Editor’s Letter
It is in times of crisis where we will see the coming together of various organizations to work together for a common goal. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. In the past year, we have observed governments, private organizations, and companies rallying together in an effort to push for unprecedented medical advancement in hopes of mitigating the spread of the novel coronavirus throughout the world. In the Features section for the month of April, we have an article contribution by Leonard Yap, Head of Medical Imaging Solutions, Professional Solutions Company (PSAP) at Sony Electronics Asia Pacific. In the article, Leonard shares about how Sony’s technology is contributing to the evolution of medicine.
In the Columns section, our column contributor, Michelle Tan Min Shuen, discusses the safety considerations of using digital technology for healthcare. Diving in to the various areas where possible security breaches could occur, she explores where safety barriers would be most needed.
Digital advancements in the medical and healthcare fields will no doubt continue to shape the way healthcare is delivered to patients. With increasingly more of such digital technologies are becoming accessible in healthcare, patients and healthcare professional would see a shift in the management of health conditions. In the Spotlights section for this month, we share about research conducted by SingHealth Polyclinics (SHP) in collaboration with NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to access the willingness of using tele-monitoring in the management of chronic health conditions. Possibility of such real-time remote monitoring of patients could help healthcare professionals identify any complication before the patients’ next doctor’s visit.
Digital technology is both boon and bane in the medical and healthcare fields. While it can provide much promise of enhancing the development of medicine and delivery of healthcare it could also be the cause of security breaches and leak of sensitive patient information. Much care has to be taken when implementing such digital technology in healthcare and medical advancements. As such it would require multiple organizations working together to ensure safe execution and governments to apply the appropriate legislation for the use of digital technology in healthcare.
Deborah Emmanuel Seah Qing En
Editor