 300,000 clinicians nationwide and is currently active in 31 states.

Pricing model

This app’s pricing model makes it unique from its competitors.

  • Transparency: There are no hidden fees or markups on the invoices. Facilities know exactly what they will pay for each shift when they schedule it.
  • Control: Data-driven pricing guidance is available, but facilities are in control of shift pricing.
  • Pay-as-you-go: Facilities only pay for completed shifts, no start-up fees, subscription fees, or minimum-use quotas—and no contracts or hire-away fees either.

Key features

Nursa’s features allow it to be leveraged strategically for solutions to different types of staffing problems.

  • Support: The app offers a suite of support services, including human chat support, a discussion forum, help center tutorials and guides, and—best of all—on-the-ground human support from regional teams.
  • Customization: Facilities are encouraged to create customized credential lists to screen applicants based on unit, license, or shift type.
  • Speed: Posted shifts are updated in real time, which means the turnaround time on filling shifts is often as quick as minutes.
  • Integration: Nursa can be integrated into a facility’s existing operating systems so that timekeeping and shift scheduling remain in one place.

Advantages and drawbacks

Unlike most on the list, this platform doesn’t offer recruitment services for permanent in-house positions. Its primary function is for on-demand staffing. However, it does encourage facilities to build a “Favorite” clinician list to automate scheduling, and it has an explicit “no hire-away fees” policy.

While it does have specialty nurses in the talent pool (medical-surgical, intensive care unit, telemetry, etc.), highly specialized candidates may be sparse.

The app’s responsiveness is a significant advantage, with facilities often leveraging it to fill last-minute and weekend call outs. Without contracts or minimum quotas, the flexibility this app offers allows facilities to tailor their staff rosters to align directly with changing needs. In essence, facilities use Nursa when they need it—and then don’t when they don’t.

2. Clipboard Health

This app operates as a platform bringing together facilities, clinicians, and allied healthcare workers.

Pricing model

Pricing for Clipboard Health is as follows:

  • Shift charge rate: This is the amount that facilities pay for shifts booked with the app. It can be adjusted by facilities based on what they are willing to pay.
  • Extra time pay: For an additional fee, facilities can boost the clinician’s pay rate on shifts as an incentive.

Key features

Clipboard Health has a few unique features distinguishing it from its competitors.

  • Negotiation: The app allows clinicians and facilities to negotiate the shift pay rate.
  • Geo-tracking: The app supports live tracking of contracted professionals for work time transparency.
  • Automatic reposting: The app automatically reposts the shift if there is a last-minute cancellation.

Advantages and drawbacks

Perhaps the strongest feature of this staffing app is that it sources more than nursing clinicians. Facilities can also use it to staff physical therapists, janitors, cooks, and other allied healthcare workers.

The ability to negotiate pay rates between facilities and clinicians is touted as a key feature—and it likely is for clinicians—but it may drag out scheduling efforts if facilities get caught in a back-and-forth. Additionally, it’s unclear if a facility has to pay additional fees if it agrees to increase the shift pay rate after a negotiation.

3. IntelyCare

IntelyCare is currently active in 14 states. It offers long-term and permanent placements for nursing clinicians, as well as travel nursing and short-term, per diem contracts.

Pricing model

This platform operates on a subscription-based model whereby facilities can select one of four packages.

  • $299 monthly: Includes a four-day free trial, one job posting slot, and unlimited job swaps
  • $558 monthly: Includes a four-day free trial, two job posting slots, unlimited swaps, and a featured employer title
  • $750 monthly: Includes a four-day free trial, three job posting slots, unlimited swaps, a featured employer title, and distribution to third parties
  • Custom pricing: Offers a “larger job volume,” preferred subscription pricing, a dedicated account manager, custom branding, and priority support

It’s unclear whether the monthly subscription fee covers the actual clinician pay rate for their work, or if that constitutes an additional cost.

Key features

IntelyCare’s features include the following:

  • Short-term staffing options: Per diem contracts, block booking, and set schedules for local clinicians are offered.
  • Hiring: The platform boasts the largest nursing job board and offers AI matching and a talent pool that includes specialized nurses.
  • Education: It offers post-acute training education accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Advantages and drawbacks

This platform offers a broad selection of tools and services for healthcare staffing, making it attractive to facilities that have a variety of staffing needs.

Although it offers short-term staffing services, the platform seems more focused on long-term and permanent placements, as indicated by its pricing packages. This focus makes it less adaptable for urgent or emergency staffing needs.

The accredited education courses offer a valuable resource for clinicians, but whether or not facilities can directly benefit from this service is dependent on unique, situational factors.

4. SnapCare

This staffing platform offers tools to optimize the scheduling of internal staff and source per diem clinicians to fill remaining gaps.

Pricing model

According to SnapCare’s Transparent Pricing Promise in a PR Newswire press release from January 2024, invoices disclose the following:

  • Clinician pay rates
  • Travel costs
  • A standard burden pay rate (covering clinician benefits and payroll taxes)

Facilities may see additional fees for recruiting, credentialing, and employing clinicians.

Pricing for the Incite Workforce Solutions and Managed Services features was not mentioned in the press release and is not detailed on the site.

Key features

SnapCare’s key features include the following:

  • Booker: This feature optimizes scheduling by analyzing census trends and internal staff preferences and making projections for contingent staffing needs.
  • Managed Services: This feature handles vetting, invoicing, and shift coordination to reduce administrative burden.
  • Incite Workforce Solutions: This service is offered through a partnership with Incite Strategic Partners. It prioritizes internal staff strengthening and recruitment and provides tailored workforce analytics.

Advantages and drawbacks

SnapCare focuses on strengthening internal staff rosters, with contingent staffing utilized as a stop-gap. With a strong focus on recruitment and reducing administrative burden, this platform may be an attractive option for facilities struggling with turnover.

However, pricing for the additional tools and services may make it financially challenging for facilities to leverage SnapCare to its fullest potential.

5. Nurse IO

Nurse IO X is the staffing tool set created by the healthcare staffing company Nurse IO. Nurse IO operates in seven states, with its headquarters in Arizona.

Pricing model

The pricing model for Nurse IO X involves the following:

  • Invoices show facilities the clinician rate plus a flat rate agency fee.
  • The platform guarantees to reduce facility healthcare staffing spending by 25 percent.

Key features

Nurse IO X boasts four key features:

  • Crunch: This feature projects facility spending for accurate budgeting when using the app.
  • Ella: Facilities can send an SMS to the AI scheduling assistant when a shift needs to be filled.
  • Pick: This AI-powered shift management system helps facilities manage their talent pool.
  • Tag: This tool tracks clinician time on the floor for precise billing.

Advantages and drawbacks

This app stands as the only one on the list that guarantees quantifiable savings for facilities, although how it calculates and then delivers on that promise is not specified.

The “Tag” feature for on-demand worker time tracking may be attractive to facilities concerned about worker productivity, and the “Crunch” feature may be a useful tool for budgeting.

Nurse IO X leans fully into AI-powered tools for streamlined processing, but it’s uncertain how much human input and support this platform provides.

Make smart investments in technological staffing solutions

Healthcare staffing needs have become more complex for facilities to manage, so it’s unsurprising that tech-enabled solutions like nurse staffing software and apps have evolved to improve upon the traditional staffing agency business model in response.

Facility administrators can balance cost-efficiency without sacrificing staff quality or patient care when they leverage on-demand staffing to bolster staffing ratios and relieve their overworked clinicians.

Better yet, administrators don’t have to wait to get to the office to do so. With these nurse staffing apps, a few taps on the phone can serve up a solution—some within minutes.

Connected Health in the US Overcoming Health Challenges

Connected Health in the US Overcoming Health Challenges

It is well to be noted that the intersection when it comes to digital technology along with healthcare fundamentally restructures how care gets delivered, managed, and experienced within the United States. Connected health in the US which has in it telehealth, telemedicine, digital health, mhealth, and ehealth, has become a very necessary part in order to address the challenges of the nation, which are an aging population, rising expenditures, chronic disease prevalence, and consistent health disparities. Apparently, the US digital health market, which was valued at almost $81 billion in 2023, is all set to see a surge at a CAGR of almost 20% all through 2030, thereby reflecting the fast adoption as well as investment within these technologies.

The Urgency for Connected Health in the US

Ongoing expenditure along with demographic pressures 

  • It is well to be noted that US healthcare spending is anticipated to reach almost $5 trillion by 2025. It is primarily due to chronic diseases as well as an aging population.
  • Chronic conditions comprise 70 to 90% of the total health spending within the United States, thereby strengthening the hospitals, public programs, and also primary care.
  • Workforce shortages, along with health inequities, go on to further intensify the requirement in terms of efficient solutions and also the ones that are also scalable.

Digital technology and its promise

  • The growth when it comes to smartphones, health applications, and wearables has all made health information, along with tracking tools, broadly accessible. More than two-thirds of the Americans own smartphones, and almost 37% of adults made use of telemedicine in 2021.
  • It is worth noting that COVID-19 dramatically accelerated digital adoption, with telehealth visits as well as remote tracking becoming mainstream.

Transformation of patient engagement along with empowerment

Education & Self-Management

  • Apparently, digital tools go on to empower patients to access their information, get in touch with peers, and also manage their chronic issues. Applications such as PatientsLikeMe and Noom go on to support lifestyle changes and also research participation.
  • Interestingly, online communities, along with patient portals, have also become very important as far as engagement and transparency are concerned.

Remote tracking as well as treatment adherence

  • Remote patient tracking is broadly made use of when it comes to chronic disease management, cancer care, COPD, asthma, and also senior care by helping patients to remain at home while the clinicians track their health.
  • Automated reminders, along with medication tracking applications, enhance adherence as well as decrease hospitalization rates.

Mental health along with digital support

  • Behavioral platforms, which are virtual like ConcertHealth, go on to integrate the digital mental health services along with primary care, thereby broadening the access and also elevating the outcomes.
  • Peer support and also online therapy applications decrease the stigma and reach out to the underserved populations.

Revolutionizing the healthcare delivery

Provider roles and workflows – redefined 

  • Digital adoption happens to be reshaping the provider workflows with AI-powered tools along with process automation, decreasing the administrative burden and also, in some cases, clinician burnout.
  • Telehealth, along with digital triage, makespatient access and care coordination seamless, thereby enabling the providers to stress intricate cases.

Elevating care within home as well as community settings

  • It is worth noting that RPM, along with telemedicine, helps more care to get delivered at home, thereby decreasing any unnecessary hospitalizations and also supporting the aging-in-place preferences when it comes to seniors.
  • Hospital at Home programs such as AH-HaH by Atrium Health mix in-person as well as virtual care, thereby enhancing the outcomes and decreasing the expenditures.

Community as well as hospital integration

  • Hospitals make use of digital observation systems as well as AI analytics in order to enhance patient safety and also resource management.
  • Mobile health workers, who are equipped with digital tools, raise the productivity and help with more proactive as well as preventive care.

Policy, regulation, and strategic initiatives in the US

Federal along with state leadership

  • Interoperability, patient access, and digital infrastructure modernization all happen to be driven by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).
  • FDA has also gone on to establish a digital health advisory committee in order to address the rising technologies like wearables and artificial intelligence, along with digital therapeutics.
  • States are also going ahead and enacting health data privacy laws, thereby expanding the protection that goes beyond HIPAA in order to cover health data from various applications as well as wearables.
  • Pandemic-era telehealth expansion has also led to advocacy when it comes to permanent Medicare coverage as well as regulatory clarity in terms of remote prescribing along with reimbursement.

Industry collaborations

  • Technology giants like Google and Apple, as well as pharma companies, are investing in various digital health initiatives and launching platforms for health monitoring, patient engagement, and research.

Innovation and transformation – what lies ahead?

Technologies that are emerging

  • IoT and 5G – They happen to be powering real-time, robotic surgery, remote diagnostics, as well as continuous patient tracking.
  • AI, along with predictive analytics – It is used for early diagnosis, customized care, and even operational efficiency.
  • Digital clinical trials – Apple’s research kit goes on to accelerate the research and broaden the participation.
  • 3D bioprinting along with smart implants – Helping with customized medicine as well as advanced prosthetics.

Value-based care, which is patient-centric

  • The transition from reactive and episodic care to continuous, proactive, and customized health management happens to be central to the US healthcare transformation.
  • The fact is that value-based models are actually incentivizing the digital tools so as to enhance the outcomes and decrease the costs.

Let us be clear – Connected health in the US happens to be revolutionizing its healthcare by way of expanding access, helping proactive and data-driven care, and also empowering patients. While the issues remain in terms of privacy, interoperability, and equitable access, the ongoing policy initiatives along with technological innovation as well as industry collaboration are indeed driving the sector towards being more patient-centered and effective and also getting to a future that is sustainable.

Medtech Startup Raises $35M in Pulsed Field Ablation

Medtech Startup Raises $35M in Pulsed Field Ablation

Field Medical by Steven Mickelsen has gone on to raise yet another $35 million in investment in order to advance the preparations for its very important trial that studies pulsed field ablation in order to treat ventricular tachycardia.

It is worth noting that the series B financing round happened to be led by BioStar Capital as well as Cue Growth and also saw participation from the present strategic investors.

Significantly, Mickelsen happens to be the electrophysiologist who invented the Farapulse PFA system, which is now helping change how atrial fibrillation gets treated and also driving fast growth when it comes to Boston Scientific. It is well to be noted that after Boston Scientific went on to acquire Farapulse, Mickelsen founded Field Medical in 2022 in order to focus on pulsed field ablation approach development when it comes to ventricular tachycardia, which is an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to sudden death.

Apparently, physicians have gone on to embrace pulsed field ablation so as to treat AFib, which is a common arrhythmia that raises the risk of stroke, ever since Medtronic and Boston Scientific brought in the first system to the market in the US sometime in late 2023 and early 2024.

This technology goes on to offer a potentially safer option to ablate the cardiac tissue, which is the root cause of abnormal heart rhythm, by decreasing the risk of harm to the esophagus, and it can also be a faster procedure as compared to the traditional ablation methods. Interestingly, Johnson & Johnson also happens to sell a pulsed field ablation device, while Abbott anticipates the Food and Drug Administration to give its Volt system approval in 2026. Based in California’s Cardiff by the Sea, Field Medical is looking forward to expanding its treatment choices for patients who happen to have ventricular tachycardia by designing a PFA system, which targets this condition.

According to Mickelsen, who is the CEO of Field Medical, ventricular tachycardia happens to be among the most underrated segments when it comes to electrophysiology; still, physicians lack the tools that they require. What is really exciting, according to him, is how VT happens to be mirroring the early days of the AFib market.

As a matter of fact, the existing technology does not meet the present clinical demand, as per the company.

According to the physician and the founder as well as the senior managing director of BioStar Capital, Louis Cannon, the fact is that Field Medical’s technology happens to be doing what few companies don’t do – tackling one of the most challenging and under-addressed issues within cardiology with real urgency as well as innovation. The physician-led team happens to bring the right insight, and their FieldForce platform puts forth the right tools. He added that they are indeed proud to support this next chapter as they move much closer to transforming VT care.

It is well to be noted that the latest financing of the company follows a $40 million round in April 2025, bringing the total funds that have been reached to date to $75 million. Apparently, the new funds are going to support the start of the very important Veritas Trial, which will further the development when it comes to the FieldForce system and also broaden the clinical and regulatory capacities of the company.

Embedding Precious Metal Materials in Medical Devices

Embedding Precious Metal Materials in Medical Devices

Applying radiopaque materials within the parts of medical devices may help support clinicians to precisely position as well as operate those devices that are under x-ray guidance during endovascular catheter processes.

Medical device design engineers may as well face a lot of issues designing such devices. However, when it comes to the field of functional materials for medical devices, there are only a limited number of materials that offer high x-ray opacity, says the section manager of the sales department at Tanaka Precious Metal Technologies, Yusuke Minagawa. Hence, they do recognize the rising requirement when it comes to the development of new materials so as to attain a further performance enhancement.

According to Minagawa, materials that contain precious materials happen to be considered to hold unmatched potential due to their addressing of these challenges. Making use of precious materials like platinum and gold within medical devices enables those devices to be visible through x-rays. All thanks to their relatively high specific gravity along with excellent radiopacity.

In order to meet these challenges, Tanaka has launched its Visi Fine series of highly radiopaque, precious metal materials, which includes platinum alloy wire. Minagawa further adds that apart from achieving the x-ray opacity, applying the inherent properties when it comes to precious materials like oxidation along with corrosion resistance in medical components is considered a very valuable approach. This helps in preventing performance degradation when it comes to medical materials and also decreases the potential effect on the human body.

It is well to be noted that Tanaka tapped into its very broad history when it comes to precious materials while revising this particular solution for medical devices. Minagawa says that with a 140-year legacy, their company happens to possess advanced material processing capacities, which are backed by extensive expertise along with technical know-how in terms of precious metal development as a specialized manufacturer. Given that their materials get used with components for medical devices that are implanted within the human body, they make sure of dependability by designing every aspect right from raw materials to processing steps in order to meet the strict demands of medical applications.

He continues that the Visi Fine series makes utmost use of the long-standing expertise of Tanaka when it comes to precious metal materials development. Its major strength happens to lie in the capacity to personalize materials by way of using proprietary technologies, which include ultrafine wire processing, multiple melting techniques, and also laser machining.

Resistance when it comes to oxidation along with corrosion happens to be the major medical device requirement. According to Minagawa, it is a known fact that exposure to bodily fluids like blood can lead to corrosion, which may as well result in the degradation as far as the performance of medical device components is concerned. This can also potentially affect the human body. Oxidation along with corrosion resistance happens to be the fundamental trait of any precious metal, thereby making them well suited in terms of being the right materials for medical components.

It is well to be noted that the Visi Fine series can be very well incorporated in the form of coils for usage in embolization coils as well as guidewires. When it comes to catheters, they can very well be used as coil markers, and for stents as part of the braided structure.

Minagawa happens to explain that while Tanaka does not design medical devices, they do believe that a very in-depth discussion with regard to the properties of their precious metal materials along with their applicable forms can very well lead to solutions that are effective and that meet the stringent and specific requirements. Their objective happens to be supporting the medical device and also the component manufacturers by way of expertise within material development along with processing.

NHS to Come Up with AI-Enabled Early Warning Systems

NHS to Come Up with AI Enabled Early Warning Systems

The National Health System – NHS has gone on to announce that it is coming up with new AI-enabled early warning systems, which is aimed at identifying safety issues automatically much before they affect the safety of the patient.

This initiative happens to be a part of the assurance from the health and social care secretary in order to reform health and care regulation, strike out poor performance, and make sure that patients get safe and high-quality care. Apparently, the AI technology is going to scan the NHS system to bring safety issues to light much earlier, and that too in real time, and also trigger earlier inspections.

It is well to be noted that the government has already said that patients are going to likely benefit when it comes to safer treatment because of faster identification of issues in care and also greater quality assurance in terms of data.

Interestingly, the government has already announced that work on the system has started, and a new maternity outcomes signal system is most likely to have a scheduled launch throughout the NHS in November 2025. Notably, the system is going to make use of real-time data so as to flag any higher-than-anticipated birth rates, brain injury, or neonatal death.

When it comes into play, the system is going to evaluate the databases of hospitals so as to identify patterns in terms of serious injuries, abuse, death, or even other incidents that can slip through the lacunae, thereby causing harm and preventing the hospitals from running in a safe way.

When the problems crop up, the Care Quality Commission is going to then roll out specialist inspection teams in order to investigate and take necessary action. In a statement, the secretary of state for health and social care with NHS, Wes Streeting, said that while most of the treatment within the NHS happened to be safe, even a singular lapse that puts a patient in danger is one too many. Behind every safety breach happens to be a person, a life that gets altered, and a family that gets devastated, sometimes due to heartbreaking loss. He went on to add that patient safety, along with power, is at the heart of their 10-year health plan. By way of considering AI and also introducing world-first early warning systems, they are going to spot certain dangerous signs much sooner and also come up with fast inspections before the harm even occurs.

It is well to be noted that this new system comes in the wake of the commitment to an accelerated national investigation by the government within NHS maternity and neonatal services in order to provide accountability and truth to the families that have been impacted and also drive enhancement when it comes to care and safety.

According to the co-national medical director for secondary care at the NHS, Meghana Pandit, the NHS in England is going to be the first country in the world to trial AI-enabled early warning systems in order to flag patient safety issues, which are going to rapidly evaluate certain routine data and reports that are submitted by healthcare staff from community settings.

This move is indeed going to speed up the efficiency with which one can identify patient safety concerns and also enable them to respond rapidly so as to enhance the care of patients.

What’s the larger trend?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services secretary in the US, happened to tell a House Appropriations Committee that he intends to do more with less and with the help of artificial intelligence. He said that the AI revolution has arrived and they are already making use of it in new technologies in order to manage healthcare data in a much more secure and efficient way.

He further added that he is indeed looking to transform the department into a central hub for artificial intelligence.

It is well to be noted that in May 2025, Bangkok Hospital in Thailand went on to announce an initiative that was also focused on the safety of the patient. It unleashed an AI-powered smart mirror to screen vital signs. The private hospital has also partnered with Access Company in order to install a self-service kiosk that performs a 45-second contactless facial scan in order to evaluate vital signs.

These vital signs include respiratory rate, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, atrial fibrillation, heart rate variability, wellness indices, and stress levels. In April 2025, Asan Medical Center in South Korea went on to develop a voice-based clinical documentation system, which was powered by a large language model. Apparently, this system automatically records and evaluates conversations, which include identifying the symptoms and also classifying the diseases between and among the staff as well as patients in almost real time. In addition to this, it also goes on to create medical records of the patient on the spot, which are then automatically saved to AMIS 3.0, which is Asan Medical Center’s EMR system.

Notably, an Austrian company made in 2024 went on to introduce a module in terms of its medical management platform, which happens to notify the families of aged care residents of the changes when it comes to their medications. This module was named Bestmed Connect.

This module, which happens to be developed as part of a federal government project, offers almost real-time notifications when it comes to medications that are prescribed for the first time or altered or even discontinued.

It also automates the family’s consent confirmation when it comes to prescribing psychotropic medication. This was a process that was in the past done manually. It is well to be noted that Bestmed anticipates the module to enable avoiding medication errors, which cause permanent disability or even death to every one in five hospitalized residents.

In 2024 itself, an anesthesiology professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin and also past president of the American Medical Association, Dr. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, spoke about how AI can unleash the yesteryear’s hidden but crucial information in patient records so as to offer an enhanced treatment.

Enhancing Robotic Surgery Precision: Millisecond Challenge

Enhancing Robotic Surgery

In the high-stakes world of surgical robotics, every millisecond counts. As robotic systems become more important in operating rooms, it is more important than ever to have advanced software that makes sure surgeons can control the robots precisely and communicate with them easily. This is important for reducing trauma and speeding up patient recovery.

A QNX study backs up this change by showing that 77% of technology leaders now trust robots to “perform essential workplace functions.” The two biggest reasons for this trust are improvements in safety and risk reduction (42%) and proven reliability and performance (40%). These aren’t just numbers; they’re the keys to a successful surgery.

Milliseconds are important

Imagine a robot end-effector moving around a group of important nerves. A delay of 100 milliseconds, which is less than the time it takes to blink, can cause damage that can’t be fixed. The millisecond challenge is to build systems that can respond in real time with perfect accuracy, even when things are at their most difficult.

To meet this challenge, surgical robots need to be tested in real-world situations that are always changing, like when a patient moves or a tool is moved, to make sure the system can adapt and respond quickly. In robotic surgery, every part of the system, from camera feeds to haptic responses, needs to be set up so that it works almost instantly. This lets surgeons work with confidence and accuracy.

Seamless hardware-software synchronization

Speed isn’t the only thing that matters in robotic surgery. It’s all about timing. For results to be reliable and consistent, hardware and software must work together perfectly. Integrated GPUs are very important because they allow for real-time processing of ultra-high-definition 3D visuals, which is necessary for surgeons to see clearly when doing complicated procedures.

It is also important for data to flow smoothly between subsystems. When haptic and visual systems are set up for high throughput, they give instant feedback. This smooth integration is what turns robotic systems from tools into trusted partners in surgery.

Why low latency and jitter are important

Latency (the time it takes for an input to be processed) and jitter (the difference in that time) are very important for surgical robots. A system that responds quickly but not always can be just as dangerous as one that is slow.

Systems need to keep their latency and jitter very low to make sure they are accurate and responsive. To reduce timing-related risks and make sure real-time performance, this needs very effective ways to handle interrupts. The most important thing to do with signals like changes in tool position or sensor alerts is to act on them right away. Setting up time-triggered task scheduling cuts down on jitter even more, making sure that all feedback loops work with consistent and predictable timing.

To build trust with patients, these technical improvements are needed. The QNX study shows that 70% of tech executives are fine with working with robots, but only 51% trust them to do medical procedures. To close this gap, we will need not only new technologies but also proof that they work consistently in the real world.

RTOS: The heart of surgical robots

The real-time operating system (RTOS) is like the conductor of this orchestra, making sure that sensors, actuators, and surgical interfaces all work together perfectly and that every part works with microsecond-level accuracy.

An RTOS like QNX OS 8.0 isn’t just about running multiple tasks at the same time; it’s also about making sure that each task is done with the highest level of precision, accuracy, and speed. The RTOS needs to be carefully set up so that it works well with the hardware and end-user applications, handling many high-priority tasks at the same time with as little latency and jitter as possible.

Reliability and scalability

As surgical robotics gets better, systems need to be made to handle not only the problems of today but also the new ideas of tomorrow. It’s important that things can grow and are reliable. Modular system design makes it easy to add new technologies like AI and machine learning to surgical applications as they become available.

1...121314...1,090Page 13 of 1,090

About us

Hospital & healthcare Management is a leading B2B arena designed for the healthcare sector, it allow members to reach both ends of the healthcare facility procurement chain.

Subscribe us

System

Resources

Archive Links

Subscribe

Copyright © 2005 - 2019 Global Hospital & Healthcare Management. Designed by Leo Marcom Pvt.Ltd.

Translate »