A Look into the Future of Health Care

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE Z HEALTH CARE HOW PASSIVE SENSORS WILL SUPPORT PATIENT CARE OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL 1 Meet Ann R. She is 65 and has congestive heart failure and diabetes. Ann is able to live safely at home thanks to sensors that monitor changes in her health without the need for frequent visits to the doctor. The data from the sensors signal her care team (clinicians and family members) when support is needed. - Let's take a look at how these sensors assist Ann without her needing to do anything. 151 As Ann steps out of bed, her weight is recorded by a Wi-Fi-enabled sensor under her floorboards. As she brushes her teeth, sensors in the bathroom floor mat monitor pressure points in her feet to detect early signs of ulcers. A patch on her arm monitors important signals such as: • Blood pressure • Heart rate • Blood-oxygen level • Glucose level The signals detected by all sensors are automatically transmitted via a secure wireless connection and stored in Ann's personal health record. She can see the data and allow others to access it. Sensors in the floor and along the wall register her gait to assess risk of falling. Her diuretic medication contains a tiny sensor that signals her arm patch that she has ingested the pill. If any of the health measurement signals fall outside of a This scenario will be achievable in the near future. Patients will be Hi An, Please increase your diuretic dose and remember to limit your salt intake. pre-determined normal range for Ann, the data are transmitted to her able to receive more personalized support from their care teams and live healthier lives on their own. doctor and her daughter. For more information, see Making Sense of Sensors: How New Technologies Can Change Patient Care, www.chcf.org/MakingSenseSensors