Technology is rapidly changing healthcare. Mainstream devices can now go far beyond provider-patient communication and into specialized patient care, and things are just getting started.
In other words, what we’ve done so far with healthcare innovation pales in comparison to what we haven’t done…yet. For healthcare marketers, that means:
- You must understand and embrace healthcare innovation for success.
- Your health organization has the potential to be a vanguard in this space, either through early adoption or invention (or both).
Get your creative juices flowing by exploring some out-of-the-box thinkers who are doing big things now to further the gains made possible by health technology. For example:
Dr. Smartphone will see you now.
Okay so a phone can’t earn a medical degree, but it does have a big job to do in the exam room. As Dr. Eric Topol, cardiologist, points out in this clip from NBC News, smartphone technology has become a very effective, very efficient tool for patient care. Watch the video to hear Dr. Topol explain how “wireless medicine” made possible through affordable smartphone technology is clearing the path to that much-coveted holy grail: better, cheaper healthcare.
Among other things, Dr. Topol demonstrates how smartphones can substantially reduce waste in health care delivery and, at the same time, enhance the patient experience. He also says, “These days I’m actually prescribing a lot more apps than I am medications” – a noteworthy quote because it’s indicative of what’s now and what’s next in healthcare: the meteoric rise of mHealth.
To reduce costs while meeting increased demand for outpatient care and self-care, mobile technology is key. “Virtual visits” are surging in usage and usefulness as providers and patients embrace the power of remote patient care and monitoring. According to Sg2, the virtual site of care is expected to grow much more than any other point within the care continuum over the next 10 years. Differentiate your organization now by carving out a place on the leading edge of mHealth.
Have you seen the latest healthwear?
People love wearable fitness technology – apps you put on to track movements, calories, etc. are making big gains in popularity and sophistication. So what else is possible in healthcare you can wear? This line of technology is quickly evolving beyond wellness and into highly specialized healthcare, as featured in this Mobile Minute video: How Wearables are Changing Healthcare.
The video points out how wearable health technology can help people track their own health data and better manage their own health, potentially putting a significant dent in today’s $30 billion price tag of patient non-compliance. Wearables with smart and sensor technology are helping providers become more precise with meds and dosages, remote diagnostics, pain management and more. 3-D printing is making custom prosthetics more accessible. What wearable tech ideas can you or your providers dream up to add to the mix?
After all, your organization doesn’t have to make the technology – bright ideas and strategic investments will take you where you want to go. Stretch the limits of what you previously thought possible through partnerships, sponsorships, co-branding opportunities and licensing agreements with tech providers. If you’ve ever wanted to be a trailblazer in healthcare, the time is now, the stage is set, and the possibilities are endless.