I know change is scary, but I get tired of the “all or nothing, black or white” view of the world held by some critics of healthcare reform. Every time the topic of moving care out of the doctor’s office comes up, the hand wringing starts. I hope the “scope of practice” bill in California passes and gives nurses and pharmacists more authority. I hope we can make healthcare more convenient with telemedicine and yes, even with robots and algorithms.
Why do I want this to happen? Because moving toward lower-skilled care is not a bad thing. It does not mean that there will be no doctors or nurse practitioners at all. It does not mean that people with several co-morbidities will go to a kiosk for telemedicine. It does not mean that you will go to a Minute Clinic with a broken leg. It is not an all-or-nothing situation.
If I am going in for routine care, I would rather give my time with the doctor to someone who really needs it. If my son needs a well-kid checkup, I am fine with a nurse practitioner. If I think I have cancer, I will see an MD.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Finally someone made this distinction in public on video. Dr. Mark Blatt spoke with Dr. Travis Good of CatalyzeIO at CONVERGE on Tuesday in Philadelphia. He described how the Chinese government used technology to build a rural healthcare system in China. He said the U.S. could learn something from how the country used automation to do it.
“Why can’t an algorithm manage your COPD? Why can’t even for that matter an avatar manage your hypertension?
“It’s not when your teeth are green and you’re blacking out and your toes are yellow, I need a doc for that.
“But if your blood sugar is a little high, it’s an algorithm.”
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Blatt was one of the best speakers at CONVERGE with his comments about why Marcus Welby has become an anti-hero and how the time has finally come for telemedicine.
You can watch the entire conversation here.
