I speak frequently to hospitals and healthcare associations around the country on the future of healthcare (see related posts below). One of the big themes I stress is that technology is accelerating. To help emphasize this point, I’d just like to take a peek at healthcare innovation from the perspective of one day—today.
I began my morning by reading about the new ”Doctor Kiosk”—an automated healthcare interface that aims to streamline preventative screening—which will soon be making its debut in the United Kingdom. The hope is that the device will transform healthcare delivery in a way similar to how the ATM transformed banking.
Next, I came across this news that the first-ever “crowdsourced” healthcare book has been published. The topic is on the rare disease of vulvodynia, but its significance is that the Internet is empowering ordinary citizens—who happen to have a great deal of experience with rare diseases—are supplementing and possibly replacing healthcare professionals. I don’t know where all of this will lead but as advances in the field of genomics continues to grow, I expect that individuals with rare genes will be relying more on one another than medical experts—who simply can’t be expected to know that much about the role that thousands of different genes play.
Finally, there was this report that Mako Surgical has introduced a new robotic system to help assist with orthopedic knee surgeries. It is yet another sign that robotic surgery is on the cusp of explosive growth.
Alas, all of this occurred in just one day. I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings.
Interested in other health care-related posts by America’s leading healthcare futurist, Jack Uldrich? Check out these recent articles:
Personalized Medicine’s Accelerating Future
The Future of Health Care: Preventing Disease
Health Care Providers Need a Second Life
The Future of Health Care: Part 3 (Robotics)The Robot Will See You Now
Hospitals Robotic Future: Part 2
Hospitals Robotic Future: Part 1
Hospitals Get a Lift
