By Erica
This morning, the WSJ reported on various Silicon Valley companies striving to reduce healthcare costs and inefficiencies using high-tech methods. Examples include:
• A miniature digestible chip that can be attached to conventional medication, sending a signal that confirms whether patients are taking their prescribed pills.
• A wearable device for wirelessly measuring vital signs in hospital rooms.
• A Band-Aid-like sensor that monitors patients on the move by measuring respiration, fluid status and physical movements.
Can these technologies help improve our ailing healthcare system?
Eric Topol, a cardiologist and genomics professor at Scripps Research Institute, believes they can. “Wireless applications have the potential to change every one of these areas,” he said at an industry event in San Diego last week.
I must say I’m surprised some of these ideas are only now being developed. Wirelessly measuring vital signs seems like a no-brainer, as it eliminates the need for “spot checks” and allows for continuous monitoring of various signs such as blood pressure.
The digestible chip, though intended for good use, seems a bit “Big Brother” to me. I take my prescribed pills in the proper dosage, so I don’t know that I will get behind this chip.
What do you think about Silicon Valley’s effort to improve healthcare?
August 4th, 2009
By Cheri
In an interesting article by Kaiser Health News (via MSNBC) health experts raise issue with the widely held belief that by stressing prevention they will lower healthcare costs. Furthermore, these experts also warn that prevention may not help to save lives either.
One area highlighted was cancer screening for breast and cervical cancers. He notes that these tests do not save money in the long run but do help to save lives. Read more at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32275652/ns/health-health_care/
What are your thoughts on preventative care?
August 4th, 2009
By Jackie
In today’s economic climate, we’re all trying to stretch a buck. Cooking in instead of eating out, staycations in lieu of European trips, haggling with your doctor on medical costs…wait, hold the anesthesia. What? According to Forbes.com, consumers are becoming increasingly more savvy as it relates to their healthcare costs and savings, and why not – on average, families spend more than $3k each year on copays, coinsurance, premiums and deductibles, a whopping 2x as much as a decade ago. As Forbes reports, the rising healthcare costs, coupled with increased share paid by the patient, is giving patients the incentive, and courage, needed to bargain their healthcare prices.
Some tips for bargaining? Try to work out a reasonable deal in advance. Remember, your MD is by no means a car salesman and thus, will not respond well to lowballing. Work with your physician in advance of your surgery or procedure so you both feel comfortable with the level of care, and corresponding cost, for the treatment. Then, post-service, ask for a complete, itemized bill – and be sure to look out for mistakes. Often hospitals will double-charge you on certain items and interestingly enough, patients can obtain a significant discount just by challenging specific items on the bill.
Rest assured, if negotiation isn’t your forte, companies like Medical Cost Advocate will do the dirty work for you. According to Forbes, the company can save you, on average, anywhere from 10% to 40% on total costs.
If you’re anything like me, there’s a certain part of this trend that seems, well, rather unnatural and uncomfortable. I grew up with the mindset that healthcare costs were healthcare costs, no questions asked. I wouldn’t want the reduced cost of my procedure to, even unintentionally, determine the level of quality I receive. Whether or not you agree, one thing is for sure – the way we think about medical care is drastically changing, right before our very eyes.
July 23rd, 2009
