Jon Fisher, Technology Manager, Palio
01. 23andme |
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Categories: |
Home testing, genomic testing |
What it is: |
According to their site:
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Why it Matters: |
We are at the dawn of personalized medicine. Up until now, testing and diagnostics have been in the hands of physicians. This is starting to change. With a growing geriatric population and sky-rocketing health care costs, there will be a trend in taking ownership of one’s healthcare. That, along with the coming trend of aging in place, proactively taking responsibility for one’s healthcare will not only take hold, it will become the norm. Look for encouragement from healthcare policymakers to take proactive steps not only in preventative care, but for long term disease management. And, very soon, the dialog will shift from “sick care” to “health maintenance.” The long view will shift will be from “healthcare” to “health lifestyle.” |
02. Cure Together |
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Categories: |
Social media, social medicine |
What it is: |
Disease state social media. According to mashable.com:
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Why it Matters: |
This seems remarkably close to Patients Like Me, but the big difference seems to be built around sharing antidotal information around what works and what doesn’t, and allowing the community to share data that is aggregated into data visualizations that patients can review and form their own opinion about what’s working and what’s not. This is a further step toward participatory medicine. The important bit of information to note in these social disease state sites is that the conversation is moving further away from the doctor as being the sole source of healthcare and disease state information. |
03. Withings WiFi Body Scale |
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Categories: |
Medical devices, data visualization, personal healthcare |
What it is: |
A wi-fi body scale that graphs your weight, BMI, lean and fat mass so you can access it from your smartphone or web browser at any time. And, you can share your progress through your social media circles. |
Why it Matters: |
Again, what we are witnessing is a shift of passive avoidance in healthcare to a more proactive stance on the part of the patient. The bigger question for us in healthcare marketing will be how can we better align our clients to this mind set. Not viewing devices as a channel by which to deliver a message, but instead as a means by which our clients can become more active participants in affecting a positive change in patient’s lives. Shifting our clients from a product oriented mindset to a partnership mindset within our target audience’s healthcare lifestyle. |
04. FitBit Tracker |
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Categories: |
Medical devices, data visualization, personal healthcare |
What it is: |
According to the FitBit site:
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Why it Matters: |
Are you starting to see a trend here? This is another device that allows patients to track various datapoints in their lives. Steps taken, hours slept, calories burned. What’s exciting about this device is that they have added a gaming level in the form of a flower. The more active and healthy you behave, the better the flower will grow. Another interesting bit they have added is the ability to name your device. The device will also asked to be “walked” or to engage in another activity. It brings to mind the Bandai’s Tamoguci products. But now instead of pressing a few buttons to take care a virtual pet, users will take proactive measures to take care of themselves. |
05. Robotic Eye SurgeryCurrently in beta |
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Categories: |
Robotics, assistive technologies, medical devices |
What it is: |
According to the website:
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Why it Matters: |
Okay, this is something that is definitely not for the “do-it-yourselfer.” Kidding aside, this is an important device to note because it amplifies the value of the technologies mentioned before in this article. Why? As the mundane part of medical care is taken over by patients, doctors will be able to more clearly focus on true healthcare, allowing them to be able to put their energies into doing what patients themselves can’t: expand the data, analyze the patient and make more effective diagnoses. They will be able to make use of far more advanced technologies that are beyond the reach of the patient. They will move from the role of “health monitors” and “mechanics” to highly specializes practitioners of the medical arts. |
Happy exploring.
Palio is an advertising agency revolutionizing pharmaceutical and healthcare marketing to create experiences that will Never Be Forgotten.
