Posts

Showing posts from September, 2023

The Evolution of Healthcare: Integrating Lifestyle and Technology

Image
  The Reality of Aging and Chronic Conditions The Reality of Aging and Chronic Conditions Age does not come alone is a commonly held belief. By mid-sixties many people are already on up to four medications, usually four chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol. Treatments for these conditions are available and take up a significant portion of clinical time in terms of monitoring and adjustment of medicines. They are also conditions where medical compliance is variable, as they are pretty much symptomless until a significant event occurs eg heart attack or stroke. More bizarrely perhaps is that people attend different appointments for different follow ups, meaning any one individual may go to their GP four times a year, just to make sure everything is in order. In parts this is perpetuated by a system that measures the frequency of these check ups to remunerate the surgeries. While this is seen as a preventative measure, it is al...

CAN WE REWARD HEALTH RATHER THAN PAY FOR ILLNESS?

Image
  Bridging Tech and Wellness: A Revolutionary Approach to Health Insurance Two things many people have are phone banking and car insurance. Years ago, using your phone to handle your finances was fraught with worries about safety and confidentiality. But now it is the norm to use smartphone apps to do most financial transactions and most people have confidence in the systems that protect them. Car insurance is mandatory, but the costs are offset by no claims bonuses or being monitored when a new driver. Why can’t we combine these commonly accepted practices to bring about a revolution in health care? With secure technology, worries around confidentiality can be easily assuaged. So how about insurance companies modifying their health plans to allow reductions or benefits in response to maintaining and/or improving personal health? With todays technology, alongside nearable and wearable sensors, people can get real time information about many aspects of their health and act on it acc...