In the years to come, technology will help healthcare providers increase the value that they provide to patients.  At the moment, it is difficult to quantify patient outcomes and to assess the quality of care provided per dollar.  Technological changes will make it easier to make these measurements and will increase the transparency and simplicity of the healthcare industry.  Technology will catalyze a shift from high-end innovation to disruptive innovation, and it will help stratify the way in which healthcare is delivered.  As patients seek accessible care, the spectrum of care will become wider.

Home care is one developing mode of healthcare delivery.  Dovetail Health is one example of a company in this space.  Dovetail’s system combines comprehensive care with telemonitoring, and each patient’s care is managed by a “pod” of Dovetail employees including a nurse practitioner, a pharmacist, and a personal care manager.  The Dovetail system offers consumers transparency and a simple monthly billing scheme.  Outcomes are carefully monitored.  Downsides of the Dovetail model include the facts that it is not readily scalable and that its private payment strategy hinders access.

Another new healthcare delivery system enabled by new technology is synchronous distributed care, exemplified by American Well.  American Well is an online videoconferencing company through which patients can find primary care physicians and specialists.  Through the website, patients pay for ten-minute two-way video consults.  The business model is easily scalable, but its true quality is still unclear.

A third healthcare delivery system that has been implemented in recent years is the retail clinic.  A retail clinic is a clinic within a store, such as a Minute Clinic in a CVS.  Retail clinics provide easy access to relatively inexpensive medical advice.  They integrate nurse practitioners into a highly efficient workflow.  Retail clinics also measure outcomes carefully and promote local competition.  Challenges they face include integrating their services with those of primary care physicians and obtaining regulatory approval.

A fourth model of healthcare delivery made possible by technology is the consultative care model.  Under this system, companies such as Consumer’s Medical Resource offer patients highly organized information about their diagnosis in exchange for a fee.  Many companies provide consultative care to their employees as a way of reducing corporate healthcare costs.  Problems with the consultative care model include its scalability and its ability to bridge the gap between employers and healthcare providers.

Technology will not solve the problems of the healthcare system, but it is enabling the integration of patient experiences and demonstrated value across the spectrum of delivery.  In the future, technology promises to produce cost-effective care, personalized healthcare strategies, and empowered patients.

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