Navigating the last mile on the Internet of Health

When it comes to migrating sick care to disease prevention, chronic disease management and population health, the Internet last mile might be an important part of the patient behavior change last mile. It can give health marketeers, data managers and health navigators the tools they need to make a difference in outcomes.

The Internet of patient-customers is just getting started. Augmented reality, beacons, smart cars, smart homes and almost everything we touch can be turned into "touch points" that might impact our health. Health navigators, using these tools, can provide real time advice and assistance on what to eat, how much to exercise, the risks of OTC drugs, understood consent when it comes time for an elective procedure and much more.

Amazon, now that they have bought Whole Foods, has a last mile problem similar to the sick care business last mile problem. It isn’t at all clear whether the king of e-commerce can do in fresh cabbages what it has done in CDs, books and just about everything else. Amazon and Whole Foods combined still have a small fraction of Wal-Mart’s share of groceries. And Amazon faces a “last mile” logistics problem of getting fresh food to doorsteps that it doesn’t with other goods.

For example, researchers at the Barbara Davis Center at the University of Colorado are monitoring young patients with Type 1 diabetes using remote sensing and telemedicine technologies to increase compliance.

Or, consider the Mercedes Benz mBrace program. When you sign up, your car gets monitored, they can open your locked doors remotely, call 911 if you don't respond to a distress call, you can download an iPhone app, you can get concierge services and lots more for just $_/month. Image if they could do that for your body instead of your GLE.

A lot has been made about what to call "patients" in new age of democratization and empowerment. Patients are not in a position to judge the quality or effectiveness of medical interventions. Doctors have a hard enough time. However, health care customers definitely measure service and experience, and , when it comes to disease prevention and health, have a responsibility to do so. But, they need not just the information, but the tools , motivations and rewards to do so. The Internet of Health might be the answer.

Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA is the President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs at www.sopenet.org