The Future of Technology: Our Telehealth Future
By Jon Pederson
Chief Technology Innovation Officer
Read time: 4 min.
At a recent local speaking event, the audience was polled as to whether they had a virtual doctor's appointment during the pandemic. Over 50% replied that they had, and many of those did so for the first time ever.
Whether you call it telemedicine, aging-in-place, remote patient monitoring (RPM), wearables or any number of other terms, we are on the cusp of a revolution in medicine that operates at the intersection of personal technology, networking and increasingly sophisticated health care.
The pandemic as a catalyst.
The pandemic forced all of us to adapt to a new way of life, work and develop new perspectives on medicine and the importance of virtual connections. Change can be difficult and slow, but when you don't have a choice, change is simply a necessity. Although unfortunate, this global experience drove home the value of connectivity, technology and adaptability as we plot our path to a healthy future.
Necessity drives innovation, and indeed, the latest Consumer Electronics Show (CES) had the largest presence ever of health-related consumer devices. We all have phones, or mini-computers, in our pockets. More and more health systems have adopted a digital presence, and these days it’s not uncommon to hear about virtual counseling, remote diagnostics and other connectivity-enabled health services.
While the pace of change has been rapid and it sometimes seems
hard to keep up, it’s important to remember that technology is on
a continual path to improvement.
Expanding network technology and reach.
Equity in health care and access is critically important. As we migrate to an increasingly digital presence, network quality and ubiquity are essential. To help achieve those goals, State and Federal agencies are allocating vast amounts of funds to ensure that everyone gets access to the technology needed to connect to health care organizations.
In response, many service providers are expanding or upgrading their networks to reach unserved and underserved areas. Midco’s Fiber Forward initiative is one example. This $500 million investment over 10 years will expand our reach to many of these communities in need while upgrading our existing network with additional redundancy and capability.
In areas where the population density is just too sparse, Midco is testing new gigabit-level wireless technology for extending the reach of our fiber to even very remote pockets of homes and farms. There are also several space-based internet companies rolling out capable satellite services for the ultra-remote. Soon, nearly everyone will have the digital capability for health care. That reality will be a great enabler for new and innovative services, eventually helping everyone.
Tech-savvy seniors.
While the pace of change has been rapid and it sometimes seems hard to keep up, it’s important to remember that technology is on a continual path to improvement. In many ways, devices are getting more convenient, smarter and easier to use.
We’re also now looking at an aging population that grew up with computers, cell phones and other modern technology. Seniors are increasingly tech savvy, and that trend will continue. Acceptance and adoption of technology will be easier for present and future generations. At some point, it will be hard for many to imagine being unconnected.
Midco is a member of Cablelab®, a non-profit organization that invents and specifies technology based on our evolving future, plotting our industry’s innovative response and strategy to better serve our customers. As part of that effort, Cablelabs produces ‘vision videos’ that help to imagine what might be possible in the future. In this short video, The Near Future, a Better Place, is one such visionary video that illustrates the touching realities and possibilities of the power of telemedicine. If the video seems a little too out there, consider checking out Elliq.com, a product being sold today to thousands of older adults.
Midco is a member of Cablelab®, a non-profit organization that invents and specifies technology based on our evolving future, plotting our industry’s innovative response and strategy to better serve our customers. As part of that effort, Cablelabs produces ‘vision videos’ that help to imagine what might be possible in the future. In this short video, The Near Future, a Better Place, is one such visionary video that illustrates the touching realities and possibilities of the power of telemedicine. If the video seems a little too out there, consider checking out Elliq.com, a product being sold today to thousands of older adults.
The intersection of health care, networking and technology is coming, and it’s going to be an exciting, fulfilling and important time as we evolve new tools, connections and capabilities to improve our healthful future.
Jon Pederson leads technology, engineering and network services – including all core technical systems and infrastructure. Pederson designed and implemented Midco's internet service and digital voice product, and established the Network Operations Center. He was also responsible for creating the first cable modem system in the Upper Midwest. He holds an associate’s degree in computer programming from Southeast Technical Institute and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Augustana University.