OCTOBER 20218In My OpinionCOVID-19 caught every nation by surprise by the speed of its spread. However, the availability of advanced information technology in this age has provided health systems with tools that have not only helped during this time but provided valuable insights into how we could prepare for outbreaks in the future. Technology has proven to be an enabler and a way to connect patients and providers.Infection Detection and Response ­ As with other outbreaks, controlling the spread of COVID-19 depends on detecting and containing the infection, as well as preventing community transmission. Many free, web-based tools help with COVID-19 screening and provide education and guidance on resources. Many types of touchless temperature measurement devices are available today at entrances to workplaces and public buildings. Some of these devices can do more than just record temperature ­ they can also alert appropriate personnel and, if necessary, control access to the facility. For places like airports that experience mass movement of people, high-performance infrared thermal cameras have been used to detect people with elevated temperatures. The data from temperature checks can be tracked and used to identify infection hot spots and clusters. Through contact tracing, mobile phones are being used to identify who's been where and provide early warning to those who might have been in proximity to someone with COVID-19. In some countries, data like pulse and sleep patterns gathered from wearable devices are being used to screen for illness. Tools such as migration maps, based on real-time data from mobile phones and social media, have been used to develop machine learning models that forecast the transmission patterns of COVID-19. Predictive Analytics, a form of AI used to predict future outcomes, combines public health, medical data and advanced data analytics to track and mitigate outbreaks.Disease Management­Artificial intelligence-based applications can perform many tasks, such as scan images to identify potential cancers and analyze data from pathology, lab tests, etc. to help facilitate diagnosis and decision making. A hospital in China is using AI to screen CT scans of lungs to help physicians prioritize cases for further COVID-19 testing. Big Data and AI have improved preparedness by tracking infection spread, patient volume, TECHNOLOGY INTHE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19Joy Abraham, Vice President of IT, Life Care Centers of AmericaBy
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