In an effort to ensure that patients are getting the medical assistance they need in and out of clinical settings, government agencies are evaluating the efficacy and use of technology intended for home use.
The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health began soliciting public comments last month on a range of eight questions related to at-home medical devices.
“Access to devices outside a clinical care setting may help bridge the gap by bringing health care directly to patients, wherever they are — at home, at work, in cities, in rural communities,” the CDRH announcement states.
Among the queries are: how the FDA itself can help support technology development in non-clinical care settings; how digital health technologies can support at-home health care models and remote clinical trials; how medical technology can be disseminated in remote locations, where access to a medical facility is limited.
At-home care is a major priority for today’s seniors. While the population of adults age 65 and over continues to grow, the vast majority — more than 95% — of seniors are still living at home, one study shows.
The trend away from institutional care, to a preference for living at home — or in a home-like setting — will drive continued innovation in tech like AI, with at least one researcher predicting that 90% of healthcare eventually will be mediated by a smartphone or tablet.
In addition to telehealth, tech to aid seniors at home includes wearables to predict falls, sensors or monitors to assist during at-home falls/emergencies, and even home robotic companions.
Those interested in participating in the CDRH study can submit a comment here; the comment period will end Aug. 30.
