The world continues to be transformed by smart technology in ways both big and small, and integrating that technology into the health-care system is an important way to improve patient care and safety while reducing the cost of health care.

“It’s making us all more aware of what we need to do to be healthier, to reduce cancer and heart disease risks, and to take better care of ourselves. Smart technology is putting us in control of our own health in a way never before possible.”

Just ask Harry P. Pappas, Founder and CEO of the Intelligent Health Association (IHA), and HealthAchieve partner. As a global technology centric organization whose sole purpose is to help drive the “evolution to the digital healthcare revolution™” The IHA promotes the adoption and implementation of new technologies in the health eco-system.

“Smart technologies are having a huge impact on consumer health and wellness habits,” states Pappas. “There is a direct link between wearable medical technology that can help both patients and clinicians monitor vital signs and symptoms, and improved health.”

With the development of many new health care apps, all a patient needs is a smartphone to effectively monitor things like weight, blood pressure, heart rate, pulse and fitness levels. There are even apps that prompt patients to take medication at a specified time, and those that will track food intake, blood sugar, and even menstrual cycles. When this data is transmitted to a primary caregiver, it allows the physician to eavesdrop on the progress of their patient, creating a broader picture of the patient’s day-to-day health.

At HealthAchieve, we’ve seen how intelligent health is transforming the way consumers see their place in the health care system.  

“It’s making us all more aware of what we need to do to be healthier, to reduce cancer and heart disease risks, and to take better care of ourselves. Smart technology is putting us in control of our own health in a way never before possible,” says Pappas.

When it comes to transformative technology, there’s nothing quite as revolutionary as 3D printing. While currently in its infancy, tremendous strides have been made in the development of regenerative tissue and the printing of anatomical pieces. According to Pappas, the applications of this incredible technology will be truly transformational, taking the guesswork out of surgeries like hip replacement, and providing medical teams with precise information and customized prosthetics and implants to help improve patient care.

Of course the key is embracing intelligent health technology and making sure we use it to its fullest potential in our hospitals.

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) believes the best way to achieve that end is through education. Ensuring that decision makers understand the benefits of new technologies, both from a care and a cost-saving perspective, is crucial. At HealthAchieve 2016, the OHA’s annual signature conference and exhibition, we will be hosting the first ever Intelligent Health Association Track featuring speakers who will address the full spectrum of intelligent health opportunities in Canada. This, coupled with the Intelligent Health Pavilion, will raise awareness and educate the health care industry on the many applications of smart technology – and the incredible ways it can help us survive and thrive.

To learn more about intelligent health, visit www.healthachieve.com. HealthAchieve runs November 7 – 9 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre