During our recent Future Led panel discussion on futuristic healthcare technology, I had the privilege of moderating a diverse group of experts, each contributing a unique perspective on how technology is changing healthcare.
From prosthetic advancements and robotic surgery to digitalised health data and patient recovery, it’s clear that healthcare innovation is pushing boundaries. But what stuck with me after the discussion wasn't just the excitement about these innovations – it was a sobering question: How are people going to access this amazing technology?
L-R: Adam Toohey, Soo Oh, Mark Opar, Sabrina Schoenborn, Kate Wylie.
A personal story of innovation - and its limits
Adam Toohey’s story was both inspiring and humbling. Sixteen years ago, Adam experienced a significant health event and was made an amputee, losing his leg below the knee. His recovery was a long and slow process, and included daunting tasks like learning to walk again.
Today, Adam uses the latest prosthetics that allow him to live fully and actively, to paddle and swim at the beach with ease (this sounds simple but is clearly something that people with two feet take for granted).
“In my eyes there’s nothing that I can’t do, and technology has come a long way to help me feel that way.”
But even Adam, who jokes about his unimproved golf swing, highlights a truth: the progress in prosthetics has been remarkable, but not everyone gets to benefit equally.
Adam's experience epitomises the incredible leaps in technology. But as Soo Oh, Head of Occupational Therapy at Queensland Spinal Injuries Unit, reminded us during the panel, tech isn’t just about innovation – it’s about access.
Soo helps people adapt to life after catastrophic and life-changing injuries, and while advancements like voice control and touch screens have come a long way, other crucial tools, like neck controls for electric wheelchairs haven’t evolved much. Even when the tech exists, accessing it remains a major hurdle, particularly in the public health system.
“Recently, I learnt about a new piece of technology that could make a significant difference to someone living with catastrophic spinal injuries. The tech costs about $80,000 but it isn’t funded, which makes it difficult to access – not just for the patients who need it, but the clinical teams that need to be trained in how to use the equipment,” Soo explained.
The disconnect between innovation and accessibility
This disconnect was further illustrated by our other panelists, Mark Opar from VALD and Sabrina Schoenborn from Convergence Medical. Mark spoke about how digitalising health data allows for more objective measurement of recovery, potentially transforming patient outcomes. His company is pushing the boundaries in the way we assess strength, range of motion and balance, providing clinicians with insights that could revolutionise rehabilitation and workforce distribution.
“In allied health, new technology gives us access to data and insights about humans that we’ve never been able to reliably unlock and use before, and it’s changing how we measure and assess patients and deliver better outcomes.”
Sabrina’s work in creating the world’s first arthroscopy robot is similarly transformative, offering the potential for better surgical outcomes and a more sustainable career for orthopaedic surgeons.
“There’s a real disconnect between surgical practice and what we know in research about arthroscopic surgery. Surgeons are currently provided no real-time feedback through existing technologies, but Convergence Medical’s V01 robot changes this by measuring and capturing real-time data, which allows surgeons to identify and correct any potential risk factors during the surgery. Implementing this through the V01 robot effectively supports improvements to patient outcomes and alleviates the mental and physical strain on surgeons.”
The possibilities of fewer complications and faster recovery times are exciting for patients, hospitals and surgeons alike. Yet, there’s a recurring theme here: how do we ensure these technologies are not just developed but widely adopted and accessible? This is something Convergence Medical has placed a strong focus on with a commitment to change the standard of arthroscopic surgery while maintaining an accessible cost of care.
Barriers to adoption: Funding and valuation of outcomes
One of the most striking points came from Soo’s perspective: “The technology is here, but it’s hard to access.” As the conversation evolved, it became clear that this issue stems from more than just logistical barriers. At its core, it’s about how we fund healthcare.
Mark put it succinctly: “Public hospitals value efficiency, while private hospitals value cost-effectiveness.” What this means is that new technologies like the arthroscopy robot or digitalised performance data need to prove their worth in either reducing operating costs or enhancing revenue generation. Even if a technology could dramatically improve patient outcomes, it won't gain traction unless it aligns with these economic priorities.
So, while the arthroscopy robot could get its foot in the door by showing it leads to shorter inpatient stays and fewer complications, other advancements, like digital performance data that could revolutionise patient triage and workforce allocation, may struggle to present a clear business case.
Are we giving this enough thought?
After I wrapped up the panel, and reflected with a friend who is a funding expert, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’re not giving this enough thought. While we celebrate the innovations, we may be ignoring the crucial conversation about equitable access.
For every groundbreaking advancement, we need to be asking: How will this benefit the people who need it most? How will healthcare systems be incentivised to adopt these technologies, not just for efficiency or profit, but for better patient care?
There’s no denying that the future of healthcare is exciting, but it's also a future that will only realise its full potential if we tackle the issue of access head-on. The promise of better outcomes, more effective care and a more resilient healthcare workforce hinges not just on technological progress but on our ability to align innovation with real-world implementation. It’s time we give this the attention it deserves.
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