AI in Healthcare: how to improve quality of life through AI?
Table of contents
- Adopting a human-centered approach: a strategic challenge for digital innovations and AI in healthcare
- AI in Healthcare: why is it a pillar of data analysis and personalized care?
- Use case: how AI in healthcare improves patients' quality of life
- Towards the evolution of digital products: from AI in healthcare to connected devices
- Incorporating the human factor into the design of digital health and AI solutions
- How can companies improve the effectiveness of their digital health solutions?
Digital health, combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI), is profoundly transforming the healthcare landscape, particularly in improving patients' quality of life. During the recent webinar organized by BeTomorrow, titled “Digital Health: Augment Quality of Life with AI - Design for Humans, not for Patients,” we explored the strategic challenges and opportunities for companies developing digital products in this field, including AI solutions in healthcare.
In this article, we provide a summary of the key points discussed, along with actionable insights for decision-makers in the healthcare and digital technology sectors.
Adopting a human-centered approach: a strategic challenge for digital innovations and AI in healthcare
Understanding patients beyond data
One of the significant challenges for digital health companies is to adopt a human-centered approach. As highlighted by Katarzyna WAC, Director of the Quality of Life Technologies Lab at the University of Geneva, it is not just about treating patients as data sources but considering their overall quality of life. “It is crucial to model the behaviors and real needs of individuals in their daily context, rather than focusing solely on traditional clinical parameters,” explains Katarzyna.
Involving stakeholders in digital products development
For healthcare industries and companies, the design of digital products must be grounded in a deep understanding of user needs, particularly through co-design tools developed with patients and caregivers. Collaboration with stakeholders—doctors, patients, families, and payers—is essential to create solutions that not only measure biomarkers but also translate them into concrete actions to improve quality of life.
AI in Healthcare: why is it a pillar of data analysis and personalized care?
Providing actionable insights for patients
Artificial Intelligence plays a key role in analyzing data from digital health devices, but its effectiveness largely depends on its ability to provide patients with actionable insights. Agathe ACCHIARDO, founder of Think Next (a consulting firm specializing in foresight and innovation in healthcare), emphasizes the importance of AI in healthcare as a "co-navigator" that helps patients interpret their medical data.
““AI must go beyond merely reminding patients to take their medications. It should provide personalized recommendations based on the analysis of individual behaviors, enabling patients to live better with their chronic illnesses,” Agathe explains.”
Ensuring better representation of patient needs
For decision-makers and digital project leaders in the healthcare sector, it is essential to ensure that the data collected reflects the true concerns of patients. For example, in the case of a condition like chronic cough, existing quality-of-life scales do not always capture the most bothersome symptoms for patients, such as urinary incontinence in women. This type of discrepancy highlights the importance of revising data collection methods to align them with the actual needs of end users.
Use case: how AI in healthcare improves patients' quality of life
AI in healthcare is already being successfully utilized in various use cases, including biomarker monitoring and treatment personalization. Devices like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), for example, allow non-diabetic individuals to monitor their physical and cognitive performance, paving the way for broader use of health technologies to enhance daily quality of life.
Another concrete example is the Toilet Finder app developed by BeTomorrow. Initially designed to integrate GPS features to indicate the locations of public restrooms, this app has unexpectedly proven useful for patients suffering from chronic intestinal diseases or endometriosis. By facilitating access to restrooms, it reduces social barriers and improves the quality of life for its users.
For companies, these examples underscore the importance of harnessing the power of AI in healthcare to create solutions that address practical and immediate user needs while also providing long-term health benefits.
Towards the evolution of digital products: from AI in healthcare to connected devices
The use of wearables in digital health
One of the key takeaways from these discussions is that digital health devices, such as wearables (gadgets incorporating advanced computing and electronic elements like textiles, glasses, smartwatches, or even jewelry), are often abandoned after an average of three months of use. Katarzyna WAC explains this phenomenon as a result of a lack of personalization and perceived long-term benefits for users.
““Patients do not simply want to collect data. They want this data to help them feel better and improve their daily lives.””
Gamification: a key lever to stimulate engagement and improve patients' healthcare journey
To address the challenge of a lack of personalization and perceived long-term benefits for users throughout their healthcare journey, Agathe Acchiardo recommends adopting gamification techniques and highlighting long-term progress.
““Patients need to be able to visualize their progress over time to feel a sense of personal efficacy and be encouraged to use the app in the long term,” she explains. ”
Gamification can thus serve as a powerful lever to enhance user engagement in digital health solutions.
Incorporating the human factor into the design of digital health and AI solutions
The essential role of carers in the success of digital health solutions
The human factor plays a central role in the success of digital health solutions. In addition to patients, caregivers must also be considered in the development of these solutions, as they are often the ones who encourage the adoption and ongoing use of digital health tools, particularly for patients with chronic illnesses.
For companies, involving caregivers in the design process can represent a strategic advantage. Katarzyna WAC emphasizes that the burden on caregivers is often underestimated, and it is crucial to develop tools that help them better support their loved ones while preserving their own quality of life.
Improving care efficiency: how AI in healthcare transforms the experience for patients and caregivers
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare adds an additional dimension to this equation by facilitating the management of complex data and providing personalized solutions for both patients and caregivers. With AI, it becomes possible to analyze vast datasets in real time, allowing for quicker and more informed decision-making. This results in more targeted care tailored to the specific needs of patients while reducing the cognitive load on caregivers.
By automating certain repetitive tasks and providing precise recommendations, AI in healthcare not only enhances the efficiency of care but also supports caregivers in their roles, offering them relief from the often heavy responsibilities they bear.
How can companies improve the effectiveness of their digital health solutions?
Quality of life: a strategic imperative for companies in the healthcare sector
The issue of quality of life is central for companies developing digital health solutions. As Agathe ACCHIARDO noted, the population is aging, and chronic diseases are on the rise, making the shift from a longevity-centered approach to a quality of life-centered approach, or “healthspan” critical. Healthspan refers to the period of a person's life during which they are generally in good health. Modeling quality of life is not a passing trend but a fundamental shift that will continue to grow.
Therefore, companies must integrate these concepts into their projects to maximize the impact of their digital health solutions. By investing in technologies that genuinely enhance users' quality of life and considering the human factor, they can not only meet patient expectations but also contribute to the sustainable transformation of the healthcare sector.
The impact of AI in healthcare on improving care and patient autonomy
AI in healthcare plays a decisive role in this transformation by providing tools capable of measuring, analyzing, and proactively improving patients' quality of life. Through sophisticated algorithms, Artificial Intelligence can anticipate patients' needs, particularly for those with chronic illnesses, and offer more personalized and preventive care.
By combining data from sensors, medical records, and other sources, AI-based solutions can adapt treatments in real time while reducing invasive medical interventions. This paves the way for a more predictive medicine focused on overall well-being, while enhancing the autonomy of both patients and caregivers. Companies that integrate AI in healthcare into their solutions maximize their ability to address the complex challenges related to population aging and the improvement of quality of life.
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