By Rubi Linares-Orozco
During my senior year as an undergraduate, I lost one of the most influential people in my life, my Aunt Gladis. What was meant to be a routine surgery ended up being her last moments of breath. My aunt died from kidney failure post-surgery.
I think this early experience in understanding the fragility of life has shaped and molded my career in healthcare administration, and has fueled my passion for research and innovation.
I often wonder– was everything done, that could have been done, to save her life?
When I read about the new technologies and devices that are in research phases — such as the GoogleDeepMind smart phone application that will alert staff to patients at risk of deterioration and death through kidney failure — the research nerd in me gets really excited.
While I know there is no certainty that they will be 100% effective, the potential for life-saving warning systems for patients in distress gives me hope for the future of healthcare. Keep up the good work, Google, I think you are heading in the right direction!
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/24/smartphone-apps-google-deepmind-nhs-hospitals
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