Parallel Session 7 - Technology Application - Making a Difference to Allied Health Practice

The Technology advancement driving innovative diagnostic tests developed (NGS, Mass spectrometry, digital pathology and flow cytometry etc.) with the expansion of digital health access with on-demand diagnostic tools and services, with laboratories capitalizing on high specificity and sensitivity where digital pathology features such as the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), data science, and bioinformatics is another area for potential growth. This will make healthcare more affordable, accessible and scalable in personalized medicine, inborn error of metabolism, neurology, all spectrum of genetic disease and infectious diseases. thus enhancing laboratory management and improving quality systems. During presentation. The transformational changes of laboratory service in terms of platform, process and more important to the laboratory professional’s safety and practice will be discussed. The automations and machine learning that uplifted the turnaround time, accuracy of the examinations and efficiency by integrating work processes throughout the entire laboratory processes, speeding up and automating preanalytical, analytical to postanalytical, which creates both opportunities and challenges. AI can learn, be trained and like human, it makes mistakes too. In order to acknowledge the emerging technologies while addressing the pros and cons in adopting artificial intelligence in clinical laboratories, to build up data science literacy such as bioinformatics in our work space in context is critically important before applications be carried out in workflow streamlining, data visualization, predictive analysis and aid diagnosis by use of correct model for interpretation of these complex and highly heterogeneous information generated in terms of text, signals, numbers and images. Until then, the potential of this integration of Big data, computing power and technology advancement could then be fully released and ultimately benefit the laboratory service and the patient outcomes.

Augmented reality (AR) and 3D scanning technology has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize various industries, including home environment intervention. This abstract provides an overview of the development and application of AR and 3D scanning in the context of OT-led home modification, focusing on its benefits, challenges, and development process.


OT home modification intervention is an intricate process that requires careful planning, visualization, and decision-making. Traditional methods of home modification often rely on therapist's manual measurements, photo editing and explanation/sketches, which can be time-consuming, costly, and lacking in accuracy. Augmented reality offers a solution to these challenges by enabling stakeholders to visualize and interact with virtual elements in a real-world environment.
By leveraging AR technology 3D scanning technology, therapists can superimpose assistive devices onto patients' existing spaces, allowing them to preview different design options in real-time. This visual representation helps patients to make effective judgments regarding their own ability, environmental barriers and activity participation, ultimately leading to improved compliance.


While augmented reality in home intervention holds immense potential, it also presents certain challenges. The challenges not limited to ensuring accurate tracking and alignment in real-time, but extended to how technology can be applied to Hong Kong chaotic and crowded home environment. Additionally, the new develop App has to be accepted by therapists with benefits on their efficiency. 


Occupational Therapist developed a home visit app with the AR and 3D scanning technology for home intervention. There is ongoing clinical trial and pilot study at OT community settings in HKWC and NTEC. Both therapists, patients' and other stakeholders are being investigated for their satisfaction level. 

Introduction:
Quality assurance (QA) of linear accelerators (LINACs) in radiotherapy is diverse, and has to be performed on several periodic bases (i.e., daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly) and on-demand (i.e., after machine maintenance). An integrated and centralized web-based QA system is highly desirable to replace labour-intensive and time-consuming paper-based and spreadsheet-based documentation of QA data, and to automate QA processes in radiotherapy department.
Objectives:
The goal of this project is to develop an integrated web-based QA platform that allows monitoring of the QA progress, automated quantitative analysis of QA tests, safe storage of QA data, and viewing the trends of QA results in one place. The web-based system is designed to be user-friendly, efficient, flexible, expandable, and reliable for analyzing and storing the collected QA data and results. This all-in-one platform also facilitates the managers and administrators to easily monitor the performance of LINACs.
Methodology:
The programming languages used for the web-based QA system are HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and JavaScript for front-end user interface, whereas Python and Node.js for back-end server-side computation and data management. Pylinac, an open-source Python library, is employed for analyzing some of the LINAC QA automatically such as Winston-Lutz test and MLC picket-fence test. The web server with a database is hosted in a server computer connected to the local area network (LAN) of our department (intranet). The QA data and generated reports are stored centrally in the local department network drive (NAS with RAID5) with fault tolerance. The web-based QA system can be easily accessible with the built-in web browser of the operating system of any computer connected to the department network by end-users with login accounts.
Result & Outcome:
The integrated web-based LINAC QA system has been deployed in our Oncology Department, streamlining the QA processes and increasing QA efficiency. Concurrently, the QA platform is under continual development to extend functionalities and cover other recommended LINAC QA according to the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 142 report.

Digitizing technology has been widely applied in prosthetics and orthotics nowadays. In order to meet patients' needs, up-to-date equipment such as robotic arm, 3D printers and 3D scanners are essential in providing enhanced quality of clinical service to patients. Currently, the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department at the Prince of Wales Hospital is developing the new methodology for fabrication of various prostheses and orthoses.


In terms of prosthetics, cosmetic cover of prostheses can now be produced using 3D printing technology. It provides better cosmetic restoration to the amputee and improves the hygiene and durability of the prosthesis when compared to a conventional cosmetic foam cover.
Apart from the cosmetic covers, 3D printing technology can also be applied
in making partial foot prosthesis or partial hand prosthesis. This recent development helps amputees to restore their functional ability and cosmesis. The brand-new concept utilizes the digitized scan to mimic the sound side of the foot to the prosthetic side and to print the prostheses. It provides a greater improvement on the appearance of the prostheses. Both physical and psychological treatment effects will be beneficial to the patients who have received the prostheses. 


When it comes to orthotics, computer-aided design and manufacturing has the advantages of higher precision and higher efficiency when compared with orthoses that have been fabricated with conventional methods. Keloid scar management usually relies on pressure therapy to control the size of keloid and prevent it from further deterioration. 3D printed auricular keloid clip is one of the examples of the pressure therapy that will be prescribed pre or post-operation for controlling the severity of keloid. 


For outcome evaluation, a digital database has been set up for assessing the treatment outcome. Therapist can compare the pre and post treatment result to analyse the effectiveness of the treatment protocol in virtual with quantitative justification.