We live in the digital age. You know that already. Two out of three Americans are now smartphone owners, and more than 86 percent of the population is connected online. But while digital has permeated everything from our social lives to how we work and how we shop, it is only starting to touch how we manage health.
Yes, nearly 70 percent of Internet users look up health information online (who hasn’t been on WebMD.com in a panicked moment of self-diagnosis?). However, only one in five of us have an app downloaded on our smartphones to track our health. And health apps comprised only 2.8 percent of total app downloads from the Apple App Store a few months ago.
All of this points to the disconnect between personal technology and personal healthcare, despite the vital importance of the intersection of the two. Personal technology is proliferating, yet the health industry hasn’t caught up. How do we usher in personal health to all that the digital age has to offer?
Imagine using your phone as a remote diagnostic tool.
We need to put personal (tech) back in personal healthcare. Because digital is both ubiquitous and highly configurable, it allows health companies to meet customers where they are. That means personalized dashboards for consumers to stay on top of their own and their loved ones’ health needs, easily accessible via web and mobile. Or customized alerts to your smartphone through beacon technology, to send you relevant coupons and reminders while you’re browsing in a pharmacy. We can even imagine a world where you can text your pharmacy or healthcare professional with questions to receive timely, one-on-one communication. continua a leggere
Articolo di Brian Tilzer su Tech Crunch