SE Valley Times

The ASU Digital Health Summit, held on Friday at the Downtown Phoenix campus, focused on the rapid advancements in digital health technology and emphasized the need for a human-centered approach to ensure these innovations benefit everyone. The summit was sponsored by Arizona State University's College of Health Solutions, the ASU Roybal Center for Older Adults Living Alone with Cognitive Decline, and Google Government.

Michael Yudell, interim dean and professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University, stated that relying solely on technology would lead nowhere. "We need the social-behavioral scientists to understand the impact of these technologies," he said. The event highlighted various topics such as how digital health aids those with dementia and creating "digital twins" to improve healthcare outcomes.

Matthew Buman, professor in the College of Health Solutions, noted that older adults are increasingly demanding technology to support their health. Buman participated in a keynote address alongside Fang Yu from Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. They discussed studies where digital devices helped reduce screen time among older adults by an hour a day through smartphone interventions.

Diane Cook from Washington State University introduced the concept of "digital twins," which are virtual representations based on data used to predict patient responses to interventions. Despite challenges like collecting comprehensive data, Cook highlighted its potential for prompting patients about medication schedules.

Several breakout sessions addressed ethics and health equity issues related to digital technology. Maissa Khatib spoke about engaging communities from study inception using models like the Arizona Community Cohort Model. Krystal Tsosie discussed concerns within tribal communities regarding data ownership and consent models.

Beza Merid stressed that technology should not be seen as a cure-all due to potential biases in design frameworks. He pointed out that new technologies like camera sensors for blood flow measurement might have inaccuracies when used in racialized communities.

Craig Norquist from HonorHealth advocated for quicker adoption of digital health innovations in medicine, citing examples like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps developed through patient-led initiatives during regulatory hesitancies. He emphasized ongoing innovation partnerships between HonorHealth and ASU as vital for future advancements.