Post#1 Healthcare Technology Governance : An analysis of Trinidad &Tobago
Healthcare technology(HT) has revolutionised the world in patient care, extending life, changing culture, and has made our world smaller. Trinidad & Tobago is a net consumer of this technology, with high costs in Healthcare technology, knowing and understanding what to focus on, the advent of digital health, AI, and ever-expanding ways to exploit health data, there is a need to evolve Healthcare technology governance.
Investment in healthcare assures a superior standard of living, and adds another step toward the well-being and quality of life shown in High-Income countries (HIC) and “developed countries”.
Advancements in healthcare technology revolutionised healthcare solutions improving health processes while a recent focus on healthcare technology planning and management provided major steps toward the increase in Total Value of Healthcare technology implementation.
Trinidad & Tobago, at Present, 100% of our HT has to be imported, guaranteeing depletion of financial reserves, also, given the uncertain environment, it is prudent that HT is governed to sustain national development. It is also apparent that we are devastated by Physician Preference items(PPI’s), national healthcare initiatives that remain as “pilot projects” and other attempts that offer “good ideas” yet offer unsustainable delivery for modern standards of HT.
The rapid integration of emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, block-chain, telemedicine, home healthcare, Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices in healthcare systems raises significant ethical, legal, and policy
According to our Trinidad and Tobago(Vision 2030 | Ministry of Planning and Development) Goal 4;
Three (3) main areas of focus that have significant problems:
1. No mechanism for sustainable funding of the system.
2. Unclear maintenance systems for healthcare infrastructure.
3. Policies, standards, and codes are not adhered to and are effectively picked apart by executive and clinical interests that do not serve the vision.
added to the dilemma, Healthcare information systems and hospital information systems need clear definitions and controls.
Another major gap in understanding is the healthcare technologies(modalities) that drive the collection of data and information such as CT-Scan systems, MRI, X-RAY systems, and ECG units that collect data on patients. Without these, patient diagnostic information is useless.
It is important to address areas of knowledge management, communication, medical device regulation, e-Health systems, Procurement, and integration of local and international HT partnerships.
There is still a “digital divide” with variations of computer-based HT; its education and utilisation
finally, I also want to explore the consequences of climate change on healthcare in Trinidad &Tobago
My Research aims to investigate and propose effective healthcare technology governance models at the national level. some of the Expected contributions would be as follows:
1) To solve the problems occurring with access to healthcare technology in both public and private.
2) To guide in seeking new technology areas to ensure citizen safety and reliability.
3) To bring to governance equipment management (HTM) and cost management
4) To operate harmoniously with OPR in HT and health systems.
5) To eliminate errors and deaths due to HT and device-related issues.
6) To regulate system-engineering practices, ensuring system
approaches are adopted.
7) To govern Interoperable systems, CMMS, PACS AND ALL MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN T&T Healthcare data.
8) To adopt and Regulate AI in healthcare.
9) To lead the way for the training and education in HT to provide a
culture of HT acceptance.
10) To be the chief advisory to all healthcare divisions in sustainable HT operations.
11) To act in the development of Biomedical Engineering systems
12) To champion the development of healthcare technology resources
as an export to other regions and markets.
13) To bring into Act the need for Healthcare Technology to be at the C-suite level.
14) To sustain a continuous vision of the development of Healthcare Technology Assessment(HTA)
15) To work with and develop the convergence of medical devices with Information technology and cyber-security
The Sustainability Development Goals Integration with Healthcare Technology Research Goals:
image: (SDG Infographics, 2022)
healthcare technology stands as a key player in achieving SDG 3 by improving health outcomes. It plays a crucial role in reducing communicable disease mortality, supporting SDG target 3.4. Moreover, it contributes to ensuring universal health coverage (UHC) through efficient service delivery, as outlined in SDG target 3.8(Hub, n.d.).
whereas, In developed countries, the institutions of human development, globalization and innovations influence SDG3, and SDG17, which depend on digitized knowledge and the application of digital technologies(Popkova et al., 2022).
we can also understand that healthcare technology is a key focus, especially in Low and medium-income countries, aligning with commitments in SDG's 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), the environment (SDGs 12 and SDGs 13) as well as partnerships (SDGs 17).
- Humanizing healthcare environments and architecture
- Reducing waste through access to healthcare technology such as e-health, telemedicine
- Empowering individuals to take care of their own health
- Development of biotechnology that can reduce waste in landlocked countries
- Attracting and Retaining Healthcare Workers
- Strengthening Partnerships between agencies, public healthcare, and academic institutions
- Advance Development of Transformational Sustainability in Trinidad and Tobago
Learning Outcomes Thus Far( The Dragon has my GOLD!!!):
my learning outcomes thus far can be summarised as follows:
1) The complete understanding that I am still in wonder and confusion: coming into this research, I thought I understood everything needed to complete and this "school procedure "would just be a matter of formality. I have been awakened to the clear fact that I actually need to learn how to "become" in Research Studies at the PhD level.
2) I have been fascinated by the fact that I am learning that any idea thought up can be developed and turned into a product and/or service that can serve humanity using the information and tools taught to me in this PhD.
3) The Dragon has my GOLD!!!! : I understand that it will be a significantly challenging battle over time, however, I am prepared to venture into this brave new world!!
4) I am neither alone nor lonely: through my studies thus far and classes I have met new people and have been experiencing new ways of thinking from them. I have learned that I can reach out and both give and receive help.
References :
1) Hezekiah, Jocelyn A. “THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH CARE POLICIES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: AUTONOMY OR DOMINATION?” International Journal of Health Services 19, no. 1 (1989): 79–93. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45130131.
2) Trinidad and Tobago Invests in Health Infrastructure - the Americas 2020 - Oxford Business Group.” 2020. February 21, 2020. https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/reports/trinidad-tobago/2020- 21 report/economy/brick-by-brick-public-infrastructure-investment-campaign-toaddress-primary-needs-of-the-sector-paving-the-way-for-future-strategies
3) Rao, K. et al., Future Health Spending in Latin America and the Caribbean: Health Expenditure Projections & Scenario Analysis, IADB: Inter-American Development Bank. United States of America. Retrieved from https://policycommons.net/artifacts/2325173/future-health-spending-in-latin-americaand-the-caribbean/3085694/ on 26 Jun 2023. CID: 20.500.12592/8mh4q7.
4) Vision 2030 | Ministry of Planning and Development
5) SDG infographics. (2022). Free Vector. https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/gradient-sdg-infographic_26411362.htm#query=sustainable%20development%20goals&position=0&from_view=keyword&track=ais&uuid=9e73e18a-bac6-4522-9f50-8f5c7c7db9ad
6) Artificial Intelligence. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals - Resource Centre. https://sdgresources.relx.com/artificial-intelligence-0
7) The Future of Healthcare Is. . .. (2022, August 5). DIA Global Forum. https://globalforum.diaglobal.org/issue/august-2022/the-future-of-healthcare-is/
8) Technology Life Cycle. (n.d.). The University of Vermont .https://www.uvm.edu/uvmweb/tsp/technology-life-cycle
9) Walpole, S. C., Weeks, L., Shah, K., Cresswell, K., Mesa-Melgarejo, L., Robayo, A., & Greaves, F. (2023, August 21). How can environmental impacts be incorporated in health technology assessment, and how impactful would this be? Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 23(9), 975–980. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2023.2248389
