Digital Health Science Digest – Issue 39
The future of medication adherence, vaccine monitoring using mobile phones, and more in this week’s digest!
The Digital Health Science Digest is a bimonthly newsletter compiled by Duke Digital Health. We bring you the most interesting research publications, policy news, and other fun digital health science stuff.
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Issue 39
10/21/2016
Tech
Medidata’s AppConnect is a software development kit that allows multiple mobile health apps to run on a regulatory-compliant and secure platform. AppConnect is a partnership between digital health firms and Medidata’s cloud-based software. 
The future of medication adherence was a major topic at this week’s Partners Connected Health Symposium. Industry leaders discussed cost, user experience, and posited on the next generation of smart medication adherence tools.
A new skin sensor can measure glucose levels from a person’s sweat. Researchers were able to detect glucose from very small amounts of sweat, which may make it practical for integration into wearables.
Research
Rapid convenience vaccination monitoring using mobile phones (RCM-MP) was tested in Nepal earlier this year. Using mobile phones for vaccination campaign monitoring resulted in increased reporting timeliness and completeness. Furthermore, there were fewer data miscalculations, and national supervisors were able to receive data on the same day it was collected, allowing for better campaign management.
The World Health Partners Sky program aimed to improve health care for children in rural India. The program trained informal health sector providers on a range of primary care services, and included telemedicine in its design. Unfortunately, results from an evaluation show that the program had zero effect on the likelihood that children would receive proper treatment.
In an effort to push the field of physical activity (PA) promotion forward, researchers reviewed the area of PA technology. Researchers recommended that research “should focus on large randomized trials with evidence-based components, explore social networking and innovative apps, improve PA monitoring, consider the lifespan, and be grounded in theory.”
Policy
Local digital health company Validic has been selected by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) to lead a pilot demonstration on integrating patient-generated health data into EHRs. The first project involves patients with type 2 diabetes.
Wondering where the 2016 presidential candidates stand on issues related to digital health? We looked at each candidate’s website to see what they say, if anything, about health IT or digital health:
- Hillary Clinton announced an Initiative on Technology and Innovation, which mentions health, though not as a major component of the initiative. As part of her healthcare plan, she proposes to, “explore cost-effective ways to make more health care providers eligible for telehealth reimbursement under Medicare and other programs, including federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
- Donald Trump announced his position on health care, though there is no mention of technology or digital health.
- Gary Johnson’s campaign website does not mention health care. There is a section on Internet Freedom and Security.
- Jill Stein’s health care platform does not mention digital health or technology as a component of health care.
- Evan McMullin’s health care platform also does not mention technology or digital health.
Grab bag
DIHI has announced the next funding cycle for demonstration pilots in healthcare innovation. DIHI is specifically interested in: population health and analytics; novel patient interactions (engagement, education, and experience); team-based and new care models; optimizing patient flow; and preventing burnout and building resilience. Applications are due November 7, 2016.
Upcoming Events
Digital Health in the UNC Research Context: A CaDHRI Workshop
Friday, 10/28, 1p-3p
UNC Health Sciences Library, Room 527 Professor Deborah Tate will discuss topics related to using digital health tools to conduct behavior change research.
More Info
Innovations in Digital Health and Medical Technology in Africa
Wednesday, 11/2, 12-1p, Trent Hall 040
Featuring: Eric P. Green, Lavanya Vasudevan, Eve Puffer, Ricky Bloomfield, Nimmi Ramanujam, and Marlee Krieger
Light lunch will be served; registration encouraged
More info
If you’d like to submit an event or article for us to publish in our digest, please send at least 3 weeks before the event to: erica.levine@duke.edu