On the Future of Health and Healthcare
Click the play button below to listen to this article!During the launch of our flagship program, Limitless. I spent a lot of time thinking about the future of health. In the coming decade, numerous advancements have the potential to change the way we approach health, fitness, and nutrition. Recent technological advances and a shift to proactive approaches live at the center of this coming revolution. Below are five thoughts on ideas that excite and inspire.
1. From Reactive to Proactive Healthcare
Companies such as Forward, OneMedical, Parsley Health, and SteadyMD are leading the charge in offering a proactive approach to primary care in the US. Many of these new companies offer a holistic approach, including genetic testing, blood testing, remote visits, 24/7 support, remote biometric testing (blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, temperature, etc.). This information is then analyzed, and your doctor prescribes a personalized care plan to cover all conditions discovered during initial testing. The approach feels collaborative and allows you hours with your doctor compared to a few minutes with regular healthcare. As these companies scale, I see more people transitioning to this proactive approach, and as technology advances, I know the quality of care will continue to improve.
2. The “Input = Error” Approach
In a recent interview, Elon Musk discussed Tesla’s approach to designing their vehicles’ user experience. He summed up the design thesis by stating that “All user input equals error.” He then explained that the experience should be automatic based on historical data and interactions, meaning that knowing you always drive to work at 8 am on weekdays. The car should have the temperature ready before you get in, have the directions ready to your work address with current traffic updates, and have your favorite music queued up from your favorite streaming service. I believe this approach will carry over into healthcare and health education. As technology continues to advance, I think that future apps and systems will begin to recommend workouts, recovery practices, nutrition, supplementation, breathing exercises, etc., based on trends in your biometric data and past experiences. This transition will create a shift from interesting information to data-inspired action with practical recommendations and guidance. All delivered to you before you have to ask for it.
3. Tokenization and the Upstream Approach
I’m sure many of us have been hearing more about cryptocurrency, bitcoin, and the blockchain. While most are focused on the investment potential, blockchain technology has the power to radically change how we incentivize good health and create a proactive care continuum. I believe we will see future platforms that integrate with smart contracts and health insurance to pay individuals upfront for completing health habits, working out, and having positive biometric readings, among other examples. Native currency in the form of a token (Example- WhealthCoin) would provide the primary incentive and payment. Imagine an ecosystem where you can pay for insurance, workout programs, equipment, etc., all through a native health currency.
To measure the impact, let’s look at the effects of chronic disease on the US economy. 3.8 trillion in annual health care expenditures are spent in the US on chronic diseases and mental conditions alone. Preventive measures such as increasing physical activity and reducing alcohol and tobacco use could save the United States and its citizens 536 billion dollars in annual expenses. These problems need a unique solution, and blockchain tech has the potential to create the future platform where an ounce of prevention truly equals a pound of cure.
4. Future Tech + Data = Insights that Inspire Action
The future is likely to bring unimaginable advances in machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and wearable devices. Much like the advancements listed above, ML and AI will likely contribute to a future platform that provides you with the highest level of personalized health, fitness, and nutrition guidance tailored to your DNA, daily habits, biometrics, and personal interests. It’s easy to imagine a platform where you elect to share your DNA, health, exercise, and sleep data and, in return, receive actionable insight that directs you towards a more optimal state of health and wellbeing. One incredible example is the recent use of the Oura ring for the early detection of COVID-19. UCSF tapped into the wearable device data of users who elected to opt into the study to detect early elevated skin temperature levels. They were able to notify users who may not be experiencing symptoms yet and nudge them to see their physician for testing.
5. Collaboration is the Key
Each of these ideas brings tremendous merit to the problem of solving for optimal healthcare. However, each future advancement is made stronger by supporting one another. We will have to see open collaboration between tech companies, blockchain projects, open-sourced software, hardware manufacturers, and legislators alike for this future vision to pan out. Our goal at Whealth is to continue to create health education that inspires action and strives to bridge the gap between the current system and the bright future that awaits each of us.