Change is the only constant
in life – and in health care. Technology is driving scientific advances
and is also rapidly transforming how health care is accessed and
delivered, from telemedicine to smart devices, from supply chain to
robotics, and much, much more. At the recent Leerink Partners’
Healthcare: Tech/Services Summit in Cape Cod, I had the opportunity to
meet with others in the industry to discuss the transformative nature of
technology, and what we all must do to build a health ecosystem powered
by technology that truly transforms health for humanity.
Here are three themes that resonated with me:
Embracing Change.
In our more than 130-year history, Johnson & Johnson has embraced change and leveraged it for the benefit of the customers we serve. From the sterilization of surgical suites to the First Aid Kit to the first disposable contact lens, J&J has always been at the forefront of innovation in health care, with a continuous desire to improve the lives of people worldwide. This spirit of embracing change is just as essential today to fully harness technology and rethink how health care can be delivered to people on Main Street as well as to those in remote areas around the globe.
With health care as a major driver of jobs in the U.S. economy, we also need to consider the macro-impacts the tech revolution in health care will have. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care will continue to be the fastest area for job growth through 2024. According to a New York Times article, for every doctor in the United States, there are 16 other health care workers – and half of those are in administrative and other non-clinical roles. While there continues to be a real shortage of medically trained staff that needs to be addressed, technology such as machine learning will transform back-office functions into more efficient and cost-effective operations. I believe that now is the time to embrace this change and get ahead of it, with a focus on training and creating opportunities for the highly skilled health tech jobs of tomorrow.
People at the Center. The progress we’re already made in health care thanks to technology is perhaps most obvious when you focus on the end-user. Consider this: last year, there were more than 1.2 million health and fitness app downloads and 100 million wearables sold globally. And the rapid adoption of health and wellness tech-enabled solutions isn’t just centered on Millennials – 56 percent of Baby Boomers have used technology to seek remote medical care or advice.
Consumers are increasingly expecting that their health and wellness services be digital – and just as simple and intuitive as summoning a ride on their smartphone. Simply put, consumers are in the driver’s seat, and expect that access to and delivery of their health care will be simpler, better and cheaper because of technology. And why not? Now more than ever, we must put people first and think about their wants and needs as we invest in innovation. Sometimes we’re a patient, sometimes we’re a consumer – but we are always a person. Technology fueled by empathy must become the new normal.
It Takes an Ecosystem. As health care innovators, we are all responsible for making the most of technology’s ability to transform human health. When it comes down to it, no single entity can accomplish the transformation of health care alone. At the Leerink Partners’ Summit, there was recognition of not only the value, but the critical need, in collaborating and identifying partnerships to speed up the delivery of health solutions for patients. There won’t be a killer app in healthcare – it’s just not going to happen. It will be about incremental advances, testing and learning, and most importantly, connecting the different parts of the health ecosystem together for consumers and patients.
I appreciated the opportunity to be part of a lively and impactful weekend at the Leerink Partners’ Healthcare: Tech/Services Summit, and look forward to continuing to collaborate with other health and tech leaders to transform how healthcare is delivered and managed.
Here are three themes that resonated with me:
Embracing Change.
In our more than 130-year history, Johnson & Johnson has embraced change and leveraged it for the benefit of the customers we serve. From the sterilization of surgical suites to the First Aid Kit to the first disposable contact lens, J&J has always been at the forefront of innovation in health care, with a continuous desire to improve the lives of people worldwide. This spirit of embracing change is just as essential today to fully harness technology and rethink how health care can be delivered to people on Main Street as well as to those in remote areas around the globe.
With health care as a major driver of jobs in the U.S. economy, we also need to consider the macro-impacts the tech revolution in health care will have. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care will continue to be the fastest area for job growth through 2024. According to a New York Times article, for every doctor in the United States, there are 16 other health care workers – and half of those are in administrative and other non-clinical roles. While there continues to be a real shortage of medically trained staff that needs to be addressed, technology such as machine learning will transform back-office functions into more efficient and cost-effective operations. I believe that now is the time to embrace this change and get ahead of it, with a focus on training and creating opportunities for the highly skilled health tech jobs of tomorrow.
People at the Center. The progress we’re already made in health care thanks to technology is perhaps most obvious when you focus on the end-user. Consider this: last year, there were more than 1.2 million health and fitness app downloads and 100 million wearables sold globally. And the rapid adoption of health and wellness tech-enabled solutions isn’t just centered on Millennials – 56 percent of Baby Boomers have used technology to seek remote medical care or advice.
Consumers are increasingly expecting that their health and wellness services be digital – and just as simple and intuitive as summoning a ride on their smartphone. Simply put, consumers are in the driver’s seat, and expect that access to and delivery of their health care will be simpler, better and cheaper because of technology. And why not? Now more than ever, we must put people first and think about their wants and needs as we invest in innovation. Sometimes we’re a patient, sometimes we’re a consumer – but we are always a person. Technology fueled by empathy must become the new normal.
It Takes an Ecosystem. As health care innovators, we are all responsible for making the most of technology’s ability to transform human health. When it comes down to it, no single entity can accomplish the transformation of health care alone. At the Leerink Partners’ Summit, there was recognition of not only the value, but the critical need, in collaborating and identifying partnerships to speed up the delivery of health solutions for patients. There won’t be a killer app in healthcare – it’s just not going to happen. It will be about incremental advances, testing and learning, and most importantly, connecting the different parts of the health ecosystem together for consumers and patients.
I appreciated the opportunity to be part of a lively and impactful weekend at the Leerink Partners’ Healthcare: Tech/Services Summit, and look forward to continuing to collaborate with other health and tech leaders to transform how healthcare is delivered and managed.
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