It's
no secret that the US healthcare system is broken. A report released by the Commonwealth Fund, a US think
tank, showed that in 2014 the US ranked last in the quality of healthcare
systems when compared to 10 other industrialized nations. We've occupied that
spot from 2004 to 2014.
We
also spend much more per capita -- about $8,600 -- on healthcare than any other
nation, and that's about 30% higher than the next closest industrialized
country, according to theWorld Bank.
As
of 2012, according to the CDC, more than half of
Americans live with a chronic disease. Prescription drug spending accounts for
one in every $10 spent on healthcare.
Technology
has a big role to play in the future of digital health and the improvement of
healthcare, and 2015 is going to be a big year for the industry. Here's a look at
how technology can be used to better the US healthcare industry.
1. Making sense
of all the data
Big
data is one of the biggest trends in digital health right now, and it's key to
every stage of the system -- from research and development, to disease
monitoring and treatment, to patient care. Researchers have been gathering data
for years, but now, it's about making sense of the data and putting it to good
use. With IoT technology, sensors, and real-time analytics, doctors and
researchers can more accurately understand their patients and better customize
care.
2. Making care
more accessible
Access
to healthcare in the US has long been regarded as unreliable, and technology
may be able to remedy that. Telemedicine is one way that more people can get
access to healthcare providers no matter their location, so they can
communicate with doctors and receive treatment without having to physically go
to a clinic.
According
to a report by Robert Half Technology,
36% of healthcare companies have no mobile strategy. Digital health clinics
that are accessible via computers and mobile phones can change that, making it
easier
3. Reimagining
medical school
The
US medical school format, which consists of two years of studying and two years
of clinical residency, has been in place since about 1910. Technology has
changed the medical industry, but the educational system has
not really evolved with it.
However,
that is now changing -- the American Medical Association's Accelerating Change
in Medical Education is funding $1 million to each of 11 different schools to
help fund new programs. Some schools are offering classes that use tech to look
at disparities in access to care or how tech can help physicians give patient
care. Also, the MCAT is going under a revamping for this new age as well.
4. Incentives to
be healthier
According
to the CDC, one in five children is obese and, in 2010, more than one third of
adults were. Because of this epidemic, corporate wellness has become a $6 billion industry,
and employers are offering discounts and other financial incentives to get
people to be healthier, stop smoking, and/or lose weight.
This
comes at a time when fitness trackers and health apps are extremely popular
with consumers, and companies like Apple are integrating health apps into their
operating systems. It's creating an ecosystem that can hopefully lower obesity
rates, preventable diseases, and potentially the costs of healthcare.
5. Reinventing
health insurance
With
the Affordable Care Act, more people in the US are insured than ever before.
According to a survey by the Transamerica Center for Health Studies last year, the number of Americans
without health insurance dropped from 22% to 15%, but that's still a lot of
people who lack it.
Technology
is allowing for some novel approaches to closing that gap. A company called Oscar, which only offers services in New York
and New Jersey currently, is trying to revamp the health insurance business
model. Use the app to describe your symptoms, click to talk to a doctor about
them, and look at all your visits, prescriptions, and medical history in a
timeline. The company also pays you money to keep track of your fitness and
work towards goals. Users can also easily get quotes for health insurance.
6. Putting some
of that entrepreneurial creativity to use
There
are brilliant, creative entrepreneurs all over the world, and a lot of exciting
innovations in the tech industry. But in many ways, what's being built is not
solving real solutions -- the industry is full of games and apps and billion
dollar valuations that don't make much sense. At the same time, the healthcare
industry is long overdue for some creative solutions. Teaming technologists up
with medical providers is a great start to making a positive impact.
For
example, Significance Labs is a new accelerator based in New York
City that offers technologists and entrepreneurs a place to build technology to
solve major social issues that low-income people face. Not Impossible Labs builds technology for the sake of
humanity, using open source designs and inexpensive resources to build things
like the Eyewriter and the Brainwriter. The ideas behind these organizations
are key to creating better solutions that can really impact people.
7. Health IT
growth
According
to a 2013 Deloitte report,
73% of physicians believe that healthcare information technology will improve
the quality of care provided long term for patients. The number of health IT
jobs is supposed to increase by 20% by 2018, according to the Department
of Health and Human Services. Additionally, as more medical providers adopt
electronic health records, physicians can collaborate easier for patient care.
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