Asked to picture healthcare in the twenty-first century, readers might imagine scientists applying the latest breakthrough in biotechnology as a radical cure for disease. But equally, they might also think of lengthy waiting lists, shabby wards and lumberingly bureaucratic administrative systems. This dichotomy is one of the biggest problems confronting policymakers and managers when they look at today’s health sector. Advances in medical science and technology have not been matched by innovation in healthcare management and processes. It is a failure that costs taxpayers and patients dearly.

The problem is not a lack of ideas, as cutting-edge medical research continues apace. Nor is it unwillingness to put money into healthcare, which consumes vast budgets. Rather, the difficulties lie in the diverse obstacles to new ideas finding their way into widespread and transformative change. But new approaches exist which demonstrate how healthcare systems could be improved.

I’ll be speaking about Hello Health at this conference in November in Oslo.

There are some amazing speakers so far that have yet to be officially announced. I’m honored to be a part of such an accomplished group. Stay tuned…

1. Beirut (70) 
2. Wilco (57) 
3. Bon Iver (33) 
4. Jim O’Rourke (32) 
5. The National (29) 

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

Nice article written about us in this weekend’s Boston Globe.

I need to clarify one thing though. When we launch Hello Health this summer as a platform to other doctors all over the US, we’re giving the doctors total freedom to charge whatever they want. It will be free for patients to create accounts on Hello Health. Doctors have choices in their profile settings:

• How much do I charge per hour?
• How much do I charge per month to be a member of my practice?

Therefore, it’s total scalability and total freedom for doctors.

Also, we’re not franchising at this point. Most of the 2300 docs who have contacted us already have a practice or want to start their own from scratch. We’re providing some guidelines about how to make your office pretty and consumer friendly, but that’s about it. It’s about the platform. Not about the space.

This is actually one of the most important points to understand about healthcare reform. For those advocating for reform that “provides healthcare” to the 50 million uninsured, it’s simple economics.

Increase demand. Add 50 million new confused people who recently purchased a government plan to the demand for doctor visits.

Decrease supply. There are only so many primary care doctor visits in America. And with only 6% of doctors choosing primary care every year nowadays, the supply is getting lower and lower.

Equals:

Increased demand - dwindling supply = mandated insurance 50 million people can’t use.

I wish Washington would understand that health insurance does not equal health access. I wish they’d start speaking this way about reform efforts. I wish they’d face the hard truths that they’ve done nothing to curb policy to build a strong primary care base of physicians.

Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin of the Supreme Court of Canada says it best: “access to a waiting list is not access to health care.”

Here is a little pre-interview with The Guardian:

How, in your experience, have internet technologies been employed to make the world a better place?
The internet has changed what it means to be a human. We’re social creatures that thrive off communicating and connecting. And now, we can connect with anyone, anywhere in the world. Now it’s just so easy to stay on top of your relationships and keep in touch. Our connections are getting deeper and more expansive. Because of this, we’re becoming more human.

And where for you are the real problem areas that remain that you think web technologies can help to tackle?
The web still has yet to meaningfully organize your street and connect you with the neighbors you don’t know. There is so much potential in simply connecting you with your local environment. With the rise of mobile technologies, this will change for the better.

So what projects are you currently engaged in on a day to day basis and how does the internet fit into this?
My main project, Hello Health, is a web platform that augments your relationship with your doctors enabling you to meet up with your doctors in person and online via email or IM and video visits.

Who do you admire in this space? Who’s inspiring you? Who’s pushing the boundaries and how?
e-Patient Dave. He’s a cancer survivor empowering people to connect with one another, learn from one another, and take more responsibility for their own health. Often times, when someone is faced with a life-threatening illness, a passion for learning and connecting with other people in the same situation can help you become even more knowledgeable than your doctor. Communities form around diseases and these are an invaluable resource for both patients and doctors — all enabled by the internet.

And what can we expect from your presentation at Activate 09?
You’ll see how we use Hello Health to connect with our patients and redefine what it means to visit with your doctor. This is a whole new paradigm that raises a slew of questions and concerns. Forums like Activate 09 are vital to intelligent discussion as we face a whole new world of opportunities.