Dignities of Modern—At Home—Medicine
Julie Kliger
Experienced senior health system advisor with expertise in reducing clinical and operational errors, and improving quality outcomes; expertise in technology commercialization and 'real-world' implementation.
Unencumbered Health Care But Requires DYI Skills
My cousin has ‘juvenile’ diabetes and when she was younger struggled to control her blood sugar: she was always anxious about rigorous play-time, about eating out, about being away from home.
Nowadays, people in her condition use a pump which is ‘attached’ to her body to administer insulin so there are no needles, she gets real-time feedback and all her information is automatically uploaded to her medical record! She is simultaneously being cared for by her medical team while living her life, unencumbered by doctor’s visits.
And its not just ‘talking-type care’ that is done remotely anymore: Why just last month I was mailed a heart monitor and pulse ox machine to attach to my torso and finger so I could track my own heart issues! Amazing.
We Are On Our Own—For Better or Worse
Truth is, over the last 10 years or so, there have been many advances in remotely diagnosing and managing patients with unwanted diseases and conditions…
·????????For example, did you know that about 3/4 of all Kaiser Permanente patients (or Members, as they are called) ‘see’ their doctor via a computer, in their own home? No more visits ‘in real life,’ but rather, care and treatment that occurs at home, via telemedicine. ?
·????????Most prescription medications (e.g., pills) and treatments (e.g., sleep apnea machines, heart rate monitors, orthopedic splints…) are mailed too — for patients to handle all on their own.
?All Types of Care Done At Home—Not Just The Ones You Like
So, it is not out-of-the ordinary that more than half of people who get legal abortions in the United States (and three-quarters in Europe) will handle their unwanted pregnancy in the same way: via pills that are mailed legally to one’s home, without ever going to a clinic.
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Nowadays medication taken as prescribed is safe, whether it is to correct diabetes, treat an eye infection, improve heart flutters or end an early-stage pregnancy. (Such as by organizations like Hey Jane, Just the Pill, and?Aid Access provide education and health care for managing pregnancy.)
What all these advances allow for is more dignified living. More living as we choose on our terms. More living our own values.
Modern medicine is here to stay—which means more medical care done remotely, privately, and conveniently—for the care you agree with and the care you do not agree with.?
Land of the Free?
Is this progress to allow 'regular people' to manage, treat--and control--their own medical paths?
It certainly is democratization of care to all, which many, many organizations tout as the ‘brass ring’ of equality, inclusion and even-handedness.
And if Americans stand for nothing else, we certainly believe that we are ‘The Land of The Free.’
And this author hopes we stay that way.
About the author: Julie Kliger is recognized by LinkedIn as a "Top Voice" in Health Care in 2015 & 2016, & 2017. She is a Healthcare ‘Strategic Realist’ who is passionate about improving health care and improving lives. She specializes in future-oriented healthcare redesign, translating bio/med-tech into legacy industries, implementing new care models and strategic change management.?She is an adviser, clinician, health system board member, speaker and author.?All opinions are the author's alone.
Chief Patient Officer at Parexel
2 年I'm alllll for it, as long as healthcare at home is commensurate with patient navigation and education, which as we know has the least investment due to non-demonstrable ROI. Listen - - I was a pharma rep when people mistook Flonase highlighters (giveaway items) for the drug and came into the doctor's office with their noses colored green. We NEED guiderails.
Freelance Medical Consultant- Health Care, Public & Private for Pharmaceuticals, Medical devices, IMS-BHU, Varanasi,
2 年Julie Kliger Tell me How can be freedom be there with conditions...? These are Two opposite vules..!!! However, that's happening all over in the health care services today because market is putting and drawing the maps of our life How to live What to eat What and when to exert .... My machine is better than that machine etc Digital Market is mapping and designing course of our day today and future Life of health care and that is At the cost the basic element of" Patients centric services." .which are essential The basic elements of life and in particular health care services to survive are Empathy and love and should be at centre of patient care services . Only a personal touch.. talk and assurance can work miracles and will help to recover the patient to lead the life peaceful in fastest way And not the the machine touch or speech.. I think we will be going in wrong direction in healthcare if the compass of all health care services is given in the hands of machines and robots..
Registered Nurse at private
2 年Very good points you make. In South Africa we're so far behind, but we are trying.
Teacher of Pharmagology at Monash University
2 年Hi Julie long time since I seen you, your done great work with your stories, BRENDY