The Big Think: Health and Technology–The Next Really Big Thing!
Forces are converging.
The evolution of technology, the looming necessity around healthcare and our aging population are just a few of the forces driving a significant change in our world. Add to that the role of cost containment and you have an emerging imperative that will push these changes along very quickly.
"Is the doctor in?"
That's no longer the question. Because, the "doctor" is changing. For one thing, the doctor is always "in". And for another, you are the doctor! The interface between the healthcare provider and the person seeking care is about to dramatically change...and that tradition role of patient will move from passive to active. Technology will assess your symptoms, track them, stratify them and provide a comprehensive report (and analysis) to your e-physician. And in this case, e stands for electron. These data will be reviewed by sophisticated computers that will under many of the nuances of health communication and provide a differential diagnosis. (If you watch Jeopardy, you've already see Watson, the future e-doctor at work.)
But technology will make you work at your own healthcare. The role of perceiving symptoms, testing when necessary and even being more active in preventive care will be a Faustian bargain for some of the advances of technolopgy. Self-care (assisted by technological innovation and the e-physician) will shift some of the healthcare burden back to the patient.
Your smart phone will be your critical connection to wellness and rapid intervention. And there already is an app for that!