There is a lot of talk about patients catching COVID-19 from other patients in doctors’ offices and hospitals, but what about patients catching a coronavirus from doctors or nurses? What will the “new normal in healthcare” likely be in to ensure that healthcare workers will not be carriers of pathogens themselves?
Joining us in this discussion is medical futurist Dr. Dan O’Brien MD.
Q&A:
Dr. Dan question #1: What future new technological safety measures should be in place regarding getting healthcare workers safely back to the workforce?
Dr. Dan answer: With future technology, I see apps being developed for checking temperature at the door in order to allow healthcare workers to enter the building, and if they have a temperature they won’t be allowed in and their key code won’t work. The key is ensuring you have the proper infrastructure set up with a mobile digital app to ensure that an individual actually took their temperature.
Dr. Dan question #2: What other data points will be needed to ensure it is safe for healthcare workers to return besides taking their temperature?
Dr. Dan answer: Survey questions will be required for healthcare workers as they walk in to ensure it’s safe for them to walk into. This would include asking a series of questions around their history of travel, exposure to sick people, cough, shortness of breath, and other COVID-19 symptoms.
Dr. Dan question #3: Would a COVID-19 symptom tracker be of use in the future?
Dr. Dan answer: Yes, institutions are working on a symptom tracker and as we collect more data this will be important as we pick up trends and patterns.
Dr. question #4: What are your thoughts around contact tracing and could that predict who has COVID in a particular spot in the building?
Dr. Dan answer Contract tracing is important because you are able to trace what part of the building the virus is at, so then proper public health action can be taken in that area of the building and thus keep individuals safer.
Dr. Dan question #5: What do you see the direction of other remote monitoring technologies?
Dr. Dan answer: Remote monitoring is going to be important moving forward as physicians look at remote monitoring of an individual’s blood pressure and diabetic numbers to ensure there is continuous improvement of their outcomes.
Dr. Dan question #6: Where may we get more information on this topic and your other writings and discussion?
Dr. Dan answer: At DrDanMd.com or on Twitter @DrDanMd1
About Dr. Dan O’Brien:
Dr. Dan is a medical expert for ‘the here and now’ but he’s also a Medical Futurist, with specialized knowledge in telemedicine, digital health, robotic technology, gene editing, augmented reality, software technology and A.I.
A physician and professor with a passion for innovative healthcare technologies and public health, Dr. Dan is a popular medical expert with appearances on national Talk Shows including on Fox Television.
Dr. Dan understands the need to improve quality of care, cost, and access in healthcare. As a Chief Medical Officer for multiple healthcare startups and an award-winning scientific and academic leader, Dr. Dan brings substantial experience in public health and healthcare management.
An award-winning scientific and academic leader, Dr. Dan has worked with several biotech and pharmaceutical companies on increasing awareness, education, and research in many diagnostic and therapeutic fields, including in the biotechnology industry.
Not only is Dr. Dan is a medical expert for the here and now, but he’s also a medical Futurist, with specialized knowledge in nanobots, remote surgery and medical apps with algorithms that can be used in early detection as well as using AI to project the likely spread of disease.
Dr. Dan has an extensive physician network including relationships with key opinion leaders around the world. He has completed his clinical rotations at Emory University in Atlanta, GA and also has completed a certificate of participation from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has an MBA in healthcare management, and a B.A from the University of Notre Dame.
