ABQAURP News March 2023

Web3 & the Metaverse
Web3 and the metaverse are emerging technologies that have the potential to dramatically alter the way healthcare services are digitally delivered. Web 1.0 (read-only function) was first implemented in 1989 and started our digital journey by allowing us to connect online; this was the internet or the World Wide Web. Web 1.0 was considered a “web of documents”.1 Web 2.0 (read-write functions) launched around 2004 and allowed us to connect online as a community, i.e., social media. Web 2.0 was considered a “web of people”.2 Web3 (read-write-own functions) was coined around 2014 based on the core framework of a decentralized digital world using blockchain technology which allows us to connect in a community-owned ecosystem. Web3 is considered a “web of data”.3

The metaverse is the platform for Web3 connection and will change the way patients and clinicians interact, communicate, create, and exchange valued healthcare services. The metaverse will provide a way for patients and clinicians to have an immersive experience. A Web3-Metaverse platform potentially can improve interoperability4 because the digital assets (such as the patient’s medical record) will be transferrable between metaverse platforms. In our current Web 2.0 environment, a patient never owns their medical record; the provider, medical institution, or vendor that generated the record does. In Web3, the patient will own their medical record (digital asset).5 Ownership of the patients’ medical records will be confirmed by using medical non-fungible tokens (NFTs)6 which are blockchain-based tokens and considered irrevocable digital certificates of ownership and authenticity. Yes, the metaverse is the next version of the internet and a great disruptive innovation that will decentralize patient data plus give them an immersive and interactive experience by taking advantage of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. A report from Market Research Future (Healthcare in the Metaverse) predicted that by 2030, the healthcare metaverse will be valued at approximately $5.37 billion at a compounded annual growth rate (CGAR) of 48.3%.7

Barriers to Adoption and How Those Barriers Will Impact Underserved Patients in a Web3 and Metaverse Era
Healthcare is slow to change and adopt new technology.8There will be many barriers to adopting the metaverse9 especially with respect to underserved patients and their caregivers. Barriers can fall into five categories: patient barriers, digital infrastructure barriers, intervention design barriers, provider barriers, and health system barriers.10

The main causes of resistance to adoption of the metaverse platform will fall in the patient barrier category because of the lack of perceived benefit of using the metaverse and poor digital literacy. If patients and caregivers do not see the benefit in using the metaverse ecosystem or if entering data into the system is inconvenient, they will not use it. Poor digital literacy about the metaverse will be more impactful in low-income communities. Middle-income communities will also be impacted if there are constraints on being able to expand the technology to improve patient engagement, provide system accessibility, ensure system affordability, ensure improvement of quality care, and ensure improvement of provider productivity. Additionally, other barriers will include situations when engaging with the metaverse creates more work for the patient, where there is a lack of privacy and trust, where there are technical challenges, and limited access to computers and other supporting equipment such as VR goggles. In middle-income and low-income communities, technology fears, cognitive and physical disabilities, poor metaverse literacy, and lack of cultural relevance will prove challenging for seamless adoption.11

Clinician’s Role to Promote Health Equity in a Web3 and Metaverse Era
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw the need for digital healthcare delivery. We also saw and experienced increased inequalities in access to healthcare services because of the digital gaps in underserved communities. We also saw the negative impact on SDoH,12 because of the digital divide.13

Figure 1 outlines a digital health equity framework which can be used for Web3-Metaverse platform adoption efforts so that clinicians can help reduce the digital gap and promote health equity for their patients across four Levels of Influence (Individual, Interpersonal, Community, and Societal). To start, clinicians can act as a metaverse facilitator and focus their efforts on the Digital Environment Domain of Influence (highlighted) and on the Individual Level of Influence to help their patients adopt Web3 services by raising awareness of metaverse services. Staff will also need education in metaverse services so that they can better support patients.¹⁴

Conclusion
The advancement to a Web3 and metaverse healthcare delivery services platform will impact patients and will encounter barriers to adoption. Communities that are underserved and are currently experiencing a digital gap and negative SDoH outcomes will be further impacted, and the digital divide will grow wider if not addressed now. Clinicians play a critical role in preparing their patients to effectively function in this new digital world. We recognize that clinicians will also face challenges in adopting the metaverse, especially since as an industry we are slow to adopt new technology. However, focused efforts and funding must be applied to underserved communities to further reduce the digital gap, ensuring that they are not left behind the advances of the nation or further impacted by negative health outcomes.

Learn more about Web3 and the Metaverse during Dr. Ann Ingraham’s session at ABQAURP’s Annual HCQ&PS Conference on Friday, October 20, 2023. For more information and to register, visit www.abqaurp.org/AnnualConference.

Click here for article references.

CE Spotlight Course

Workforce – Past, Present, and Future

Marie Cleary-Fishman, BSN, MS, MBA, CHCQM
Vice President, Clinical Quality – American Hospital Association, Center for Health Innovation

The workforce has been and continues to be the backbone of our health care system. This course will briefly look to the past for lessons learned and insights into our current workforce. It will highlight the impact of the pandemic and demonstrate key strategies for a healthy workforce of the future.
At the conclusion of this activity, attendees should be able to:

• Briefly review the workforce of the past and its impact on the present state
• Discuss the present workforce issues related to the pandemic
• Outline the issues impacting the workforce of the future

The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.  ABQAURP designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  ABQAURP is an approved provider of continuing education for nurses. This activity is designated for 1.0 contact hour through the Florida Board of Nursing, Provider # 50-94

2023 HCQM Certification Exam – Now Taking Applications!

Certification in Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) is for physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals who are committed to Health Care Quality and Patient Safety. Validate your expertise by earning the Certified in Health Care Quality and Management (CHCQM) credential!

The 2023 HCQM Exam window is open from March 1 through September 30, 2023. Apply early for your choice of date, time, and location. Remote testing is available through ProProctor™ – a remote testing platform that allows candidates to test anywhere, at any time.
Additional Sub-Specialties are available:

Click Here For Details and to Register Now!

CHCQM Digital Credentials! 

Health Care Quality & Management Certification

Diplomates and Members: 2023 Member Referral Program 

Is Your Continuing Medical Education Accredited?

ABQAURP welcomes applications for joint providership of educational activities for continuing medical education credit. ABQAURP accredits a variety of activities including live activities, enduring materials, and more. As an accredited provider, ABQAURP works with each joint provider organization to ensure the accreditation process runs as smoothly as possible.

For more information, please contact the Education Department at (800) 998-6030 or education@abqaurp.org.

Follow ABQAURP on Social Networks

Follow us on social media to keep up to date on our announcements, special incentives on our programs and services, and topical discussions from fellow leaders in the health care arena! Share strategies with your peers to cope in this uncertain time.

ABQAURP LinkedIn Group

ABQAURP Facebook Page