Health Tech Can't Solve Our Big Problems—Until We Shift Priorities

What can we learn from a divorce in Taiwan in 2014? Surprisingly, quite a lot when it comes to technology and medicine. It was the first time (or the first time heavily covered by global media) that smartphone addiction, or “technoference” in a relationship, was cited as the cause for a divorce.

Social scientists have been trying to understand and quantify the depth and breadth of technoference for years. What we all know is that our human needs are not well met by inhuman circuits. And yet, in medicine, where our human needs are greater than just about anywhere else, we pay less attention to that truth.

A lot of people are putting a lot of faith in technology to get us out of the messes we’re in. I see the amazing potential (in the life-saving kind and the data and digital health kind), but as it is currently being used and developed, I don’t believe it will help us solve some of the biggest challenges we face.

Until technology becomes a tool that helps people on the front lines of medicine build better relationships, it won’t be the solution we need.

How do we use this idea—the merging of human needs and tech potential—as we innovate? In a recent article, I explore the three clues we should be following to solve this mystery and some of our greatest health care challenges along with it. In it, I look at lessons from the Physician's Foundation, Will Ferrell, and Rasu Shrestha. I find forward-looking examples in Aledade (from Farzad Mostashari) and the Heal app. And I offer some suggestions for what should define health tech in 2018. A hint: it’s not AI or digital health.

Click here to read the article.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the ideas!