16^th World Congress on Healthcare & Technologies June 15-16, 2020 Barcelona, Spain

Biography:

Alan White is a founder director of Interactive Health Ltd (IHL).  He has led mHealth/mLearning projects in Scotland and sub-Saharan Africa. These have been aligned to capacity building and continuous professional development. In 2016, he was awarded a Scottish Digital Health and Care Institute (DHI) scholarship to study for a MRes in Digital Health at the Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen, Scotland. This was aligned to the development of a pilot version of Well@Birth with NHS Highland Research, Development and Innovation. In May 2019, IHL was awarded funding by the Scottish Government to develop the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into its programmes. This new and innovative “Well@” platform aims to catalyse transformal behavioural change in an person centred approach to person centred preventative healthcare. The platform is currently being applied to projects in Public Health, Occupational Health, Maternal Health and Mental Health.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Access to up to date educational materials is viewed as being critical in both recruiting and retaining healthcare staff in remote areas. This proposal draws on investigations (White, 2018; White et al, 2019). These explored whether mHealth tools could support the management of women with pre-eclampsia in rural and remote settings in Highland Scotland.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A prototype toolkit was piloted as part of Making it Work a European project about recruitment and retention of Healthcare Practitioners in remote and rural areas. Members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams, at remote locations in Highland Scotland were recruited as participants in the study. They were asked to consider the quality of the content and the usefulness of the toolkit. The study also explored whether such a toolkit might offer any advantage and/or improvement over areas of current practice other than maternal health.

Qualitative methods were used and focus groups [n=18] and several 1:1 interviews [n=9] were conducted with multidisciplinary team members. A thematic analysis was used to identify themes from the transcribed data.

Findings:  5 themes were identified:

·         Using the toolkit

·         Offering support to those working at remote locations

·         Assisting in decision making

·         Learning on the move

·         Using the toolkit to explain conditions to patients

The participants in the study agreed that a mHealth toolkit could be of value to both midwives and less specialised healthcare practitioners. These include GPs, Practice Nurses, Mental Health Practitioners, GP Practice Receptionists, NHS 24, Healthcare Support Workers, Paramedics, Police Officers and carers who encounter people with health, and social care challenges at remote locations.

The ability to use the toolkit to work on Continuous Professional Development (CPD) whilst on the move was particularly welcomed. The potential to incorporate predictive analytics was also thought to be valuable and worth further exploration

Biography:

Venkat Lellapalli is working on his Ph.D in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Mississippi State University in USA . He has twenty years of work experience in Healthcare Insurance companies working on Healthcare and wellness projects using Cloud and Machine Learning technologies to improve quality of care for the members

Abstract:

Hospital readmissions are indicators of the quality of service offered by hospitals and give an insight into the performance measures on the cost at the hospital. A readmission event occurs when a patient that has been discharged from a hospital after diagnosis and procedure is again readmitted to the hospital within a certain period. The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) is part of a family of databases and software tools developed for the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). For this research, the data for the year 2016 from the National Readmission Database (NRD) will be studied and machine learning models built to model the relationship between readmission and various factors related to the patient. The models built in this research study will be used to ease the prediction of hospital readmission which is very important in healthcare management. Ischemic And Pulmonary Heart diseases are among the critical diseases in health care services. The monitoring of these diseases, therefore, should be handled with ultimate care and with trained professionals. Various studies have shown that readmission of these diseases has a higher rate compared to non-pulmonary disease, thus the need for critical research and study in these areas. The observations for Ischemic heart diseases and diseases of pulmonary circulation (diagnosis codes I20 to I28) will be used for this study. Analysis and goodness of model indexes such as the confusion matrix, AUC index, MSE, and R squared scores and findings from the study will also be evaluated and reported taking into account the model parameters

Biography:

Vitaliy Mishlanov, is an PhD, MD, full professor, Head of the Propaedeutic of internal diseases department #1 of the Perm State Medical University n.a. academician E.A. Vagner (Perm, Russia), Correspondent member of Russian academy of science. He is Secretary of Group 01.04. m-Health/e-Health of European respiratory Society, an active member of Russian respiratory society. Prof. V. Mishlanov is author of 29 inventions in medicine, he published more than 300 papers, including 7 monographs, 4 textbooks. In the field of electronic medicine the construction of interactive automated questionnaire “Electronic polyclinic” is more significant, he is author of some new diagnostic methods, based on electrical impedance measurement. He is a prominent specialist in allergy-immunology, pulmonology, atherosclerosis, functional and laboratory diagnostics

Abstract:

The aim is to overview different approach to electronic devices using in clinical practice. There are two main suggestions: to use open access to patient personal data and to close this information for physician only. Both variants have their advantages and disadvantages. In the case of open access the main perspective point of view consists of possibility of artificial intelligence exploration. But the main negative side consists of social effects for some persons. Limited variant as usual is out of global companies interests but very important for big companies and government services which are need in confidence. Limited access to personal data is a positive factor in private medical companies’ actions, because many persons with chronic disease appreciate the monitoring under individual supervision.

Today we have a lot of types of electronic devices in medical practice. They are special for medicine or not only for it. For example, smartphones, smartwatches and many others are not specific. Pulse oximeters, tonometers, glucometers are specific. The most important question is how we can organize the smart interaction with different equipment and analyze the results automatically and distantly. This presentation is devoted to comparison of different medical systems in data analysis and the perspectives of robots using in different medical tasks solving.

Biography:

Neel Mehta leads the technology platform deployments and stealth futuristic projects across Adani group, the second largest conglomerate in India. He is an award-winning Healthcare Futurist, co-chair of the MedTech Committee at the AZ Tech Council, and Business Mentor with the Entrepreneurship cell at NIT Trichy. He received his M.S. in Biomedical Informatics from Arizona State University, USA and his undergraduate degree in Bioinformatics from National Institute of Technology - Bhopal, India. He has been recognized as the AZ Top Tech Exec in the Rising Star and 40 under 40 by Phoenix Business Journal, Arizona Business Leaders in Healthcare Innovation by Arizona Big Media, 35 entrepreneurs 35 and younger, and has been a keynote speaker at some of the leading healthcare and start-up conferences. He also enjoys collecting stamps, attending concerts, high-fiving DJ Kygo, and flexing his negotiating skills.

Abstract:

The speed of innovation in medical technology over the last 50 years has produced extraordinary breakthroughs but has also created unintended consequences. We are reaching a point where the existence of millions of revolutionary technological solutions is in itself becoming a problem.

As a Biomedical Informaticist and Healthcare Futurist, it’s time to rethink our infatuation towards chasing the ‘unicorn.’ New and supportive healthcare solutions require an environment in which the technological innovation can be successfully adopted. As innovation increases exponentially, it needs a different set of evolving relationships, partnerships, and communication between stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, thus enter the ‘zebra’

Biography:

Donovan Casas Patino is a doctor, family medicine specialist, Master in Population and Health, Doctor in Collective Health, Postdoctor in Social Anthropology, Postdoctor in Medical Anthropology, Postdoctor in Politics and Health. He is a professor at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico and the Intercultural University of the State of Mexico. Lines of academic activity: Collective Health.

Abstract:

In Mexico, obesity and overweight (OySP) have become a social epidemic of uncontrollable magnitude, in this context there have been multiple proposals to combat OySP, from invasive clinical models to food policies such as food labeling and calorie reduction in food, and even thus the problem of OySP is increasing, so we devised a virtual page proposal which, through translation of the knowledge of experts in the under study area, we propose the creation of the Pepitometer, which functions as the diffuser instrument of the knowledge of styles of healthy life in this age group, through two parameters scientific awareness of knowledge translation and availability of information, this makes in children behavioral appropriation towards healthy lifestyles through the promotion of these contents in the family nucleus. It is worth mentioning that this page was piloted in a group of 600 children between 6 and 12 years old, of which 74% on admission to the page presented OySP, 6% malnutrition and 20% normal weight, in a period of 3 months 4,000 visits were registered by registered users, the most visited portals, Menu of the week [60%], Physical Activity [20%], Psychological Support [20%] at the end of the cross section After three months, we found 68% of OySP, 12% of malnutrition and 20% of normal weight this in registered users, this shows that the trend remains static, in two dichotomous slopes of the country, OySP and malnutrition, this APPs, is a tool that can be very useful to monitor and combat these global pandemics , which depend on social nutrition.

Biography:

Carmen Russoniello, PhD has more than thirty years of experience as a therapist/counselor educator and researcher and is currently Professor and Director of ECU’s Center for Applied Psychophysiology and its Wounded Warrior training program. He was the principal investigator on several Department of Defense grants awarded to develop physiological measuring and biofeedback products for improving Wounded Warrior and Warfighter functioning. He is a past-president of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association and the Association for Applied Psychophysiology. His research focuses on heart rate variability as a measurement of human function and performance and as a biofeedback intervention. His research is published in a broad spectrum of journals including, Behavioral Medicine, Military Behavioral Health, Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, Cleveland Clinic Journal, Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, and Games for Health. His work has been featured in ArsTechnica, CNN, BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, Web MD, Wired Magazine.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Approximately, 332 million people are living with depression in the world and only 25% receive any treatment. Thus, there is a need for inexpensive, readily accessible, non-pharmacological, efficacious interventions. The goal of this month-long controlled study was to compare the efficacy of a second antidepressant (sAD) medication with a prescribed regimen of Plants vs. Zombies (PvZ), a casual videogame, in reducing treatment-resistant depression symptoms (TRDS) and improving heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods: Approximately *8 weeks after beginning antidepressant therapy, participants returned to psychiatrists for evaluation and complained of TRDS. The psychiatrist gave them a choice of self-selecting a sAD medication or playing a prescribed regimen of PvZ as part of a research study. Those who agreed were referred to researchers who then screened them for major depression, the criteria for inclusion. PvZ was prescribed four times per week for 30–45 minutes over 4 weeks. Self-reported data were collected at four different times utilizing the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. HRV, an indicator of autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning, was also recorded each time.

Findings: The sAD group’s TRDS significantly improved. Remarkably, the PvZ group’s TRDS improved significantly beyond the control group at all measurement times except for time 1 or baseline. In addition, a single 30-minute session of playing PvZ was significantly more effective in acutely reducing TRDS when compared with the sAD group that surfed the NIHM website on depression. Changes in HRV parameters indicated increased parasympathetic engagement and ANS balance in the PvZ group compared with the sAD group.

Conclusion and Significance: The findings illustrate the potential of PvZ as an acute and chronic intervention for reducing TRDS. Health care practitioners such as physicians and recreational therapists can consider prescribing a regimen of PvZ as a method to ameliorate TRDS for those clients who self- select this option. Finally, a psychophysiological method for measuring the efficacy of videogames in reducing TRDS and a means to quantify ANS changes during gameplay are presented

Biography:

Enida Xhaferi has finished Medical School at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tirana, in July 2002 and completed Clinical Rheumatology residency in Tirana in March 2007. She has been working for the University of Medicine of Albania since 2010, where she teaches Internal Medicine and Management of Patients during Disasters. 

Abstract:

Background. An outbreak of severe pneumonia cases was reported in the province of Wuhan, China in December 2019. Samples from infected patients were analyzed and a novel betacoronavirus, named 2019-nCoV was isolated in human epithelial cells. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses renamed the new virus: SARS-CoV-2, due to similarities with the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and the disease that it causes was termed COVID-19 by the WHO.

Members of the Coronaviridae family are enveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses, that can be isolated in different species (bats, livestock, mice, humans etc). These viruses, which manage to transverse species, can cause human diseases ranging from the common cold to more severe pathologies. Two important viruses of this family are SARS-CoV (causing the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/SARS infection) which triggered a large-scale epidemic, with 800 deaths, and MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome/MERS infection) that provoked an outbreak with 800 deaths, which started in the Arabic Peninsula.

The novel and contagious infection spread quickly around the world, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO, announced COVID-19 global pandemic.

Objective. This abstract aims to report the impact of COVID 19 in Albania and describe some of the measures taken by the Government to cope with this disease.

Methods. Data from the Ministry of Health and Institute of Public Health were reviewed and analyzed. The demographic distribution of active cases as of May 20, 2020 was mapped, and disease progress and impact examined and visualized.    

Results. The first confirmed case of COVID 19 in Albania was reported in March 9, 2020.  Since then, a total of 964 individuals have been infected with SARS-CoV-2.  79% of patients have recovered (758 cases). There have been 31 deaths in these three months of pandemic and currently there are 175 active cases. The Government took swift measures to reduce transmission and contain the spread of infection. Some of these measures are: shifting online university and school classes, closing restaurants and bars, stopping public gatherings, applying travel restrictions and placing the population under lockdown. These measures are being gradually removed

Biography:

Nino Korinteli brings 10 years research experience. From 2016 she was working as an individual consultant (analyst) with several organizations Public Defender of Georgia, Tbilisi State University, etc. From 2009 to 2016 she was working as an expert-analyst (ISSA Georgia) and was involved in research projects which gave her the possibility of being familiar with various issues:  health care, education and training, social protection and social inclusion agriculture, politics, etc. She collaborated with different local and international organizations (such as USAID, UNDP, UNICEF, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNAIDS, OXFAM, URC, etc. Nino is also Certified Public Policy Analyst (CPPA) Program graduate (North Texas University & Free University Georgia). She successfully completed the program working on policy paper linked with health care issues.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The Association Agreement with Europe commits Georgia to conduct epidemiological surveillance of transmitted diseases, including tuberculosis and its resistant forms. Until 2016 Georgia was among the twenty-seven countries under the “high burden” of resistant tuberculosis. The situation has been improved since 2016, but the problem of resistant tuberculosis has not lost its sensitivity and has proved to be a major challenge for the country as airborne disease, “attacking” people in reproductive age and with low immunity.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Desk research based on the data of different countries (laws, studies, statistics), case study, comparative analysis of research conducted in Georgia. In addition, five In-Depth Interviews were conducted with four employees of the National Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Center and one WHO Technical Officer.

Findings: the continuity of treatment of resistant tuberculosis (with its many sub-components - personal, social and institutional) is a central factor for prevention and decrease of the disease, along with factors such as TB diagnosis, governance, financing and TB/HIV collaboration. In 2013 and 2016, in Georgia, three barriers for the continuity of treatment were identified: stress / depression, financial, time constraint (e.g. loss of job due to illness) and problems in medical service, and motivator - social support.

Conclusion & Significance: The prevention of resistant TB as a public health risk, involves a number of interrelated measures, including the improvement of: TB control law (Mandatory Isolation), which resulted in contradictory assessments and medical services (e.g. management of side effects, training of health care workers, wide coverage of the primary health care and TB institutions, technology (Telemedicine development) and screening, enhancement - expansion of multidisciplinary approach)), as well as information campaigns (peer education, fighting against stigma, main target groups, family, society, employers).