The future of amputation-preventing health technology is evolving.
This evolution is arriving at a much-needed moment. Amputations have become more common in recent years, with lower-limb amputations increasing by 50% from 2009 to 2015.
Major advancements have since been made toward limiting the need for amputations in patients suffering from diabetes, chronic wounds, arterial diseases, and more. These advancements have largely developed thanks to game-changing technology improving the approach medical professionals take to treatment.
Technological improvements are an important part of improving treatment approaches and overall care for patients at risk of amputation. It’s essential for anyone working in the medical field with a focus on vascular and wound care to stay up to date on this technological progress to give patients the best, most cutting-edge care possible. Conferences like WHSI 2022 are the perfect place to learn more and meet the experts on the forefront of these advancements.
In this blog post, you’ll learn more about two particularly strong areas of technological progress that are sure to be central focus points during upcoming health technology conferences.
We’ve previously covered some innovations in health care devices that are providing major benefits in the area of amputation prevention. Here, we’ll cover some more recent advancements in two particular types of devices: at-home and wearable devices.
You’ll find one example of a helpful home care device in this article from Nextgov covering a cellular-connected mat that monitors a user’s feet for signs of inflammation. The device was made for veterans at risk of developing diabetic foot complications, scanning their feet and providing data to a virtual care team.
Wearable devices, an increasingly popular type of tool for a variety of use cases, have also become a useful tool for amputation prevention. Similarly to the previously-mentioned floor mat, wearable socks monitoring a wearer’s feet for signs of inflammation have also been developed in an effort to reduce amputations from diabetic foot complications.
Advancements in artificial intelligence technology also hold a lot of promise. In fact, AI is taking shape as an indispensable tool when it comes to amputation prevention. Some results indicating this promising future come from a trial at Barts Health NHS Trust, where it significantly sped up the process of reviewing medical records and other data.
This process, only taking a few weeks from start to finish with the help of the AI technology, would have otherwise taken over 100 years to complete. The technology even helped at-risk patients with diabetic foot disease receive earlier treatment.
As it’s proven to be an invaluable tool in many fields and industries, particularly when it comes to processing data, AI is proving to be an important part of the overall goal of amputation prevention.
If you’re a medical professional specializing in vascular surgery and medicine, it’s well worth your time to attend the annual WHSI conference in 2022.
WHSI 2022 is a two-day event featuring discussion panels, opportunities for networking with other vascular care specialists, and educational presentations to help keep practitioners on the cutting edge of clinical care.
Experts from health care organizations at the forefront of amputation prevention meet and present at WHSI each year to learn more about the latest innovations in wound care, vascular surgery, and vascular medicine.
There is no platform for connecting innovative healthcare technology companies directly with care providers like WHSI. You can register for the 2022 conference here, where you’ll find more information on pricing, attendance requirements, and more.
