What does it take to make a difference? In the world of health care, health problems become more frequent and complex as a person ages. You need empathy, compassion and dedication to build a trusting relationship with the patient. Yet this relationship is not enough. Solving these complex problems requires creativity, innovation and ingenuity. These…
We all know the basis of the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle, where “for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.” Basically, it’s a rule designed to show how a small subset of a defined population can have a significant impact on a population. In health care,…
Is the connected health care system of the future built around the individual? Or is it built around the industry? How will the data we’re starting to collect actually enable us to better manage our health? Are the health apps we’re using foreshadowing what’s to come? I thought about these questions a few days ago…
The promise of interoperability for health IT is that it can help knit together our fragmented, disconnected health care system, while at the same time help usher in a new era of consumerism. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Consumers, physicians, hospitals, health care professionals – indeed, all of us – are currently…
The year of the wearable device is underway. By 2019, there could be more than half a billion wearables in use every day. I’m asked all the time about the wearable device impact on health – do they really help people lose weight? What do you use? What are they missing when it comes to monitoring…
Do we know how to handle death as we do life? Most of us don’t think about the former; we’re so wrapped up in our busy lives that it doesn’t really enter our thoughts that often. We’re focused on getting the kids to school; meeting the next deadline at work; getting the family together for…
Last year, nearly seven million Americans signed up for health care coverage from public and private companies through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This has been a key first step in getting these people on the path to better health. They need it, and it’s a privilege for us and others to make this a…
What’s more impactful on your health – eating a salad for lunch because you need your fruits and vegetables or spending time with the people who make you happy? We all know what it takes to be healthy on the physical side – eat right, get plenty of sleep and exercise daily. But what about…
“You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem.” This overused, one-dimensional rallying cry has been thrown around for years. But it’s not that simple. We often find in life that in order to solve a problem, we cannot look at an issue in terms of black or white and ignore the…
“How can the health care industry use innovative technologies to make a positive impact in health?” This question – in one variation or another – is one I’m asked quite a bit when I meet with employers, customers, clinicians or government officials. Technology is seen as an innovative and disruptive force that can transform the…
