The Year of Innovation
January 1, 2014
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I do take a few moments to consider that which I am looking forward to in the upcoming year. This year there are several; spending time with my aging mother, hiking Yosemite Half Dome on my birthday, buying a new home – all personal objectives. I am also excited about what 2014 offers from a professional standpoint. The opportunity to meet and partner with hundreds of hardworking, caring and imaginative healthcare providers who are creating new approaches to improving access to health care, enhancing clinical outcomes, and increasing patient satisfaction.
One of the innovative approaches that I am excited to see providers taking advantage of is Telehealth. I have long been a proponent of telehealth and have been disappointed that it hadn’t been embraced by providers. But I believe this year will be different. Why do I think so? Because studies show that healthcare consumers want it.
There are many indicators that healthcare consumers are embracing technologies that allow them to connect with their caregivers in new ways. Examples include using video conferencing to visit with their physician, iPhone apps that helps track blood glucose or displays a users heart rate, and sensor technology that transmits health data in real time. Respondents in a recent study performed by Cisco indicated that seventy-six percent find access to care more important than physical human contact with their care provider, seventy percent would trust an automated device designed to diagnose and provide a medical recommendation determining whether or not they needed to see a doctor, seventy-four percent are comfortable having their health records available on the cloud assuming adequate security, and sixty percent are interested in receiving healthcare information on computers and mobile devices.
According to another study, commissioned by Intel, more than seventy percent of the survey’s respondents are receptive to using toilet sensors, prescription bottle sensors or swallowed monitors to collect ongoing and actionable personal health data. Sixty-six percent of people prefer a personalized healthcare regimen designed specifically for them based on their genetic profile or biology. And fifty-three percent of those surveyed said they would trust a test they personally administered as much or more than if it came from a doctor. Further, seventy-two percent of those surveyed are willing to see a doctor via video conference for non-urgent appointments.
As remote healthcare technology and self-monitoring tools improve (which they are doing at a rapid rate), consumers will embrace a future of healthcare that allows them to get care wherever they are and not be limited to the walls of a provider’s practice. Providers that are early adopters of telehealth will reap the benefits in many ways. Not only will they gain market share and reduce costs, but they will meet consumer focused goals of improving access to health care, enhancing clinical outcomes, and increasing patient satisfaction.
Will it be easy? No! Telehealth requires not only technical solutions but the re-engineering of health care delivery processes. Is it do-able? Most definitely! There are many examples of successful telehealth implementations. It all starts with a group of leaders, clinicians and technologist who are willing to be innovative. Let 2014 be the year of innovation for your organization.
