An Injection of Interaction

Health 2.0 is not just a concept, it is also an LLC. A quick glance at the links I've just provided should illustrate the difference handily.

The LLC is currently hosting their Second Annual Health 2.0 Conference , examining the plans offered by our candidates as well as the effects of the chaotic economy on health care and how social technology fits into the overall picture. Evidently, there is quite a bit of interest since as of last Friday night they have had to add another room to the conference where the proceedings may be watched on a large screen due to attendee demand. It is a sign of how vital this conversation is when we see people shelling out money to sit in an adjoining room watching a video feed.

One of the biggest themes at the event is the way in which the methodology is shifting. Social media-driven approaches need to engage with the patient base in ways entirely unprecedented within the medical industry.

Lidija Davis of The New York Times reports:

The rules of engagement however, as Clay Shirky pointed out in his keynote on Wednesday, are changing.

According to a study released today by Edelman [PDF], trust and confidence are inversely proportionate to demand for health care. With an aging population, behavior-related chronic conditions, and expensive innovations, companies must help people address their specific personal health concerns with thorough, transparent and specific information.

Additionally, the financial meltdown is aggravating an already weak health system as people forgo or postpone essential health care due to loss of insurance or inability to pay.

The answer, according to the survey, is engagement: "Effective health engagement can build trust, and conversely, trust is the key to deeper engagement," said Nancy Turett (Edelman).

Interactivity in the name of the game is the modern day. Online access is becoming less and less optional as time goes by, and companies are starting to realize this. The consumer of 2008 has high expectations learned from their use of services like online banking and websites such as eBay and Amazon. As belts tighten during the economic downturn, more and more people will be taking a closer look at their health expenditures trying to find ways to reduce their capital outlay.

A good example on the corporate end is Aetna. The company is working on a system to allow their customers to transfer their existing health records to Microsoft's Health Vault, an online EMR option. Other big players in this aspect of the industry are WebMD, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft all of whom have programs worth watching. (Ms. Davis' article linked below has more detail and quotes from each them.)

Transparency note: The Health 2.0 Conference has Kaiser Permanente as its Flagship Sponsor. This blog's affiliation with Kaiser Permanente can be viewed on our About page.

SOURCE: "Health 2.0: Rules of Engagement " 10/23/08
photo courtesy of zaldylmg, used under its Creative Commons license

IADMD Offers Free Web Sites for Doctors & Dentists

According to a press release dated this morning, the International Association of Dental and Medical Disciplines (IADMD) is headed for the 33rd Yankee Dental Conference with some cutting edge plans. The medical professionals trade group is offering a new membership perk to those who join -- a professionally done, "upscale" website.

“A Web site is a like an office on the Internet and doctors should have flashy, professional and state-of-the-art Web sites,” says Dr. John J. Ryan, president of IADMD.

At the conference, the IADMD booth will be fully wired, so the various Web site design offerings IADMD offers can be displayed.

But it's more than just a giveaway. Connecting doctors of all disciplines to the Internet is the first step in an overall plan to reform the health care system so that doctors of all disciplines can communicate with one another and under one umbrella group.

The IADMD has an ambitious vision statement that embraces health care reform: "...to promote worldwide healing with a doctor-led, non-socialized plan, that does not add taxes or burdens on employers or individuals, and secures every person's right to the highest quality whole-body health care." Of particular note is the fact that IADMD websites will be e-commerce enabled, allowing patients to both pay online and order products from their doctors. The press release also touts the fact that a similar website would cost between five and ten thousand U.S. dollars, plus monthly hosting and administration fees.

The IADMD gets points for transparency. They are very straightforward about the fact that this is not only meant to be a necessary step forward technologically, but also a great way shine a spotlight on their own organization and efforts:

“If this sounds like a steal that’s because it is,” says Dr. Ryan. “People need to know that they are getting a bargain and we're doing it to get attention.”

The IADMD can be found at Booth #2812 and #2813 of the Yankee Dental Conference, January 30 - February 3 in Boston, Massachusetts. If any of our readers make it to the conference please stop by and share your thoughts about the IADMD initiative or other discoveries by posting a comment.

SOURCE: "New Doctor-led Health Care Reform Group All Smiles as it Heads to the Yankee Dental Conference" 01/28/08
SOURCE: "Yankee Dental Conference 33"

photo is a screencapture of the IADMD website's front page