⚕️ Accessibility And Inclusivity In Healthcare App Design

Good Morning. Today is the Ides of March which historically just meant the date - March 15th. However, from Shakespeare to Simpsons, a slew of pop culture references have long associated the date with a dark and gloomy connotation.

Don’t you worry though, the world of HealthTech holds a lot of promise even today and we’re back with the latest breakthroughs to lift up your spirits!

DEEP DIVE

Secret Sauce For Accessibility And Inclusivity In Healthcare App Design

• Data from examining 10,000 apps on the app store found that 23% of the apps failed to provide accessibility metadata.

In a world where access to quality healthcare is often limited by factors like income and physical ability, inclusivity and accessibility in healthcare app design can break down the barriers.

Healthcare app developers can ensure their apps meet accessibility standards by referring to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set out by the World Wide Web Consortium. These internationally guidelines encompass four main categories:

1. Perceivable
2. Operable
3. Understandable
4. Robust

This article takes a deep dive into the strategies for promoting accessibility and inclusivity in healthcare app design. These include details about universal design principles, integration of AAC devices and input about design best practices.

Read more about how you can ensure accessibility and inclusivity in healthcare app design here.

PULSE POINTS

Latest Breakthroughs This Week

Here’s the most important breakthroughs and advancements we spotted in the healthcare technology space this week.

• AI for Clinical Documentation: Northwell Health is rolling out an AI-powered clinical documentation feature in partnership with health tech company Playback Health to use its AI-based platform, Notes. The tool will generate EMR notes from patient and physician conversations and can save up to three hours spent per day on documentation.
• Ambient Tech For EHR: Meditech is integrating ambient listening technology, specifically Suki Assistant from Suki AI, into its Expanse EHR system. This AI-based tool records clinician-patient interactions and automatically generates clinical notes. Clinicians have the ability to review, edit, and approve these AI-generated notes to ensure accuracy.
• Hypotheses-driven AI: Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new type of healthcare AI called hypotheses-driven AI to advance cancer care. Unlike traditional AI, which relies on large datasets, this approach incorporates up-to-date disease knowledge, such as genetic variants and gene interactions. It aims to uncover insights missed by conventional AI, guiding personalized medicine and enhancing disease understanding.
• Cloud Interoperability: Google Cloud has launched Healthcare Data Engine (HDE), a generative AI-driven platform focused on interoperability. HDE offers a consumption-priced managed service in the cloud, allowing healthcare organizations to access and manage healthcare data in real-time. It features a low-code graphical environment for building longitudinal patient records in FHIR format and integrates with Vertex AI Search for Healthcare, enabling clinicians to access information across multiple systems with a single inquiry.
• Alexa: Amazon's Alexa has integrated Hellocare's telehealth and virtual healthcare delivery platform, enabling patients to access medical assistance from physicians and nurses using voice commands. Patients can interact with the Hellocare platform through the Hello 2 device connected to their TVs. This new Alexa Built-in Hello 2 device allows customers to connect with caregivers and offers various features.
• Policy: The federal government’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is launching an investigation into UnitedHealth Group following the February cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary that has significantly affected providers' financial stability nationwide.

DECODER

What Is Health API?

Healthcare application programming interface (API), is a set of protocols, tools, and definitions that allow different healthcare software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other. Essentially, it's a standardized way for different healthcare systems, applications, and devices to interact, share information, and perform functions.

Health APIs enable the seamless integration of various healthcare technologies, facilitating interoperability, data sharing, and the development of new healthcare applications and services.

These APIs can be used for accessing patient records, exchanging medical data between different systems, integrating wearable devices, enabling telemedicine services, and much more.

Read the comprehensive guide to healthcare APIs here.

Looking to develop a healthcare application or hiring HealthTech engineers for your team? Get in touch with us at Arkenea, with 14+ years of unmatched experience in developing custom healthcare applications.