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The Essential Role of Technology in the Public Health Battle Against COVID-19.
Uohara, Michael Y; Weinstein, James N; Rhew, David C.
  • Uohara MY; Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, USA.
  • Weinstein JN; Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, USA.
  • Rhew DC; The Dartmouth Institute, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
Popul Health Manag ; 23(5): 361-367, 2020 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-936312
ABSTRACT
Technology has played an important role in responding to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. The virus's blend of lethality and transmissibility have challenged officials and exposed critical limitations of the traditional public health apparatus. However, throughout this pandemic, technology has answered the call for a new form of public health that illustrates opportunities for enhanced agility, scale, and responsiveness. The authors share the Microsoft perspective and illustrate how technology has helped transform the public health landscape with new and refined capabilities - the efficacy and impact of which will be determined by history. Technologies like chatbot and virtualized patient care offer a mechanism to triage and distribute care at scale. Artificial intelligence and high-performance computing have accelerated research into understanding the virus and developing targeted therapeutics to treat infection and prevent transmission. New mobile contact tracing protocols that preserve patient privacy and civil liberties were developed in response to public concerns, creating new opportunities for privacy-sensitive technologies that aid efforts to prevent and control outbreaks. While much progress is still needed, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted technology's importance to public health security and pandemic preparedness. Future multi-stakeholder collaborations, including those with technology organizations, are needed to facilitate progress in overcoming the current pandemic, setting the stage for improved pandemic preparedness in the future. As lessons are assessed from the current pandemic, public officials should consider technology's role and continue to seek opportunities to supplement and improve on traditional approaches.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Public Health / Infection Control / Coronavirus Infections / Biomedical Technology / Pandemics / Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Popul Health Manag Journal subject: Public Health / Health Services Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Pop.2020.0187

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Public Health / Infection Control / Coronavirus Infections / Biomedical Technology / Pandemics / Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Popul Health Manag Journal subject: Public Health / Health Services Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Pop.2020.0187