Tracking health information is an evolutionary step when we need a revolution. America is buckling under the cost of healthcare. More than 115 million people have at least one chronic disease and these conditions account for 84 percent of healthcare spending.This is both bad news and a tremendous opportunity. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes cases could be prevented if we simply tackled major risk factors. In addition, 40 percent of cancers could be prevented with the same approach.
However, we cannot generate these changes by grafting new technologies onto a broken system. We need to make prevention the centerpiece of a redesigned healthcare infrastructure. We need a system of physician extenders: nutritionists, fitness professionals, health coaches and nurses to interact frequently with patients.By continuously engaging with patients, these professionals can interpret aggregated data (from HealthKit or any other source) and provide the personalized feedback so critical to motivate new behaviors and improve health. In addition, a “smart” clinical interface would sort the data to present the most relevant information—in other words, separating signal from noise.
We know this approach can work because it has been proven, over and over. The University of Pittsburgh’s SMART Trial measured activity in three groups. One used a paper nutrition/activity diary; one received a personal digital assistant (PDA) and tracking software; and one received daily feedback from trained coaches to complement their PDAs. Not unexpectedly, the third group had better results—adhering to their goals, increasing their activity and losing weight.
Another study, conducted by Partners Center for Connected Health, compared participants who were given a pedometer with those who received both a pedometer and coaching. Again, the second group increased their activity significantly compared to those who received no coaching.
What this tells us is the human interaction is central to any successful long-term intervention.
- More Here
However, we cannot generate these changes by grafting new technologies onto a broken system. We need to make prevention the centerpiece of a redesigned healthcare infrastructure. We need a system of physician extenders: nutritionists, fitness professionals, health coaches and nurses to interact frequently with patients.By continuously engaging with patients, these professionals can interpret aggregated data (from HealthKit or any other source) and provide the personalized feedback so critical to motivate new behaviors and improve health. In addition, a “smart” clinical interface would sort the data to present the most relevant information—in other words, separating signal from noise.
We know this approach can work because it has been proven, over and over. The University of Pittsburgh’s SMART Trial measured activity in three groups. One used a paper nutrition/activity diary; one received a personal digital assistant (PDA) and tracking software; and one received daily feedback from trained coaches to complement their PDAs. Not unexpectedly, the third group had better results—adhering to their goals, increasing their activity and losing weight.
Another study, conducted by Partners Center for Connected Health, compared participants who were given a pedometer with those who received both a pedometer and coaching. Again, the second group increased their activity significantly compared to those who received no coaching.
What this tells us is the human interaction is central to any successful long-term intervention.
- More Here
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