Human–Computer Interaction and Intelligent Computing for Medical Devices: Clinical Applications and Healthcare Outcomes

Dear Colleagues,

Healthcare is undergoing a rapid and transformative evolution driven by advances in digital health, intelligent computing, and human–computer interaction (HCI). Medical devices are shifting from independent instruments to interconnected, intelligent systems capable of supporting clinical decision-making, promoting health, and enhancing the quality, safety, and efficiency of care. This transformation is directly aligned with the mission of Healthcare, which emphasizes the integration of clinical innovation, digital technologies, and data-driven solutions to improve health outcomes, promote health equity, and strengthen healthcare systems.

At the intersection of HCI and intelligent computing, new opportunities are emerging to redesign how clinicians, patients, and caregivers engage with healthcare technologies. Intuitive and accessible interfaces are essential for navigating increasingly complex diagnostic and therapeutic tools; wearable and ambient monitoring systems empower individuals in preventive health; and advanced analytics—including machine learning, computer vision, and adaptive algorithms—enable more personalized, evidence-based clinical interventions. These developments also raise crucial questions about usability, reliability, clinical integration, ethical design, and equity—central themes within the journal’s scope.

This Special Issue seeks to advance interdisciplinary research focused on the applied integration of HCI and intelligent computing in medical devices and digital health systems. We invite contributions exploring how these technologies enhance clinical workflows, support health promotion, expand healthcare accessibility, and improve patient and system outcomes. Studies that emphasize clinical validation, healthcare implementation, and measurable impact on health delivery are particularly encouraged, consistent with the journal’s commitment to applied research and translational value.

We welcome researchers, clinicians, engineers, designers, industry professionals, and policymakers to contribute high-quality manuscripts that deepen our understanding of how HCI and intelligent computing can drive the next generation of medical devices and digital health technologies. Your contributions will help shape a more accessible, patient-centered, scalable, and data-informed future for healthcare. We encourage you to join this dialogue and submit your work to Healthcare.

We welcome works such as original research articles, systematic or narrative reviews, and case studies. Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• User-centered design, interactive technologies, and HCI-driven innovation;
• Intelligent computing and AI integrated into medical devices;
• Digital health tools and their usability, effectiveness, and clinical integration;
• Patient-centered interface design and health literacy-sensitive interaction models;
• Inclusive design approaches that enhance healthcare accessibility and equity;
• Adaptive and personalized systems supporting precision medicine;
• Sustainable healthcare models enabled by efficient device interaction and intelligent systems;
• Clinical decision support, predictive modeling, and data analytics for improving care processes and outcomes;
• Public health and preventive healthcare enabled by real-time, interactive monitoring technologies;
• Computational methods for improving safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance in medical device design.

We welcome original research, rigorous reviews, and insightful case studies that contribute to the mission of advancing applied, patient-centered, and outcome-driven healthcare technology.

Prof. Dr. Gerardo Romo-Cardenas
Dr. Gener José Avilés Rodríguez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.