For
quite a while, companies in the United States have been competing to
create a medical device popular and simple as thermometer or
glucometer, yet much more intelligent and useful. One of the founding
fathers of this technological boom is Irwin Jacobs, a millionaire
who, encouraged by his colleagues - Warren Buffett and Bill Gates,
decided to give away a great portion of his income to improve the
world. Moreover, Jacobs, a PhD of electrical engineering and the
founder of the giant telecommunications company Qualcomm, announced a
contest to find the most effective personal wireless device.
10
million dollars await the authors of the best platform that within
three days will diagnose 15 diseases in 30 people, without the need
for costly hospital examinations and waiting in line to see the
specialist. The micro device must also record basic results, such as
blood pressure or body temperature, in real time and show useful
information if necessary.
Although
there are hundreds of interesting prototypes, Jacobs is still waiting
for the one. The most known of the submitted projects it Scanadu
Scout, a drive you could fit in a hand, which checks levels oxygen in
the blood, chest expansion during breathing, body temperature, blood
pressure and other activities of our body, combining many devices in
one. You just need to touch your forehead with it.
Another
example of such appliances is the Zio XT Patch, a small
sticker-device, which may in the future replace the inconvenient
holter monitor. The electronic sticker is much lighter; you can wear
it longer (up to two weeks) and take a shower with it. It sends
real-time data to your mobile phone.
It’s
not about creating an impressive gadget, which would bore us after a
couple of days – the point is to be able to spot any problems as
soon as they appear, to prevent a serious illness. After all, doctors
can’t monitor us non-stop.
Supporters
of new medical gadgets are convinced that the devices will be widely
available in several years. Scientists are sure that consumers are
ready for the revolution in medicine. Nowadays, millions of Americans
use simple mobile applications such as calorie counters or menstrual
cycle monitors. Some doctors, on the other hand, are not so
optimistic about the changes that await the industry – they don’t
want to share their hard-earned knowledge with machines.
Nowadays,
they pay more and more attention to disease prevention in the United
States. That’s the role of health care. Interestingly, not
patients’ right organizations, but hospitals – such as the
world-famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester – take action in raising
awareness. They recommend data-bases of diseases and therapies on
certain health-related websites, where you can also find examples of
questions you should ask the doctor, when experiencing certain
symptoms.
Some
hospitals plan to recommend medical gadgets to certain patients. They
would probably advise such solution to patients at high risk of heart
disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes first.
Questions:
Do
you self-diagnose using Google?
What
is the role of the doctor when patients can self-diagnose using apps,
gadgets or internet browsers?
How
do you think the future looks like for such appliances? Will they
become popular and be used on a daily basis?
1) Do you self-diagnose using Google?
ReplyDeleteI cannot comprehend how little intelligence there is in people that think Google is their doctor. Read, sure - knowledge is priceless. Self diagnose - lol. I'm sorry, but if someone thinks that as a regular Joe with Google they are better than real doctor with years of experience - they are genuinely stupid. I hope that every person that believes in which doctors, kabala docotors, self diagnose, vaccination is bad and all natural disappears. They are the reason we cannot move past XX century with medicine.
2) What is the role of the doctor when patients can self-diagnose using apps, gadgets or internet browsers?
Explained above. Stupid idea. I can give You a thought. 95% of people that read this have a abnormal growth in their body that will never be found and diagnosed.
3) How do you think the future looks like for such appliances? Will they become popular and be used on a daily basis?
Like explained above above. Stupid idea to put people in charge of their lives rather that in the hands of doctors. Hey wait.... Let's do that. The future will come faster.
My husband worked in a "telemedicine" company. They made and programmed electronic devices for older or chronically ill people to keep control over their blood pressure, heartbeat and temperature (few other things too, I guess). They have to connect them to their body three times a day and doctor gets results through mail right after. I have no idea if this thing will be accepted and used by elders though.
ReplyDeleteSelf-diagnosing through google seems stupid, but sometimes it's the only option. I live in Warsaw for few years now and I've never received medical help in time, even when I paid for this. So now when something minor happens I try to heal myself at home.
Martyna
ReplyDeleteget yourself some private insurance. Not that expensive, but worth it.
I did but it was so confusing that I stopped. I prefer to rahter talk with my parents/grandparents or actually go to the real doctor to be sure. I am in a good position because my aunt is a nurse so I can always ask her too.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in such applications, real doctor is always better. You cannot diagnose your body without the perspective. Body is co complicated and it works like a domino…
I hope such apps won't get popular among the crowds. Other thing is that there're less and less good doctors. Or I am wrong?
Do you self-diagnose using Google?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't, beacuse I think it is pointless, even if I would found potential solution to my illness how would I make sure that this is right one? Using "google's" adivce I would hurt myself even more. I recommend going to nearest pharmacy and ask there for advice. People which are working there are really well educated and conversation with them would be more usefull.
What is the role of the doctor when patients can self-diagnose using apps, gadgets or internet browsers?
The role of the doctor is to use their brain and experience. Human body is to much complicated and unpredictable for most of the apps and gadgets.
How do you think the future looks like for such appliances? Will they become popular and be used on a daily basis?
They for sure will become popular, but they won't "eliminate" doctors, hospitals etc.
1. No. I search the internet for disease details when one/some of them attract my attention and just to fulfil my curiosity I check what that is.
ReplyDelete2. I think the role of the doctor is still very important and needed. Gadget can only check basic body parameters. When one or more are different than normal, the device can notify you to contact a doctor, but it won't diagnose you with a disease.
3. I think it's a very probable screenplay. People nowadays like to simplify things as they can and many of them will take advantage from that kind of solutions.
Do you self-diagnose using Google?
ReplyDeleteIf I can find something in google I already know the disease because you can find out only easy ones there. Its not a good idea to treat google as doctor.
What is the role of the doctor when patients can self-diagnose using apps, gadgets or internet browsers?
It will pass a long time before doctors could feel threaten. This kind of aplications
are at very low stage.
How do you think the future looks like for such appliances? Will they become popular and be used on a daily basis?
It would be great if we had machines like in movies Prometheus or Elisium.
Aplications will be more popular but someones bad interpretation of disease and death can
slow down its development.