If companies like Aetna, Humana, United Healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cisco and many more have already stepped up and pledged millions of dollars to advance creative IT healthcare solutions, I would think it is time we listened. With the aging population, fragmented care, a looming primary care physician shortage and a healthcare debate that may never be settled, it will be up to the marketplace to demand change. The most effective solution (a biased opinion no doubt) is to embrace telemedicine in all its forms at all levels. The technology is here and technology is the key. The infrastructure is growing exponentially and the advantages FAR out way any outdated notions about its ability to drive change. We will go kicking and screaming no doubt but we WILL go. The sooner we get on board the better. If you own a company, work in HR or have any say so in the benefits your employees or customers have access to then do your homework. Keep an open mind and realize that we are on the cusp of a changing and far more enlightened and advanced world than we have ever seen. Earth changes, global-warming, global economy… (more…)
Archive for the ‘Health Care Reform’ Category
Creative Solutions
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010Smart Pills
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010I am attaching a link to an article I just read. My first thought was what next? There is a whole telemedicine sub-culture out there that few people are aware of. I spend my days working in this business and watch it happen almost in awe. It is easy for me to see where this is going and the incredible transformation that healthcare is undergoing. This is just the beginning folks! Take a look for yourself: Smart Pills
Health reform
Saturday, January 16th, 2010With all of the time and money being spent in Washington on health care reform you would think that what finally gets passed will solve our problems. Fact is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. In order to fix health care you have to break it down piece by piece and make small incremental changes that stacked on top of each other over time will add up to real progress.
Hot off the press!
Friday, January 15th, 2010January 15, 2010 / The Association of American Medical Colleges has estimated that due to population growth, aging and other factors, the country is facing a potential shortage of 159,000 primary care physicians by 2025. Telemedicine technologies help scarce healthcare professionals reach the widest patient population most efficiently. This number rose from earlier projections of a 40,000 shortage by 2020. Unfortunately, that’s about the time I’m really going to need to see my doctor.
Doctor Shortage
Friday, January 15th, 2010I’m a bit of a telemedicine information junkie. What I am reading suggests that we are facing a huge shortage of primary care doctors. The numbers are pretty consistent and seem to indicate that we will have a shortage of 40,000 primary care physicians in the next 10 years. If only 32% of our doctors are now primary care and if healthcare reform passes and we add another 40 million people or so to the system how can this possibly work???? This would seem to add tremendous credibility to telemedicine technology solutions.