There are countless tricks in the book that patients can use to cure themselves right at home: gargle salt water to curb a sore throat, prescribe Advil for a headache, settle an upset stomach with some bread and rice.
CVS Health opened a new innovation lab in Boston. (Photo: CVS Health) |
But there are also many other things that often warrant a trip to the doctor: A painful ear infection, an accurate diagnosis of a concussion, peace of mind over an unfamiliar mole.
In today's digitally focused world, there are some cases where a trip to the doctor can be easily replaced with the download of an app or the power of a text message.
LINK to Story: How Obamacare demoralized doctors and degraded care |
The health-care industry is in the midst of a technological boom, a transition which physician Bob Wachter, author of The Digital Doctor, says is necessary – but no one has gotten it completely right yet.
"There are many things that patients can do to help themselves ... if armed with good algorithms and good backup plans," he said. "But the trick here is that you need to draw a line, and know how to tell when a patient needs to see a human, versus when they do not."
Screenshot of Curely app. CLICK PHOTO to ENLARGE |
Investment in digital health startups was more than $2 billion in 2014, says Ahmed Albaiti, founder and CEO of Medullan, a digital health innovation lab in Boston. Many databases, he said, such as RockHealth, CBInsights and McKinsey & Company, say they've found more than 2,000 startups with the key words "digital health" and "new health care technologies."
Among the hundreds of companies focused on digital technologies, CVS Health is one of the latest businesses looking to bolster its image as a digital health-care powerhouse.
CVS Health recently opened up its Digital Innovation Lab, a warehouse-size space where innovators and entrepreneurs can come together, test new products and hash out ideas with each other, says Brian Tilzer, CVS' chief digital officer.Read the rest of the story HERE. ()Find a link to a related story and watch a video below:
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