Technology’s Role In Improving ADHD Diagnosis And Treatment
Carl Reuterskiöld is the CEO at Qbtech, the technology-first leader in ADHD assessment and testing.
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There has been significant attention on ADHD following the increased usage of telehealth mental health services and medication shortages. Despite the challenges, last year was a year of significant progress for the industry.
As we begin a new year, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the industry’s successes and examine how we can use technology to push for continuous improvement in the standard of care for ADHD and help reduce the stigma attached to the disorder.
The Benefits Of Telehealth
Though the pandemic took a toll on mental health globally, it paved the way for telehealth to become a primary model of care, especially for mental health services. This shakeup in the traditional model is now widely accepted by patients and providers. A recent survey shows that 45% of patients prefer using telehealth to receive mental health care.
The changes this technology made for mental health care can be compared to what fintech did for the financial industry. Before technology like mobile banking, most institutions managed risk by operating under the rule that you had to “see all your customers from the rooftop of the bank building.” Fintech established larger, data-driven systems to more efficiently manage the risk that allows banks to reach more customers—as telehealth allows providers to reach a broader patient population.
Telehealth is a valuable tool for maintaining patient care and improving access. Several studies have shown the benefits of telehealth within cognitive behavior technology for PTSD and anxiety. Others have shown great patient satisfaction compared to in-clinic care with lower thresholds to access care.
Using Technology To Fulfill Greater Needs
While technological advancements that improve access to mental health care are worth celebrating, there is always room for continuous adjustment. The influx of patients seeking mental health care presents an urgent need for solutions that can handle these issues at scale.
Scalable, efficient platforms that capture and analyze real-time data can help providers reduce their cost base and better determine patient outcomes. While the vast majority of providers care deeply about individual patient outcomes, failure to collect and analyze aggregated data leads to lost opportunities to improve care across the board, inside and outside the clinic.
There are several companies that are starting to address this gap. The Apple Watch, for example, collects vast amounts of health data with some, like ECG and Afib data, removing the lines between medtech and healthtech. Others, like the Oura ring, provide high-quality data on sleep behavior and period tracking.
Within the ADHD space, we’re seeing a rise in innovative technology designed to increase access to care and better track outcomes. From digital therapeutics (DTx) to apps, gamification and smartwatches, there are several options to help patients of all ages treat and manage their symptoms that also capture data for providers to utilize. While many are still in the early stages, the outlook appears promising.
For children, FDA-cleared video games can help with ADHD work on cognitive behaviors, such as rapid decision-making, micromanagement and problem-solving. We’re also seeing increased adoption of gaming to make time and task management more interesting, two of the areas that people with ADHD struggle with most. Wearables, such as smart watches, can also be tremendous resources to assist with these areas. From setting reminders to utilizing habit-tracking apps, consumers can focus on tasks without being distracted by other noise.
Many of the new solutions, however, struggle to demonstrate clinical value. This is in part due to how reimbursement systems, provider processes and health economic models are designed. But it is also because many have been focused on providing better access and more attractive solutions to patients without integrating those in an easy way to benefit providers.
From the diagnostic and treatment monitoring perspective, tools like objective testing are being used at a higher volume and with great success—both in brick-and-mortar clinics and through telehealth. This testing technology presents providers and patients with visual and indisputable data, proving or disproving the likelihood they exhibit ADHD symptoms based on aggregated data. Objective tests measure the patient’s results against data from those in the same age range and gender category who do not have ADHD. With this kind of unbiased data incorporated into the diagnostic process, we can improve the standard of care for ADHD patients.
Objective testing also monitors the effects of treatment, offering a better measure to determine patient outcomes. Recently, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) issued a call to action for a plan to continue providing ADHD medications through telehealth services once the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends. Loosened restrictions on the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act allowed these medications to be prescribed without an in-person visit—which has faced scrutiny—but it’s a valuable measure of care for those with limited access or resources. Standardized solutions like objective testing are useful quality control measures that ensure patients are accurately diagnosed and treated.
As we navigate the healthcare system in the U.S., we should consider how data and these outcomes could shape provider reimbursements. What if reimbursement was based on outcomes rather than volumes? Using technology solutions for ADHD that have a data-driven approach, we can reshape care models that better serve providers and patients.
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