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In traditional healthcare settings, monitoring often relies on scheduled checks and manual recording, leaving gaps between observations . Qian said for doctors, it is a source of long term data and clinical insight. For nurses, it helps track her movement and ensure her safety. manually record her readings, and doctors could immediately assess her condition through integrated digital records. Device that stays with you The smartwatch on Saleha’s wrist is part of a broader shift towards wearable healthcare, one that is gradually moving care beyond hospital walls. Qian said remote monitoring is becoming a key pillar of modern healthcare. But getting individuals to consistently use such devices remains a challenge. “What inspired me to initiate that project was what I’ve been seeing in the US, where wearable devices have become a clear trend in healthcare because remote monitoring is really the future. “The challenge is figuring out which type of devices patients are willing to carry all the time,” she said. Designing these systems is far from simple. As Saleha moves through the hospital, the same device on her wrist serves different purposes for different people. For engineers, it is a balancing act between collecting enough data and preserving battery life. “These devices generate a lot of data, but collecting it too frequently can drain the battery quickly. Sustaining that balance is still a challenge. “When we apply these technologies at scale, there are many moving parts. A hospital operates on a cohort concept, everything has to be designed around specific groups of patients coming in and out with different patterns,” she said. From operating theatres to everyday use Not long ago, monitoring a patient’s condition could be far more invasive. “Emerging device innovations are also expanding what is possible in patient monitoring. Beyond basic vital signs, newer technologies are expected to enable more accurate blood pressure readings and even glucose monitoring through smartwatch-like devices.

When healthcare starts before the emergency Philips product management head Mark Winden (left) and Sharad during a discussion on healthcare technology. – PIC COURTESY OF PHILIPS Wearable connected devices and artificial intelligence are helping doctors detect warning signs long before patients reach hospital doors BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI n ewsdesk@thesundaily.com

neuroscientist and leading figure in medical AI and digital health, who said the healthcare industry is entering a phase in which technology is no longer optional. “We don’t really have a choice. The elderly population is growing so fast, while government resources are not supporting them healthily.” When every second and every signal counts For patients like Saleha, early detection can make all the difference. Qian said in traditional healthcare settings, monitoring often relies on scheduled checks and manual recording, leaving gaps between observations. But today’s digital systems are designed to close those gaps, continuously collecting and analysing data in real time. They present data in ways that support faster, more accurate clinical decisions, while reducing the burden on healthcare workers. In Saleha’s case, the seamless flow of information meant nurses did not have to

S aleha (not her real name), 56, did not think much of the discomfort at first. It was the kind of dull, lingering pain that could easily be dismissed as something common after a long day. But then her smartwatch, something she had grown used to wearing, flagged an irregular pattern in her vital signs. By the time Saleha arrived at the hospital, doctors were no longer starting from scratch as her data had already been transmitted, analysed and integrated into the system. What might have once taken hours – tests, monitoring and repeated questioning – was already underway before she even stepped through the doors. No longer a futuristic concept During a recent media visit to Singapore, theSun spoke to industry players, including Prof Aurel K. Qian, a computational

Sharad said healthcare is becoming more connected through real-time data and integrated monitoring systems. – PIC COURTESY OF PHILIPS