Digital Health Coffee Time Briefing ☕

Your morning summary of digital health news, information and events to know about if you want to be “in the know”.

???? News 

???? Skills for Health has unveiled the latest version of its LearnSpace learning management system, which introduces streamlined new licensing and support options: LearnSpace Lite, LearnSpace Core and LearnSpace Pro. The revamped learning management system, which is tailored to the requirements of healthcare sector employers, provides an easy-to-use and intuitive learner experience. LearnSpace Core and LearnSpace Pro users will now also benefit from a range of additional enhancements and features to monitor and track compliance and manage eLearning in one place.

???? Una Health GmbH, a Berlin-based innovator in metabolic dysfunction management, has closed a $2.5M seed round, co-lead by FoodSparks (PeakBridge’s Seed Fund) and FoodLabs, with participation from Dart Ventures and angels including Frank Westermann, founder of mySugr and Claire Novorol, founder of ada Health. Focused on revolutionising type 2 diabetes care, Una Health’s hallmark is its personalised digital therapy program. Through AI and advanced biosensor technology, they provide real-time, tailored interventions for each patient, ensuring optimal clinical effectiveness.

???? Boots has brought back its popular Free Health MOT for people over 40 that do not have a diagnosis of high blood pressure, available at its stores in England. The Free Health MOT includes the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service with an optional Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference check alongside personalised lifestyle advice. It aims to help eligible patients identify high blood pressure, which is one of the leading causes of heart attacks, heart disease and strokes, but rarely has noticeable symptoms. People aged 40 and over are at higher risk of high blood pressure. Boots has also launched a free, online health check in partnership with the NHS Better Health campaign. The quiz, called the Healthier You Review, is for all adults aged 18 and over, and is available at the Boots Health Hub. It covers five topics – nutrition, movement, sleep, smoking and alcohol – to give users a wellness score out of 10 and personalised tips. 

???? A new research paper has been published on the cover of Science Robotics that unveils a new way of moving and steering microrobots using magnetism and its impact on healthcare. This research has the potential to transform the treatment of vascular diseases by allowing for a high degree of precision and maneuverability within the intricate pathways of the human vascular system. View the full publication here. 

???? Are digital health interventions associated with reducing blood pressure (BP) levels in US populations experiencing health disparities, and what types of tailored modalities have been used to manage hypertension in demographically and socioeconomically diverse subgroups? A systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 studies has been conducted, with results showing that patients with health disparities receiving a digital health intervention compared with standard care had greater reductions in systolic BP at six and 12 months. Most studies involved multicomponent interventions, primarily remote BP monitoring. 

❓ Did you know that? 

A recent survey by Indegene found that 55% of commercial IT leaders view the influence on innovation and continuous improvement as a crucial measure of their function’s success, highlighting the growing importance of innovation alongside operational costs (54%) and revenue (52%). 

Notably, 51% of leaders rank enhancing customer experience as their top technology investment driver, striving to remain competitive by meeting the evolving expectations of healthcare professionals, patients, payers, and other stakeholders. While a majority (78%) express optimism about their organisations’ readiness for this omnichannel transformation, a significant 18% voice concerns about navigating its challenges. 

???? What we’re listening to   

What is real and what is illusion with healthcare AI? – In a preview of his upcoming HIMSS24 session, Dr. Jonathan Chen, assistant professor at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, offers perspective on discerning what’s real in AI, what’s hype and what it all means for patient care. 

???? This week’s events 

15 February, online – Reuters Webinar: Breaking Barriers: Advance Health Data Interoperability for Seamless Collaboration in Care Delivery.  

15-16 February, London – International Conference on Digital Healthcare 2024