Digitizing Self-Healthcare with Google, Pfizer, Under Armour, Walgreens and WebMD

How can digital technologies enable self-healthcare in novel ways? This was the theme of a meeting sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and hosted by Google, with the title, “Advancing Consumer Health through New Technology and Next Generation OTC Healthcare” held on 12th April 2016 at Google offices in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Pharmaceutical brand drugs switching to over-the-counter packaged goods, the Cellscope Otoscope used by parents checking their young children’s earaches, connected shoes and earbuds for athletic enhancement, and omni-channel retail shopping….these are a few of the signals we see emerging to enable consumers’ to drive healthy behaviors, wellness and self-healthcare. Speakers from companies covering these market segments presented their views on health care consumers’ demand and use of digital tech for their own and their families’ health. David Pogue, technology raconteur, moderated the session, kicking the discussion off with the scenario of a patient recently admitted to an ER with chest pain where clinicians took advantage of the patient’s Fitbit data. Based on that patient-generated data, the doctors were able to connect the data-dots in time to prevent the fellow from dying. Pogue ticked off many examples of tracking devices, covering sunlight exposure, posture, weight and BMI, heart-tracking t-shirts, smart shoes, earbuds, forks to slow down eating, and finally the SexFit Bondero for the gentlemen-folk. These device...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Rx Source Type: blogs