Apple’s Health app gets new capabilities with iOS 16. The Health app adds Medications, allowing users to conveniently build and manage a medications list, create schedules and reminders, and track their medications, vitamins, or supplements. Will it matter?
Category Archive: Digital Health
Research has shown that 74% of all U.S. adults use the Internet, and 61% have looked for health or medical information on the Internet. Additionally, 49% have accessed a website that provides information about a specific medical condition or problem. Many people get health information from the Internet but are left on their own to determine if it’s credible. This is one area where pharma companies can restore trust and excel.
Quick Read: Amazon will dramatically expand its healthcare reach with its planned $3.9 billion acquisition of One Medical, a primary care provider with 188 offices in 25 markets nationwide but are they making a strategic move or a mistake? Telehealth has a future, but one could argue that physicians need to see patients firsthand to diagnose and evaluate patients. We also have to ponder the number of people who need more tests and coordination of medical records between HCPs.
Digital pharmacies seem to be springing up everywhere. Allowing patients to order medications online and get delivery via Fed-Ex or the mail does offer time savings. Still, without a significant value (lower costs), they may not find an audience.
- The continued emphasis on digital health is overrated but digital health will become an integral part of total patient care.
- To become a vital part of patient care, digital health providers need to provide the medical community with studies that show their value to patient outcomes.
- The rapid advancement in the digital healthcare field brings many advantages and a few problems that shouldn’t be ignored.
There’s quite a debate in the CPG world about the investment in digital marketing. While some are increasing their digital budgets, does a pancake syrup company need to spend much money? However, with pharma brands, online is essential to a successful marketing strategy.
Mental illnesses are common in the United States. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (52.9 million in 2020). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Suicidal ideation continues to increase among adults in the U.S. 4.58% of adults report having serious thoughts of suicide, an increase of 664,000 people from last year’s dataset. The national rate of suicidal ideation among adults has increased every year since 2011-2012.
Digital health companies aim to address the numerous health care challenges, including poor patient engagement, communication gaps between patients and providers, lack of longitudinal data, inconvenience of care delivery, and insufficient clinical decision support for providers and patients. Maybe, however, they should check with patients first.