Health 2.0 – The Future of Hope 2.0
Yes, I precisely wanted this to explain to myself and the web users what would be the impact of Health 2.0 on the health system. I knew why Health 2.0 would succeed as it would tackle the issues faced in the current health system, but I am not or I was not sure how it can impact the health system. I still feel it’s a long way to go and we will have to wait for the serious impact of Health 2.0 on the health care system, but it’s not too much to hope for and it can of course be a reality sometimes. Scott Baradell explains it nicely on his blog:
And yet, despite the sneers and snubs, I now believe more strongly than ever that Health 2.0 is the disruptive innovation that is going to turn the U.S. healthcare system on its head — and ultimately, save it from itself. Health 2.0 will give doctors more time with patients. Health 2.0 will give patients control over their own health records. Health 2.0 will eliminate those annoying clipboard moments at the doctor’s office. Health 2.0 will make sure we don’t mix the wrong drugs. Health 2.0 will give people access to "been-there buddies" who can provide the support they need during the darkest periods of their lives. And Health 2.0 can help people to save money on prescription drugs, too. What we’ve seen so far is just the beginning.
Scott almost steals the word from my mouth, as couple of things I would want from the system are. (I have parents who are diabetic and hypertensive, my mom was miraculously saved from a paralytic attack and this is what I felt while going through the problem myself)
Consultative Doctors: What Scott terms as ‘more time with patients’. This is the biggest problem that I have faced, some doctors with lack of their consultative approach make you feel miserable even if there is nothing wrong and on the other hand if the doctor gives you a proper time and consultation may make your feel really strong and prepared even if you are facing the worst. This is the reason which drives people towards web searching and self-help as they are not satisfied and seeking out an answer to the question they themselves don’t know.
Preventive Vs Curative: Almost 100% of the preventive health care today is centered around treatment and curing, very little towards preventive. A hot babe who just passed out from a six-months hot pants aerobics or yoga course doesn’t qualify as the health care expert for me. I really wish serious medical students getting into health care, people not just with b***s and biceps but with real brains and experience. Preventive health care has been just reduced to the measurement of carbs and proteins and pumping iron. Preventive health care would really be preventive when you would see your MD helping you with those extra sets and running besides you. The preventive health care would also need to tackle the wholesome health – diet, activity, mind and soul.
How web is helping now and what are the challenges: Web has helped people find out about their issues and the semantics around that issue – treatment, precautions, therapies and all. Web has also helped people be proactive about their health and if you look at sites like Yogajournal, Men’s Health and WebMD you can really find that information which was never available to you, it’s professional and it’s free. But it has also triggered the rise of fakes who are trying all the tricks in the books to cheat you, not just with your money but with your life. I am positive that Health 2.0 would not just tackle the problem in the real world but also the problems on the web and make it more sane, meaningful, authentic and realible – that’s what you want from things that matters to your life.
Some of the other things that I hope for from Health 2.0:
- Health 2.0 should be not be just limited to people with access to web, it should be really at the grass-roots level. Something like Graamin Bank, where people carry it to the people who want health advice and treatment desperately. Health 2.0 should cover the haves and haves not and break the health care divide that exists not just in developing countries but also in the most developed nations.
- Health 2.0 should not be perceived as the threat to the professional medical system. There are millions of serious health care practitioners who people really respect and treat them as the GODs. Health 2.0 should be perceived as the helpful medium and the technology enabler which would allow these practitioners to treat their patients more effectively.
- Health 2.0 need not be just patient to patient, doctor to patient or patient to doctor medium. The power of Health 2.0 will be that it would be a platform for medical professionals, where they would be able to interact with each other, share the experience, bring up the issues and help each other out.
Related posts:
- Study: How Internet helps patients with chronic diseases
- Study: The Future of the Internet
- The Internet's impact on Institutions of the Future
- Gamers really get high – the future of gaming is cloud computing
- NYTimes on Telemedicine trend
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
