Digital health news covering telehealth, health apps, wearables, venture funding, and FDA digital therapeutics.
The author argues that external motivators are more effective than self-control for managing social media addiction, citing a personal two-week experiment and expert insights. The piece highlights the growing market for app-blockers and digital detox tools as consumers seek solutions to screen dependency.
Oura Ring CEO Tom Hale announced an investigation into whether the wearable can detect brain hemorrhages. The initiative follows a request from billionaire Bill Ackman, whose daughter Lucy suffered a severe injury in February. While Oura tracks vitals, it explicitly states it is not a medical device for diagnosis.
The article argues that high-cost summer camps are increasingly enforcing strict phone bans to provide Gen Alpha children with digital detox experiences. It highlights the challenges teens face in disconnecting and suggests parents pay premiums for structured, screen-free environments they cannot easily replicate at home.
Launched in 2021 by Abakar Mahamat, the Telemedan initiative uses solar-powered kiosks to connect rural residents with doctors. Local operators utilize portable diagnostic tools like ECG machines to assist patients, addressing the scarcity of medical facilities in remote areas.
Researchers at Dartmouth College created PlaySmart, a video game helping teenagers navigate real-life scenarios to choose healthy options. Clinical trials showed it reduced depressive symptoms compared to commercial games, aiming for population-level prevention rather than treating existing cases.
An expert states that increasing societal screen time is harming students' attention spans. While Dr. Gloria Mark previously noted attention dropped to 47 seconds by 2016, experts now recommend removing physical and digital distractions to help improve focus in both classroom and workplace environments.
Expressable has joined Amazon's Health Benefits Connector as the first speech therapy provider on the platform. The connector helps US customers discover and use health benefits available through employers or insurers, expanding access to virtual sessions with licensed therapists for children and adults.
Cityblock Health has completed its acquisition of Homeward through an all-stock transaction. The deal provides an exit for Homeward, which had previously reduced its workforce earlier this year. Cityblock also secured $116 million in Series E funding from General Catalyst.