More and more healthcare professionals are using Apple’s tech as a way to treat illness and disease.
Imagine stepping into an AI-powered doctor’s office - Now you can
When I saw this news, I had to share it with you. In our latest episode of “Black Mirror” comes to life, new AI-powered health care tech just dropped. I did a ton of research, so you know what it is when it pops into your hometown. And this is def a talker around the dinner table.
Inside the so-called CarePod, you can get your blood drawn, a blood pressure reading and a strep throat test … without a real live doctor or nurse present. That’s right. Just you and AI in a room. Say it with me out loud, “Holy mother of robots!”
Paging doctor robot
CarePod is the baby of AI-centric health care company Forward Health. It has facilities across the U.S. that blend AI-powered tech with traditional health care. People say it feels like your doctor’s office collided with an Apple Store.
The first 25 CarePods will launch in cities like Scottsdale, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. It’s hoping to have 3,200 rob docs up and running within a year. You’ll find CarePods in malls and office buildings if all goes well.
Open the health pod door, Dave
So, how does it work? First, you’ll walk up to the pod’s door and unlock it with your phone. Inside, you’ll find a large touchscreen, a chair and a glowing ring on the floor (that’s the full-body scanner).
On the touchscreen, you’ll see several options like a full body scan, thyroid testing, diabetes screening and much more — a program for every ailment. On the side, a drawer pops open with everything you need for whichever tests you choose.
After your test is complete, you’ll get a diagnosis on the screen. If there’s any follow-up needed, a (human) Forward Health doctor will provide a prescription or additional instructions.
Every CarePod is staffed with a real person who answers questions and tends to the device between users. They won’t hop in the pod with you, though.
Need a blood test? CarePod uses a single-use, needleless collection device. Blood pressure is measured through a wireless arm cuff. CarePod can also check for STDs, but we’re in the dark about how that one happens.
Data diagnosis
Data breach warning: Sony, 900 colleges, health care org and more targeted
Sometimes, we share alerts about one major hack you need to know about — and other times, there’s enough going on that I need to pack a lot in. Sorry, friends, but this is one of those days. I’ll tell you about the data breaches and what you must do.
👥 Your body = Their revenue stream: You know that health tracker you’re wearing? The companies behind these trackers and wellness apps are selling your body-centric data to third parties, leading you to have higher insurance premiums, receive more targeted ads or worse. Current laws offer little protection, and you opt in when you agree to use the apps. You might want to pretend to be someone else if you have health issues, just sayin’.
The FTC just banned noncompete clauses, which companies use to keep workers from going to competitors. With the ban, does the FTC expect a decrease in A.) Wages earned, B.) Startups founded, C.) Patents filed, or D.) Health care costs?
$12,000 surgery
Keratopigmentation changes the color of your eye by injecting dye into the cornea. It can be extremely dangerous. Potential side effects include bacterial infections, light sensitivity and even vision loss (paywall link). So not worth it.
Read this before signing up for Amazon Clinic
The CDC says millions of Americans are skipping doses, delaying refills and taking other measures to save on meds. Add that to everyone who puts off visiting the doctor when they know something is wrong because it’s too expensive.
Use this map to track where the flu is getting worse
With snow on the trees, and a nice blush on everyone’s cheeks from the cold, winter can be a beautiful season. Unfortunately, that nice cold weather also brings colds and the flu.
The flu can be deadly, particularly to vulnerable populations like infants and the elderly. It’s not easy to know where it will strike, or in what form, since the flu comes in many strains; however, science is starting to catch up. Tap or click here to learn about 4 apps that will get you through cold and flu season.
👁️ Eye love this news: Researchers have restored the vision of people with damaged corneas. They took blood cells from healthy donors, reprogrammed them into corneal cells and formed a thin sheet to place on the damaged eyes. Three out of four patients have better vision a year later. Clinical trials are set for March.
Left in the dark: A woman went in for a gynecological biopsy, and she wasn’t given any anesthetic. The pain was so intense, she fainted. She posted her experience online, and it’s going viral. I hope she files a complaint with her local medical board.
If you can’t dazzle ‘em with brilliance, baffle ‘em with BS: Whisper, an AI transcription tool used in hospitals, has trouble with “hallucinations,” aka making things up. A study found eight in 10 transcripts had fakery, including meds like “hyperactivated antibiotics.” PSA: If you saw a doctor or were in the hospital lately, sign into your portal and check the notes for any nonsense.
☝🏻 Hope it doesn’t malfunction: Researchers have developed a human-like robotic finger capable of performing routine physical exams. The “bioinspired soft finger” uses tech sensors to feel around for abnormal lumps, take your pulse and even venture into — ahem — those other places for diagnostics. Bums away!
3 years away
From having the perfect AI employee that works 24 hours a day and doesn’t complain. Alex Zekoff, co-founder of Thoughtful AI, has every reason to hope for that. His company creates AI employees for use in health care. Given how fast the industry is progressing, I can see it.
100 out of 100
Quality of life score in Spain. It’s a hot destination for retirees since it’s easy to get around without a car, and the health care system, climate and flight accessibility are all top-notch. Hey, bet the kids would visit a lot.
$9 an hour is the pay for AI nurses
Over 40 health care companies are already using NVIDIA and Hippocratic AI nurse bots to perform risk assessments, remote patient monitoring, new medication onboarding and more. The median pay for human nurses in the U.S. is $39 an hour.