Hospitales Universitarios San Roque Leads in Digital Health Innovation
At Hospitales Universitarios San Roque, pioneering advancements in health technology are being successfully tackled, including service digitization, artificial intelligence (AI), robotic surgery, and the installation of cutting-edge hybrid operating rooms. AI and smart medical devices are increasingly central to delivering more personalized and efficient healthcare, streamlining processes, and enhancing the management of chronic patients, disease prevention, and clinical decision support.
Emoternity Project: Championing Emotional Well-being with Virtual Reality and AI
The institution has made significant strides in mental health support through the Emoternity project, launched in 2020 at its Maspalomas location and completed in 2023. This initiative utilizes a Virtual Reality (VR) platform with voice assistants and machine learning to lessen social isolation and emotional deterioration among the elderly in healthcare facilities. Emoternity aims to reduce the high prevalence of anxiety and depression among the elderly by boosting connectivity and social interaction.
The platform includes various interconnected tools, such as a voice assistant in hospital rooms that engages with the elderly via a voice interface. It not only facilitates access to social network events but also uses deep learning algorithms to gauge the user’s mood. Based on this, the virtual assistant may recommend VR environments tailored to improve the user’s emotional state. Additionally, healthcare professionals have access to an app to monitor mood assessments and direct patients to VR modules for therapeutic activities.
Innovative Robotic Surgery Unit Creation
Robotic surgery, one of the latest medical innovations, is now a reality at Hospitales Universitarios San Roque thanks to a partnership with GUA Gabinete de Urología y Andrología. The introduction of the HugoTM robot has enabled the private healthcare sector in Gran Canaria to perform minimally invasive surgeries since July 2023. As the first of its kind in the archipelago, HugoTM ensures more precise and secure operations.
The state-of-the-art robotic surgery unit is equipped with sophisticated instruments, including a high-definition recording camera with AI capabilities, real-time image transmission for intraoperative analysis, a 4K 3D visualization screen for improved precision in tissue differentiation, and an innovative wrist-controlled robotic arm for intuitive and safe maneuvering.
Key Questions and Answers:
What are the potential benefits of integrating AI and robotics into healthcare settings such as Hospitales Universitarios San Roque?
The integration of AI and robotics aims to provide more personalized and efficient healthcare by enhancing disease management and prevention, facilitating clinical decisions, and improving surgical outcomes through greater precision and minimally invasive techniques.
How might the Emoternity project impact the mental health of the elderly?
The project focuses on reducing social isolation and emotional deterioration, which can help lower cases of anxiety and depression among the elderly. By using VR and AI, it may improve their emotional well-being by providing stimulating social interactions and personalized therapeutic activities.
What could be potential challenges associated with the adoption of advanced medical technologies?
Challenges could include high financial costs, the need for specialized training for healthcare professionals, potential cybersecurity threats, and ethical issues surrounding patient data privacy and AI decision-making.
Are there any controversies related to the use of AI and robotic surgery in hospitals?
Concerns over AI and robotic surgery may include fears of technology replacing human jobs, possible machine errors or malfunctions, liability in case of medical errors, and ensuring equitable access to these advanced treatments.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Advanced Medical Technologies:
Advantages:
– Enhanced Precision: Robotic surgery allows for more precise operations, reducing human error and improving patient outcomes.
– Improved Recovery: Minimally invasive procedures can result in shorter hospital stays, less pain, and quicker recovery times for patients.
– Personalized Care: AI can process vast amounts of data to support personalized treatment plans and predictive health insights.
Disproprieties:
– Cost: The high initial investment for equipment and ongoing maintenance can be substantial.
– Dependence on Technology: Heavy reliance on these technologies could potentially reduce the hands-on skills of healthcare professionals.
– Data Security: With increased use of digital health data, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures is critical to protect patient privacy.
Related links that could provide further details or context might include official websites of technology providers or institutions implementing these innovations. When looking for credible links, always ensure that the URL is valid and that it points to the main domain to avoid linking to outdated or incorrect information. Here are some examples of what the related link entries might look like (actual links would be inserted where the URL is indicated):
– Hospitales Universitarios San Roque
– HugoTM Robotic Surgery Systems
– Latest AI Developments in Healthcare
Please note that these are just placeholders and you should replace “URL of the…” with the actual URLs when adding links to ensure they are 100% valid.
The source of the article is from the blog scimag.news