Future Developments in ICT Medicine

Learning Objectives: By the end of this topic you should be able to: discuss possible future developments in ICT and their impact on medicine & the disabled

Starting points?: I’m on holiday and I have to visit a local doctor but she won’t know anything about me …… I can’t get to the surgery to make an appointment to see my doctor when it’s convenient for me …… I’m not feeling too well today …. I wonder if I’ve got that bug that’s going around? ….. I’ve just watch the news which had an article about soldiers returning from a conflict having lost limbs …

Starting points?: My elderly Grandmother needs to be monitored regularly, but the nurse can’t visit her every day …… My cousin was born deaf (or blind, or …..), …... The specialist that I need to consult works in a hospital in another country ….. New drugs & treatments are mentioned all of the time. Why do they have to take so long to be available? ……

Databases Patient Records Expert Systems Clinical trials

Internet Medical Forums Encyclopaedias Route Finders

Communication Mobile ‘phone Video conferencing Remote surgery Satellite Navigation

Medical Equipment Medical Scanners Robots Surgery Computer Diagnosis

Implants & Prosthetics Sight Hearing Limbs Monitoring

Medical Research Drug modelling Clinical trials Collaboration