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Engineering for Health
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Engineering for Health

M Jiwa, B Horner and Roland De Marco
Australasian Medical Journal, Vol.1(2), pp.1-9
2008
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4066/amj.2008.33
url
http://www.amj.net.au/index.php?journal=AMJ&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=33&path%5B%5D=112View
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Abstract

Public Health and Health Services engineering science health care access
In this view point we argue that engineering sciences can make healthcare available to anyone, anytime, and anywhere by removing locational, time and other restraints while increasing both the coverage and quality of healthcare. We further posit that harnessing this potential will require leadership in University faculties of health sciences and engineering but effective engagement of end users of innovation as active participants in the research. We begin with a review of the challenges to health care providers. The Health services in developed countries are now under severe pressure resulting from the shifting age demographics and rising numbers of older adults needing care. For example between 1990 and 2010 the number of people with dementia in developed countries is projected to increase from 7.4 million to 10.2 million (a 37% increase).1 The prevalence of diabetes was estimated at 171 million cases a little over a decade ago but by 2030 is likely to have risen to 366 million cases.2 A key challenge facing health managers in the OECD countries is increasing multimorbidity and reduced numbers of young adults of working age. New solutions are needed to provide quality, cost-effective community care services to frail older people and their family carers. These changes when many countries are already struggling to offer effective coordination of healthcare services, especially in rural areas, will impact on medical, medico-political and economic dimensions alike. In addition, there will be an increasing number of 'well elderly' who will access services and resources to maintain an independent and socially engaged lifestyle across a range of settings. This will also impact on education of health professionals who will need to be able to adapt to inter-professional practice in new environments and with changing technology. These challenges have significant implications for the direction of research on health problems and present new opportunities for those who seek solutions from outside their discipline.

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