1:30-3:00pm MaRS CR2, Medicine 2.0 Congress, Toronto (Sept17, 2009)
"Good Intentions and Bad Investments: EHealth and the Reality of Market Forces"
Presenters: Trevor D Van Mierio (Evolution Health- formerly V-CC Systems; Toronto/San Francisco, Canada), Rachel Fournir (Evolution Health, Toronto/ San Francisco, Canada), Breanne John (Evolution Health, Toronto, Canada)
This presentation took more of a generic approach and discussed the state of eHealth in general without focusing on a specific product.
Trevor based the talk on Gunther Eysenbach’s ‘law of attrition’ reiterating the fact that attrition across technology takes places despite engaging people in promoting and making the program. Moreover attrition permeates across all technology. He went on to discuss the dot-com bubble and how the company Evolution Health initiated. A focus on the “internet math” or the dot-com death spiral, also known as the ‘common faulty business model’ provided a high level indication of the common challenges in sustaining eHealth.
Emphasis was made on the three essential components of healthcare- (i) personal (ii) complex, and (iii) revenue-based. The burning question posed was “Why does it take so long to get a customer in eHealth?” I believe the question is more about the sustainability as opposed to getting a customer to use eHealth solutions going back to the law of attrition.
An interesting practice highlighted by this firm was the “Continuous Product Development Lifecycle” in which as soon as you implement a solution, part of your team starts looking into redevelopment to arrive at innovative ways of providing a solution. For all this to happen simultaneously, there is a need for collaboration and partnership with interest groups such as researchers, patients and academicians. Strong collaborative initiatives would make the solutions and its newer versions more sustainable and make investments more fruitful. The question here would be with regards to cost. Who would bear the cost of research? Do we need to budget for research funding, how much additional government funding can be sought out for various studies? To what extent would partnerships with vendors and academic institutions can be solicited for ongoing product developments?
While the speaker provided examples from Japan, the country being renowned for its fascinating interventions, emphasis remained on having thorough documentation, involving programmers, researchers, investors, lawyers, project managers, promoters, business development personnel, accountants and other related skilled professionals on board to work cohesively in the field of eHealth. I believe many other factors can come into play when discussing the market forces depending on the nature and complexity of innovation.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Customer empowerment, patient-physician relationship, and sociotechnical issues
1:30-3:00pm MaRS CR2, Medicine 2.0 Congress, Toronto (Sept17, 2009)
"Enabling Semantic Health Apps: The MEDgle Clinical Decision Support System API"
Presenters: Aditya Damle (CEO MEDgle Inc., Sunnyvale US), Francisco Jose Grageles Iii (Medical Informatician, MEDgle Inc., Sunnyvale US)
This presentation was all about ‘clinical decision support’ (CDS) systems and its application programming interface (API). Aditya Damle demonstrated the vision of providing comprehensive healthcare as a team whereby each professional in the spell is empowered. He termed this concept as the ‘rocket-science’ in healthcare. Damle mentioned about the overwhelming complexities associated with healthcare. The application (CDS2.0) he presented was a working demo and was appreciated because of its integrated platforms.
With regards to the semantics of health, we need to ask the question “How does the relationships connect and transform the entire patient and caregiver experience?”
CDS2.0 has been live on the web for 2 years, it is multilingual and has gone through a number of iterations. It seems to be the company’s own API which allows others to take advantage of the features. Although this area sounded a bit bizarre, the company probably has in mind the integration of systems.
It allows people to start developing applications and has a huge affect with the idea of helping people to understand their options, to empower them to make rational choices. The speaker highlighted some of the themes to be considered, which provides a sense of direction towards which its innovations are geared-
- Understand the transformation of discrete to continuous
- Understand the micro to the macro
- Empower not just the patients but also nurses, physicians
Apparently PHRs, EHRs are licensing this company’s products to transform their API.
The overall aim of such applications is to provide differential diagnosis, diagnostic suggestions, treatment options, personalized analytics, integration via CPT/ICD9-10PHR secure, stateless. In some ways the entire concept is also about the semantic web.
Interesting example demonstrated on how age dramatically changes the analysis of chest pain. It shifts the potential types of results and what logical choices one should be thinking about. Physicians may think of 4 out of the 5 likely causes, so having a system enables them to view all possible options.
Also, it enables the patient to simply to understand where he is in the health spectrum so that they can start taking actions accordingly. Additionally, it also has the age forecast fit score. Seeing the knowledge base of this application was quite fascinating.
Finally another component of the system was ‘enurseKim’, which is yet another interactive application via which patients/caregivers have the chance to chat with a virtual nurse and obtain advice and information electronically.
The speaker also discussed “Healthybyte”, part of their API which works like a Twitter for MEDgle. The company basically adopted the social networking model and created a portal with assorted views to deal with various complexities in the era of personalized medicine.
"Enabling Semantic Health Apps: The MEDgle Clinical Decision Support System API"
Presenters: Aditya Damle (CEO MEDgle Inc., Sunnyvale US), Francisco Jose Grageles Iii (Medical Informatician, MEDgle Inc., Sunnyvale US)
This presentation was all about ‘clinical decision support’ (CDS) systems and its application programming interface (API). Aditya Damle demonstrated the vision of providing comprehensive healthcare as a team whereby each professional in the spell is empowered. He termed this concept as the ‘rocket-science’ in healthcare. Damle mentioned about the overwhelming complexities associated with healthcare. The application (CDS2.0) he presented was a working demo and was appreciated because of its integrated platforms.
With regards to the semantics of health, we need to ask the question “How does the relationships connect and transform the entire patient and caregiver experience?”
CDS2.0 has been live on the web for 2 years, it is multilingual and has gone through a number of iterations. It seems to be the company’s own API which allows others to take advantage of the features. Although this area sounded a bit bizarre, the company probably has in mind the integration of systems.
It allows people to start developing applications and has a huge affect with the idea of helping people to understand their options, to empower them to make rational choices. The speaker highlighted some of the themes to be considered, which provides a sense of direction towards which its innovations are geared-
- Understand the transformation of discrete to continuous
- Understand the micro to the macro
- Empower not just the patients but also nurses, physicians
Apparently PHRs, EHRs are licensing this company’s products to transform their API.
The overall aim of such applications is to provide differential diagnosis, diagnostic suggestions, treatment options, personalized analytics, integration via CPT/ICD9-10PHR secure, stateless. In some ways the entire concept is also about the semantic web.
Interesting example demonstrated on how age dramatically changes the analysis of chest pain. It shifts the potential types of results and what logical choices one should be thinking about. Physicians may think of 4 out of the 5 likely causes, so having a system enables them to view all possible options.
Also, it enables the patient to simply to understand where he is in the health spectrum so that they can start taking actions accordingly. Additionally, it also has the age forecast fit score. Seeing the knowledge base of this application was quite fascinating.
Finally another component of the system was ‘enurseKim’, which is yet another interactive application via which patients/caregivers have the chance to chat with a virtual nurse and obtain advice and information electronically.
The speaker also discussed “Healthybyte”, part of their API which works like a Twitter for MEDgle. The company basically adopted the social networking model and created a portal with assorted views to deal with various complexities in the era of personalized medicine.
Customer empowerment, patient-physician relationship, and sociotechnical issues
1:30-3:00pm MaRS CR2, Medicine 2.0 Congress, Toronto (Sept17, 2009)
"Social Healthcare Networks- Leveraging Social Networking Technologies and Approaches to Connect Patients and Clinicians"
Presenters: Paula Hucko (HSAGlobal, Mississauga, Canada), Mark Smith (HSAGlobal, Auckland, New Zealand)
Paula started off with a disclaimer that she is representing a vendor for a piece of software that is commercially available. Another colleage co-represented Telus Canada.
The talk was not research- focused but business focused. The speaker discussed rising costs and shrinking market accessibility and coined an interesting term ‘prosumers’ implying that users of healthcare service are being proactive and informed consumers thus making a huge difference in the provision of services.
Furthermore, the notion of the “silver tsunami” was raised indicating that key market trends are creating a perfect storm. In essence there is a sheer dearth healthcare workers. The average age of nurses in Canada today 47.5 years. With the family members also being involved in caregiving these days there is a critical need to self-advocate for ourselves. Alarming statistics were mentioned with regards to the huge financial burden- healthcare spending in US is 4 times that of defense, 46% of the population are uninsured. The presenter suggests technology as one way of addressing the burning issues encompassing healthcare.
Growth of internet has enabled many changes- social networking, twitter, blogging are ingredients of a huge turning point in healthcare and IT. I appreciated the speaker delving into some trends to compare today’s state of healthcare with regards to technology where healthcare and IT are both exploding at a faster pace.
Talking about the core subject matter, “text messaging as a clinical intervention” was discussed. According to Paula most commercially based devices available do not use true clinically proven intervention to manage the ‘well at risk’ patients. HSAGlobal’s product package entails the Health Messaging Engine (HME) stop- layered on the HME platform used for smoking cessation for a certain audience not normally addressed. The company is hopeful that this application will eventually be used for mental health, fitness mgt, etc. perhaps even gambling! It started off as a clinical trial in New Zealand, and the company proved in both NZ and Canada that their product can help the ‘well at risk’ category to quit smoking before they need to seek any institutionalized care. I would say this is quite a challenge and appreciate that the software uses a dynamic two way messaging programme. It is based on the architecture whereby the patient (user) is given the impression that s/he has a coach who can help and monitor their progress in smoking cessation. There is a total of 551 different messages embedded in the system. Having been originated in New Zealand, this product was brought to North America about a year ago by translating NZ terminologies into the Canadian context; also targeted Quebec version of French. Additional capabilities of the database invlude administrative functions that can be targeted to specific interest groups such as those smoking more than 2 packs a day (for e.g.)
In 2008 this application also won an award in NZ. It is now live and funded by the Ministry of Health in New Zealand with approximately 4,000 users on a 6-month quit program. The target was initially 3,000 users, so they actually exceeded the target. Most surprising is the fact that Telus in Canada introduced this piece as a free service to its employees. This brings us to the notion of incentives- consumers do have an appetite for self-managed involvements in healthy lifestyles but there needs to be incentives in order to trigger action on their (consumers) part.
Food for thought- Are we talking about quitting smoking over mobile phones? Why not! Need to consider the challenges associate with such initiatives with regards to market forces and technological interoperability.
Audiences also raised concerns “How can the sector adapt fast enough to understand the potential of technology?”
Overall it was a good presentation providing insights from another continent and how it translates into the Canadian market and its future potentials.
"Social Healthcare Networks- Leveraging Social Networking Technologies and Approaches to Connect Patients and Clinicians"
Presenters: Paula Hucko (HSAGlobal, Mississauga, Canada), Mark Smith (HSAGlobal, Auckland, New Zealand)
Paula started off with a disclaimer that she is representing a vendor for a piece of software that is commercially available. Another colleage co-represented Telus Canada.
The talk was not research- focused but business focused. The speaker discussed rising costs and shrinking market accessibility and coined an interesting term ‘prosumers’ implying that users of healthcare service are being proactive and informed consumers thus making a huge difference in the provision of services.
Furthermore, the notion of the “silver tsunami” was raised indicating that key market trends are creating a perfect storm. In essence there is a sheer dearth healthcare workers. The average age of nurses in Canada today 47.5 years. With the family members also being involved in caregiving these days there is a critical need to self-advocate for ourselves. Alarming statistics were mentioned with regards to the huge financial burden- healthcare spending in US is 4 times that of defense, 46% of the population are uninsured. The presenter suggests technology as one way of addressing the burning issues encompassing healthcare.
Growth of internet has enabled many changes- social networking, twitter, blogging are ingredients of a huge turning point in healthcare and IT. I appreciated the speaker delving into some trends to compare today’s state of healthcare with regards to technology where healthcare and IT are both exploding at a faster pace.
Talking about the core subject matter, “text messaging as a clinical intervention” was discussed. According to Paula most commercially based devices available do not use true clinically proven intervention to manage the ‘well at risk’ patients. HSAGlobal’s product package entails the Health Messaging Engine (HME) stop- layered on the HME platform used for smoking cessation for a certain audience not normally addressed. The company is hopeful that this application will eventually be used for mental health, fitness mgt, etc. perhaps even gambling! It started off as a clinical trial in New Zealand, and the company proved in both NZ and Canada that their product can help the ‘well at risk’ category to quit smoking before they need to seek any institutionalized care. I would say this is quite a challenge and appreciate that the software uses a dynamic two way messaging programme. It is based on the architecture whereby the patient (user) is given the impression that s/he has a coach who can help and monitor their progress in smoking cessation. There is a total of 551 different messages embedded in the system. Having been originated in New Zealand, this product was brought to North America about a year ago by translating NZ terminologies into the Canadian context; also targeted Quebec version of French. Additional capabilities of the database invlude administrative functions that can be targeted to specific interest groups such as those smoking more than 2 packs a day (for e.g.)
In 2008 this application also won an award in NZ. It is now live and funded by the Ministry of Health in New Zealand with approximately 4,000 users on a 6-month quit program. The target was initially 3,000 users, so they actually exceeded the target. Most surprising is the fact that Telus in Canada introduced this piece as a free service to its employees. This brings us to the notion of incentives- consumers do have an appetite for self-managed involvements in healthy lifestyles but there needs to be incentives in order to trigger action on their (consumers) part.
Food for thought- Are we talking about quitting smoking over mobile phones? Why not! Need to consider the challenges associate with such initiatives with regards to market forces and technological interoperability.
Audiences also raised concerns “How can the sector adapt fast enough to understand the potential of technology?”
Overall it was a good presentation providing insights from another continent and how it translates into the Canadian market and its future potentials.
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