{"id":26955,"date":"2017-11-15T23:07:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T04:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-new-healthcare\/"},"modified":"2017-11-15T23:07:00","modified_gmt":"2017-11-16T04:07:00","slug":"the-new-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-new-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Healthcare"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cDigitization is the process of using technology advancements linked with physical and digital assets to redefine and reimagine current business practices to create a significant competitive advantage\u201d [1]<\/em><\/p>\n

Numbered are the days of battling rush-hour traffic and searching endlessly for a parking spot in an overfilled garage just to be on-time to wait in a room where sick people cough all over you. In short, the experience of seeing a doctor is changing thanks to digitalization. The inflow of patients to see doctors has been inefficient since the beginning of time, but increasingly, healthcare professionals are utilizing telemedicine to streamline the process. \u201cBy definition, telemedicine is any form of clinical health care provided at a distance by way of telecommunications.\u201d [2]<\/p>\n

Telemedicine is a progressive form of healthcare that has proven particularly impactful for low income rural communities where healthcare is scarce or unavailable. One organization that is at the forefront of this technology is the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which is located in a region with some of the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in the nation. Currently, the population per physician ratio in Mississippi counties with less than 15,000 people is more than 3,000 to one. [4] To more efficiently access and move patients through its healthcare system, the University of Mississippi Medical Center serves as an information and diagnosis center for satellite patient facilities that are easily set up in remote locations. These satellite facilities require minimal square footage and no on-site doctors, while providing patients access to healthcare via video and medical image transmitting equipment. \u201cRather than drive 100 miles to a large hospital, a heart patient could be examined by a specialist in a health clinic in his own town.\u201d [3] Medical specialties including, but not limited to asthma care, pediatric cardiology, gynecology, and mental health are accessible at satellite facilities conveniently located in places like shopping malls and retail strip centers. [5]<\/p>\n

Although the upside of this new technology is immense and far reaching, telemedicine does not come without its challenges. Some physicians have difficulty getting comfortable with either the concept or technology, and as a result are reluctant to become telemedicine practitioners, even after seeing the impact and value it can provide. Another challenge is some insurers will not reimburse for telemedicine\u00a0services, citing concern that telemedicine \u201cwill increase their costs as patients have easier access to a wider range of providers.\u201d [6]<\/p>\n

The progress that has been made by the University of Mississippi Medical Center is really just the tip of the iceberg of what is possible in terms of efficiency and reach. Today, millions of Americans still do not have access to healthcare, much less specialty healthcare. As telemedicine adoption becomes more widespread, unit cost will decrease and effectiveness will increase. In several of the premier medical facilities in the U.S. and around the world, telemedicine is going past the diagnosis and monitoring of patients, and is now providing remote treatment. At Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, fully remote operations are being performed by surgeons via robots. Although in their infancy, these types of procedures will someday be optimized such that patients in almost any location can receive affordable treatment from the most qualified doctor regardless of proximity.<\/p>\n

There are several things that institutions like the University of Mississippi Medical Center must strive to accomplish as they move forward. One such thing is partnering with local and federal governments to subsidize the costs for innovative care. Additionally, such institutions must also work with insurers to make sure that patients have affordable access to healthcare that was not previously accessible. Both of these points will be essential to creating the healthiest population possible as the world benefits from digitalization and technology. (Word count 787)<\/p>\n

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  1. The supply chain of the future – new study finds digitization a top priority to drive next generation supply chain performance. (2016, May 16).\u00a0Business Wire<\/em>Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/1789028010?accountid=11311<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Meena, H. (2016). The digitization of U.S. health care.The Mississippi Business Journal.,\u00a038<\/em>(18), 20-20,23. Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/1789076868?accountid=11311<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Russell, K. (1997). Healing at a distance: Emerging technology can save patients time.The Mississippi Business Journal (Pre-Aug 20, 2012),\u00a019<\/em>(13), 8. Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/206576528?accountid=11311<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Prestridge, S. (1992). Attracting doctors to rural mississippi.The Mississippi Business Journal (Pre-Aug 20, 2012),\u00a014<\/em>(29), 13. Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/206564422?accountid=11311<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Lowery, C. L., Bronstein, J. M., Benton, T. L., & Fletcher, D. A. (2014). Distributing medical expertise: The evolution and impact of telemedicine in arkansas.Health Affairs,\u00a033<\/em>(2), 235-43. Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/1498231615?accountid=11311<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Butcher, L. (2015). TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE TODAY.Physician Leadership Journal,\u00a02<\/em>(3), 8-13. Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/1699520263?accountid=11311<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Hertz, B. T. (2013). Telemedicine: Patient demand, cost containment drive growth.Medical Economics,\u00a090<\/em>(3), 37-42. Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/docview\/1288726518?accountid=11311<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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