As digital technology will change the health sector

It is obvious that medicine, like all other areas of our lives, it becomes more modern. But this is not enough, and we strive to completely change the industry, making it an effective and manufacturable. What awaits us in this way and whether it is necessary to wait for the revolution in health care?

In 2014, investments in start-ups, areas of interest which are medicine and health, have reached the volume of $ 3.5 billion. This is four times the amount invested in these companies in 2010. It is obvious that we are very close to a revolution in the health care system. But in order to do medical field has changed dramatically, we have to go through many trials. If this works out, we expect a great hospital of the future, where there is no room queues, tired doctors and bureaucracy.

Step One: to upgrade the system

The first and probably the most difficult stage of this revolution is to install communication between medicine and the world of technology. It is necessary to establish a link between the processes that occur in hospitals, and modern trends in general. Simply put, you need to "connect" to the healthcare technologies and processes which have already been implemented in other places. It seems that it is easy, but the problem lies in the general backwardness of the medical field. For example, most doctors and health care workers can not give an exact amount of time needed for a particular procedure. And even if you try to digitize the entire process of using existing medical equipment, we are faced with the fact that it is incredibly outdated.

In addition, there is a monetary problem. Often in hospitals require a small fee for the conduct of tests and services. The incentive is clear: do more procedures to get more money. If, however, the treatment process will be documented and tracked in real-time by an impartial digital assistants, appointment unnecessary patient becomes simply impossible procedures. On the one hand, this is good, because will be assigned only the necessary procedures, and the patient will know exactly what he pays for. On the other hand, you must still set a specific amount, because hospitals do not want to lose all your money. Exactly how to calculate the optimal size of a sum of money? Based on the capabilities and needs of the hospital patients? In any case, the normalized price of medical services should be available by 2018, or a digital medicine will get stuck on the way of its development.

Step Two: Find a standard

The results of these tests are compared today with metrics obsolete decades ago. The world is changing, human health adapted to the new processes, and we simply can not afford to rely on the old rules. How to find a standard for the modern homo sapiens? The first steps have already been made. For example, Epic company cooperates with Apple HealthKit, to create the first program for critically ill patients. Of course, they still have a lot of work. But, if we can create a system that tracks a large number of patients, we will be able to receive new data on chronic and complex diseases and to provide not only the necessary assistance to each patient, but also a deeper understanding of the nature of a disease.

The third step: to go beyond

The main characteristic of digital medicine should be able to receive care and assistance outside the hospital. Moreover, your own home can be a major venue for consultation and follow-up. No queues and waiting, and time is often critical of the necessary patient spent an optimal way. To open a "second front", we need a new way of communication between doctor and patient. It can be done using Telehealth technology, which allows doctors to monitor the health status of the patient due to wearable gadgets, built-in sensors in the house and direct calls. The development of this sector will help to avoid unnecessary and costly hospitalizations, visits to the hospital and repeated consultations.

Already exists, and medical equipment, which will be part of this system. For example, set the Propeller inhaler, equipped with special sensors. It can keep track of how often a patient uses the device, and sends notifications Statistics doctor gives a signal of problems or changes in treatment.

Step Four: Make all beautifully

Not enough to create an effective system. People like eyes, and need to do so that they would use the "new medicine" that she loved them and they trust her. Just as Apple has created a trendy smart-hours option with Hermes, it is necessary to develop a stylish Soup and health. Startup Lively presented his wearable gadget. It can receive information located in the home sensors and sensors to notify family members that it is time to eat, gather statistics about how each of you spent your day. In this case, the clock on Lively's cute looks and, most likely, like the majority of users.

It seems that the changes that need to take place in the medical field, go far beyond what is called modernization. And it's true: we are not talking about how to make health care more modern. We want a revolution in medicine.

Based on materials TechCrunch.