Business Tech: Where would we be in the war on COVID-19 without today's modern technology?

By Bahar Ferguson 

With Utah’s “Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive extended at least until May, we can’t help but wonder when will things go back to normal — or whatever the “new normal” looks like. We, as a society, are struggling to contain this pandemic and it’s our healthcare workers that are on the frontlines. But technology is working hard to keep you healthy as well as support our healthcare workers.

Right now, healthcare facilities are a hotspot for coming into contact with the virus. Instead of going to a healthcare facility, there are many places set up to remotely treat you through telemedicine. Telemedicine has been around for a long time, but these days it looks very different from just calling your doctor and asking how to treat symptoms. Telemedicine practice allows you to video conference with your doctor and discuss symptoms, medical problems and whatever else you may need. This can be very useful, even to just cut down on the number of people at the healthcare facilities, especially for the groups that are considered at risk and shouldn’t risk any increased exposure to the virus.

Another thing that technology is able to provide for researchers is data analysis. Healthcare analytics companies can use data collected to find which communities or people might be at higher risk for the virus. This data is important when trying to allocate resources. The data collected can be analyzed with AI technology. This technology can use more than 5,000 variables to compile data and give companies real, actionable information. Not only can it help pinpoint what could potentially be a hot spot for the virus, but data can help healthcare workers determine what treatments are getting the best responses in patients. With our healthcare infrastructure getting overrun, it’s helpful to know the quickest and most efficient way to treat patients.

There is a major shortage of ventilators to treat the severe cases of COVID-19. 3D printing has been a big help and people from around the world have been working on 3D printing ventilator parts. Different groups from around the world are working on developing 3D-printed ventilators and, hopefully soon, they will be approved by the FDA. This would make a dramatic difference in the shortage since so many companies can easily print these parts.

Also, please do not forget about your mental health and the mental health of your team during this time. It is easier to feel isolated during this time while you are working from home and avoiding contact with extended family and friends. Take advantage of video chat technology so you can stay connected with everyone. Also, if you’re feeling stir crazy inside your home, try taking an online adventure. Many places such as the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium are streaming their exhibits so you can visit them from home. Or, take this time to use online education to learn a new skill, with many programs offering free or reduced-priced enrollment for formal classes, outside the numerous avenues for traditionally free learning. Whether is learning a new language or a home improvement project, there are plenty of educational courses and videos online. There are also various free hotlines for individuals struggling with anxiety or depression during this time. Keeping your team aware of these options is a great way to allow them to be readily available in case they are needed.

It is important to remember what matters during this trying time. We are slowly making our way through this pandemic. I want to thank our healthcare workers, the full scientific community and all of the essential employees for helping us get through this. We will get through it and be stronger on the other side.

Bahar Ferguson is president of Wasatch I.T., a Utah provider of outsourced IT services for small and medium-sized businesses.