In the ever-evolving world of health IT, one growing trend is the introduction of consumer tech, such as virtual assistants, into the medical space.

Today is World Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) Day, recognizing the estimated 328 million people worldwide who are living with COPD. Organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), in collaboration with healthcare professionals and COPD patient groups worldwide, this day aims to raise awareness, share knowledge, and discuss ways to reduce the burden of COPD. COPD is a lifestyle condition that affects the lungs as a result of the long-term effects of smoking or extended exposure to air pollutants. By the time patients are diagnosed, they are typically experiencing shortness of breath during strenuous physical activity, limiting their ability to work and play. One in 20 patients admitted into the hospital for a severe COPD episode are readmitted within 30 days. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to test modern healthcare in ways never seen before. Physicians and nurses worldwide are being called to service, risking their own well-being to help an alarming volume of ill and worried patients. How we manage this emergency depends largely upon the quality of tools available to help us improve safety for our patient and clinician communities.

These tools include technologies that can help slow the spread of this new, highly transmissible virus through social distancing, allowing us to work with patients to determine the most appropriate venue of care.

Since 2009, ECRI Institute (formerly known as Emergency Care Research Institute) has released its annual list of top 10 patient safety concerns, highlighting issues in healthcare that we, as practitioners, may already know and should keep in mind.

This year’s list also included a set of technical concerns that ECRI raised, related to the problems and opportunities that come with the increased use of EHRs: test result management, early detection and treatment of sepsis, and physician burnout all made the list.