Amara Nwosu

MBCHB FRCP PhD CF SFHEA

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MyPal podcast: Technology in the delivery of healthcare: patient power in medicine – Episode 16

In this episode of MyPal Dr Amara Nwosu provides an overview of the health secretary’s recent speech to the Health Service Journal which outlined the potential role of technology in healthcare.

There is the potential to use technology to help patients self management their conditions and facilitate more personalised proactive management of there health.

However 4 potential pitfalls were highlighted.

1. The issue of Bureaucracy, where technology is used as a means to a end where the systems detract from patient care.

2. A lack of accountability, where shared computer systems bewteen different healthcare providers remove accountability from anyone taking overall responsibility for care.

3. The problem of cost. Investment in expensive systems that cost too much and cannot be maintained long term.

4. Data security issues. The concern that the NHS can keep data safe.

Despite the potential barriers technology can be used to improve patient outcomes but should not be an end itself; it must aim to improve patient care. This is a good starting point to evaluate the role technology has in healthcare.

References

Patient power: threat or opportunity? Health Secretary’s speech on the opportunities offered by the shift to a patient-powered, technologically advanced health service.
Department of Health and The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
Health Service Journal, Barber-Surgeons‘ Hall, London
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/patient-power-threat-or-opportunity

Smart patients
Emma Hill, Lancet Volume 15, No. 2, p140–141, February 2014.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(14)70044-0/abstract

The Patient Will See You Now: The Future of Medicine is in Your Hands by Eric Topol
http://www.amazon.com/The-Patient-Will-See-You/dp/0465054749

Patient reported outcomes
http://sites.duke.edu/rethinkingclinicaltrials/patient-reported-outcomes/

Use of an electronic patient-reported outcome measurement system to improve distress management in oncology
Palliat Support Care. 2014 Feb; 12(1): 69–73.
Sophia K. Smith, Krista Rowe, Amy P. Abernethy
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4066540/

Copyright Dr Amara Nwosu, KingAmi Media 2015.
http://www.amaranwosu.com

Music by Bensound
http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music


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Coming full circle: Thoughts on winning the European Association for Palliative Care Early Researcher Award

Last month I received joint 3rd place for the Early Research Award of the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) at their 14th World Congress in Copenhagen. I have written a blog about my reflections of winning this award which can be found through the following link.

 https://eapcnet.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/coming-full-circle-thoughts-on-winning-the-european-association-for-palliative-care-early-researcher-award/


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MyPal Podcasts: Technology, Innovation and Palliative Care

MyPal is a podcast about technology, innovation and research relevant to palliative (hospice) care. I am your host, Dr Amara Nwosu MBChB, MRCP. I am a specialist trainee in the field of palliative medicine in the Liverpool, United Kingdom. Come and join the conversation about these issues in a way you just might like.

Copyright Dr Amara Nwosu, KingAmi media 2014.www.amaranwosu.com

Music by ‘Year of the Fiery Horse’ (YOTFH). Soundcloud link: @year-of-the-fiery-horse


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MyPal podcast episode 7: Is there too much technology in healthcare?

In this episode of MyPal Dr Amara Nwosu discusses a recent article from the BMJ by Bjorn Morten Hofmann, University College of Gjovik which poses the question of whether there is too much technology in healthcare.

Too much Technology by Bjørn Morten Hofmann – BMJ 21/02/2015 (subscription required to access link)
http://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h705

Digitalman

Copyright Dr Amara Nwosu, KingAmi media 2014. http://www.amaranwosu.com

Music by ‘Year of the Fiery Horse’ (YOTFH). Soundcloud link: https://soundcloud.com/year-of-the-fiery-horse


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Nanotechnology to diagnose and monitor cancer – can palliative care benefit? The Google X project

Google have entered into the health research arena. They aim to use technology to diagnose cancer early. I believe is exciting and should cause us to question how technology could be used in palliative care.

Computer science has arguably overtaken medicine as the newest academic discipline. Modern applications like the iPhone (only developed in 2007) have irreversibly changed the way we interact with technology on a daily basis. However, it is not common to hear about medics collaborating with computer scientists or undertaking computer science courses or research. This is in contrast with  other academic disciplines such as natural sciences, social sciences and psychology.

The ‘Google X’ project aims to avoid unnecessary deaths. In terms of cancer Google propose a diagnostic ‘smart pill’ that can be swallowed by an individual which. The pull would contain magnetised nanoparticles that would be released into the blood when swallowed. These particles would travel round the body looking for biomarkers, only to return (by action of their magnets) to a wearable device on the wrist to download the results. In addition to cancer Google indicate that other markers (such as sodium) could be monitored.

Google’s aim to reduce unnecessary deaths is admirable; however, should we also be asking how we can use computer science and concepts like nanotechnology to improve palliative care? Or, conversely, should high tech, high cost interventions be avoided at the end of life? This is interesting food for thought. What is certain is that technology and innovation will continue and the role this has in palliative care needs to be considered.

http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/07/google-x-sets-out-define-healthy-human

http://online.wsj.com/articles/google-to-collect-data-to-define-healthy-human-1406246214


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My winning poster at the NCRI Conference Liverpool 2014 – Assessment of hydration states in advanced cancer using bioelectrical impedance analysis

Today I presented my poster on the assessment of hydration states in advanced cancer using bio-electrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA). The work is the result of my PhD which has been submitted for examination. My findings suggest that hydration status (as measured by BIVA) relate to clinically measurable signs, symptoms and survival. Further work is needed to determine how BIVA can be used to guide the management of fluid states in advanced cancer.


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Funding for the development of the digital palliative care media – Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool (MCPCIL)

The Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute Liverpool (MCPCIL) has recently been awarded a £1,750 grant from the Friends of the University of Liverpool to develop audio-visual palliative care content. This will hopefully lead to the development of vodcasts and podcasts which will provide a wide audience information about palliative care and the work of MCPCIL.

For more information about the work of the Marie Curie Palliative Liverpool please click here:
Dr Amara Nwosu’s wesbite:
Twitter:
The Friends of the University of Liverpool:


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HIV/AIDs pain – Life Before Death video

The Ebola outbreak has caused people to focus on issues that affect some of the world’s poorest countries. Palliative care has particular challenges in these areas which differ greatly than those in the West. This video was developed by Life Before Death in 2011 and sobering reminder about the HIV/AIDs and the pain that many patients experience.