Date
17 September 2024
Time
12:00 – 15:00
Location
ICentrum, Holt Street, Birmingham B7 4BP
Organisers
WMHTC, TechWM, Health Innovation WM, IAWM
The Event
WMHTC, Tech WM, Innovation Alliance and HIWM are teaming up to invite you to an exclusive event that we are collaborating on to explore the challenges and opportunities in Inclusive Health Tech.
Our panel of experts will discuss:
Inclusive health technology in regard to digital health solutions and tools that are designed to be accessible and beneficial for all users, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, age, abilities, backgrounds, or circumstances.
The key aspects of the inclusive health tech discussions:
- Role of AI: Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a significant role in inclusive health tech by improving healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and quality. AI can help address health disparities by providing personalized care and overcoming barriers such as language and geographical location. For example, AI-driven chatbots can assist in scheduling appointments, providing healthcare information, and offering virtual consultations, which can be particularly beneficial for underserved populations.
Additionally, AI-powered tools can help overcome language barriers and provide more equitable access to healthcare information. However, there are significant challenges to consider. These include concerns about data privacy and security, the risk of perpetuating or exacerbating biases in healthcare delivery, and the potential for widening the digital divide if not implemented thoughtfully. Ensuring transparency in AI decision-making processes, addressing ethical concerns, and maintaining the human touch in patient care are also crucial considerations.
- Accessibility: Ensuring that digital health tools are usable by people with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. This involves following accessibility guidelines and standards in design and development.
- Language and cultural considerations: Providing information and services in multiple languages and considering cultural nuances to serve diverse populations effectively.
- Digital literacy support: Offering assistance and resources to help users with varying levels of technological proficiency navigate and use digital health tools.
- Addressing social determinants of health: Considering factors like socioeconomic status, education, and access to technology when designing and implementing health tech solutions.
- User-centered design: Involving diverse user groups in the design and testing process to ensure the technology meets their needs and preferences.
- Equitable access: Working to bridge the digital divide by addressing issues of device availability, internet connectivity, and data affordability.
- Privacy and security: Implementing robust measures to protect user data and build trust among all user groups.
- Adaptability: Creating flexible solutions that can be customised to meet individual needs and preferences.
- Integration with existing healthcare systems: Ensuring that digital health tools work seamlessly with traditional healthcare services and can be easily adopted by healthcare providers.
- Continuous improvement: Regularly gathering feedback from diverse user groups and iterating on the technology to enhance inclusivity and effectiveness.
By focusing on these aspects, inclusive health tech aims to improve healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for all individuals, particularly those who have been traditionally underserved or marginalised in healthcare settings. This approach helps to reduce health disparities and promote health equity across diverse populations.
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