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For many, the word “blockchain” either conjures images of Bitcoin or is a cause for confusion. But the seemingly abstract technology typically reserved for cryptocurrency aficionados is on the verge of improving efficiency, transparency and trust in health-care settings.

“There’s tons of novel approaches [using blockchain], especially when it comes to managing data,” says Pedro Miranda, a PhD candidate and researcher with Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab at the University of Waterloo whose work has focused on harnessing the technology for use in health care and health research. However, Miranda cautions that there are still a number of limitations to the technology.

Read the full study here: https://healthydebate.ca/2023/04/topic/blockchain-future-of-medicine/

There's a new, non-invasive technology that monitors seniors in long-term care facilities without the need for cameras, fobs or other traditional wearable gadgets.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario use a wall-hung, low-power radio system and artificial intelligence (AI) to take note of habits like how often residents go to the washroom, when they eat, or how long they usually watch TV. It can also alert care providers in the event of a fall.

Hajar Abedi is a PhD candidate in systems design engineering at the university and lead author of the study, which was published in the journal the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Internet of Things.

"We use artificial intelligence to actually make our lives easier because we can train them and they can do our job, and basically, our main purpose is to save lives using this AI technology," Abedi told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

Read the full article here! 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/ai-monitoring-system-long-term-care-homes-university-waterloo-1.6800965

Using Apple Watch ECG Data for Heart Rate Variability Monitoring and Stress Prediction: A Pilot Study by  Velmovitsky, P.E., Alencar, P., Leatherdale, S.T., Cowan, D., and Morita, P.P. has been published on Forbes! 

This article pilots the collection of heart rate variability data from the Apple Watch electrocardiograph (ECG) sensor and applies machine learning techniques to develop a stress prediction tool. Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machines (SVM) were used to model stress based on ECG measurements and stress questionnaire data collected from 33 study participants. Overall, the results presented here suggest that, with further development and refinement, Apple Watch ECG sensor data could be used to develop a stress prediction tool. A wearable device capable of continuous, real-time stress monitoring would enable individuals to respond early to changes in their mental health. Furthermore, large-scale data collection from such devices would inform public health initiatives and policies.

Read here!

Article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewwilliams/2022/12/30/study-suggests-apple-watch-is-ready-for-stress-tracking/?sh=589659171634

Study: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2022.1058826/full

The Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab (UbiLab), headed by School of Public Health and Health Systems professor Plinio Morita, demonstrated that smart home thermostats can be used to monitor the health of older adults and home patients.

Policy restrictions on business operations and social gatherings, and indoor mask mandates, associated with COVID-19 case reductions.

Plinio Morita, UbiLab director and a professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, has received an Early Researcher Award (ERA) from the Ontario government for his project, Mobilizing IoT-Based Health and Environmental Data for Increased Public Awareness.

University of Waterloo School of Public Health and Health Systems professor, and Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab (UbiLab) director, Plinio Morita, discusses the use of IoT and wearable device data to better understand population health. The goal is to use the abundance of existing datasets to inform public health officials to make more informed decisions.