By LeAnna J. Carey | Apr 05, 2011
Cicero said that the art of medicine is valuable to us because it is conducive to health, not because of its scientific interest. You have to admit, there is a great deal of wisdom packed into that statement and begs the question, where is medicine now and where does it need to go? With healthcare spending growing faster than inflation and national income [1], it would appear that we should focus on something more sustainable than treating disease, invasive procedures and writing prescriptions.
One area that is holding promise is Lifestyle Medicine where promoting a healthy lifestyle engages consumers in new levels of conversations with their physician. Lifestyle medicine is defined as the application of environmental, behavioral, medical and motivational principles to the management of lifestyle-related health problems in a clinical setting [2].
I recently, had the opportunity to discuss with author physician, Dr. Stuart Seale, MD and innovator physician, Dr. Virginia Gurley, MD, the importance of personal health choices, sleep, nutrition, and how personally rewarding it would be for both physician and patient to connect over the elements of integrative and lifestyle medicine. The discussion over what truly constitutes health and how this topic relates to the fundamental changes needed in our healthcare system coming from physicians is not only motivating, but a call to action for all of us in healthcare to look at our own health behaviors and willingness to be mindful for a healthier lifestyle. I hope that you enjoy this podcast where two physician thought-leaders are doing more that philosophizing, but leading the way in transforming the way we think about and create health.
By LeAnna J. Carey | Mar 16, 2011
As we know, there is a groundswell movement going on in the mobile health industry within the context of consumer empowerment. The use of mobile phone applications to track and improve one’s own health is on the rise according to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers, Health Research Institute survey on the mhealth industry.
Some interesting facts from the study:
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More consumers, 20%, would monitor for fitness or wellbeing compared to 18% who would use mobile health devices to assist their doctor to monitor their health conditions.
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Even though surveys show women make most health decisions for the family, men are twice as likely as women to use their cell phone to get health related reminders.
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Even though most Americans are insured through group health policies, individual policy holders were more likely to buy mobile health applications and to pay out of pocket for electronic visits with physicians
Clearly, consumers see the value in mobile health applications to monitor their health and as the study suggested, this new industry opens up opportunities for new players and business models. To look at this study in greater detail, we invite you to listen to Lea Carey, TheHealthMaven, and Dr. Virginia Gurley, MD, the Founder of AuraViva as they discuss the industry from physician and entrepreneurial perspectives.
By LeAnna J. Carey | Jan 28, 2011
I just finished reading Reengineering Health Care by Jim Champy and Harry Greenspun, M.D., and recommend this book as required reading for everyone interested in health care reform. Their vision is relevant, motivating and, I believe, a call to participate in transforming the status quo. One key premise -
"Reengineering must be done, and it must be done by clinicians. No angel of government, even under the auspices of "national health care reform," can reduce the cost and improve the quality of health care without the work and leadership of clinicians." (Champy & Greenspun p19)
Their message is particularly confirming for AuraViva as we launch the beta phase of our offering and reflect on this milestone. Two thoughts come to mind; first, the importance of physician innovation in the current environment, and second, the need for consumer empowerment tools related to everyday health and wellness. Focusing on 'who' this service is for, aligns the 'why' and ‘how’ of our innovation journey - to provide a tool where consumers can engage, visualize and understand their own health in terms of their personal life rhythms.
While we acknowledge the focused effort and challenges of highly trained clinicians to capture those teachable moments within care encounters, we know that life and health happen around the clock, in-between those teachable moments. Unless you live with a clinician 24/7, this engagement obstacle is both a limitation and an opportunity. Our goal is for AuraViva users to discover what their personal life rhythms and patterns look like by visualizing the peaks and valleys of every day living and to explore how timing adjustments can lead to optimal vitality, performance and sleep improvement.
We are not sure what the other side of our beta looks like, but you can trust that this service is offered in the spirit of health care reengineering by clinicians, and we will be listening to the most important voice in this endeavor, the consumer. Stay tuned