As seen on 60 Minutes and other recent TV shows, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used everywhere to support or replace humans in critical or non-critical jobs including the healthcare industry. AI includes several technologies that enable home devices to sense, interpret, act and learn. Currently almost half of U.S. broadband households own at least one device, and 19% own at least two devices per a recent marketing survey. Adoption of smartwatches and fitness trackers largely is responsible for driving this trend in recent years.
Bob Larson
Fifty-seven percent of consumers in U.S. households report at least one chronic condition, and 28 percent have two or more diseases per a CDC survey. The high costs of managing chronic conditions are driving healthcare companies to invest and innovate using AI technologies.
Remote patient management (RPM) is used for those recently discharged after surgery, those with chronic diseases, aging adults, and other vulnerable populations. The primary goal of RPM is to provide ongoing health status of the patient to prevent hospital readmission, notification decline before conditions worsen, or support better daily management of diseases.
Twenty percent of Americans will be over the age of 65 by 2020, and 84% find it very important to live independently in their own home for as long as possible per the Census Bureau. With the aging U.S. population, a growing number of companies have begun offering assistive technologies that can improve seniors’ safety and wellness in the home, and enhance communication with loved ones. Many of these solutions are applying various AI applications for these aging adults.
Fifty-eight percent of older consumers also are willing to pay up to $30/month for an independent living monitoring system that includes many of these AI features. This is another great use of technology in helping the human population.
~ Bob Larson is a technologist and Marketing Director for 50 Plus.