I always look forward to the technology-related prognostications that come at the dawning of each New Year. And the beginning of 2015 did not disappoint me.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) got underway early in January just as technology experts were using popular news outlets to offer their review of 2014’s most significant technology trends, as well as their predictions for what those trends were likely to be in 2015.
Many Predictions for 2015
As you will see in our article in this issue of Tech Time, every pundit had different ideas about what the “hot trends” in technology will be in 2015. But most experts agreed that we will see a significant growth in mobile and wearable technologies in the coming year.
These mobile technologies have great potential to help consumers become more engaged in their health, manage their chronic conditions, and communicate more effectively with their health care providers. We also expect them to help providers implement remote monitoring tools and virtual care.
The news from CES confirmed this trend. CIO Today suggests that CES 2015 demonstrated that there is a revolution in wearable technology—and that these technologies are shifting from fitness to health care.
In fact, 2 wearable health care solutions won awards at CES: a heart-rate-monitoring strip that sticks to a user’s torso, and a wireless smart insole for tracking steps, gait and balance. Television’s Dr. Phil Mcgraw was even on hand to tout his new telemedicine app for smart phones.
This new trend seems to be spurring technology companies to design wearable products and mobile applications for older people and people with disabilities, in addition to the fitness buffs among us. That’s good news for all of us. It also confirms that CAST’s plans to focus on Functional Assessment and Activity Monitoring Technologies during 2015 are in sync with current trends.
LTPAC Health IT Summit
The most powerful message emerging from CES is that the field of technology—and of aging services technologies—is changing rapidly. It’s an exciting time to be involved in developing and promoting technology-enabled services. It’s also an important time to stay connected with colleagues in the field.
That’s why this year’s Long-Term and Post-Acute Care (LTPAC) Health Information Technology (IT) Summit is so important.
The Summit, which is co-sponsored and co-organized by LeadingAge and CAST, gives all of us a perfect opportunity to help each other advance health IT priorities, showcase implementation successes, and put the spotlight on LTPAC technologies.
The Summit doesn’t take place until June 21-23, 2015. But you need to submit a proposal by Jan. 23 if you would like to present an educational session at this annual gathering. You have until March 27 to submit an application for the Interoperability & Innovations Showcase that will take place during the Summit. Please see our article for more information.
CAST Sessions at PEAK
CAST will host 2 major technology-related sessions at LeadingAge’s upcoming PEAK Leadership Summit, which takes place March 16-18, 2015 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. LeadingAge members who sign up for the sessions before Feb. 2 will receive an early registration discount.
On Sunday, March 15, CAST will present a pre-conference symposium highlighting new technology-enabled models, the business opportunities they create, and the technologies that are making these models efficient, cost-effective and sustainable.
A CAST-led Technology Forum on Tuesday, March 17 will focus on the importance of having a technology plan that is tied to your organization’s strategic planning efforts. See our article about the PEAK sessions and please register today!
In This Issue
With this issue of Tech Time, CAST welcomes 2 new Supporters, 1 New Patron and 6 new Business Associates. Please join me in welcoming Direct Supply and Panasonic, our new Supporters; Ingleside Communities, our new Patron; and Business Associates Caremerge, Akili Software, Telekin, BeClose, Full Count, and Cerner Extended Care.
I also urge you to read our 2 new CAST Case Studies featuring the innovative work of CAST Supporter HealthMEDX and CAST Patron Evangelical Homes of Michigan.
In addition, check out our article about how technology solutions from Philips, a LeadingAge Silver Partner and CAST Supporter, and CAST Business Associate GrandCare Systems were featured in a recent review of “High-Tech Ways to Age at Home.”
We also are pleased to share the latest news from CAST Patron Selfhelp Community Services, and CAST Business Associates MatrixCare, Healthsense, and Independa.
I hope you enjoy these and other articles in this issue of Tech Time. Please contact me with any comments or questions.