Architecting Future Health -Who feels let down by conventional medicine? MANY people.

In today’s Washington Post article, "Doctors Couldn't Help. They Turned to a Shadow System of DIY Medical Tests," the discussion around the growing trend of DIY medical testing highlights a significant shift in healthcare. Reading over the 4000+ responses to the article, validates the impression that people mistrust Big Health. Here is what DocAi is thinking:

Patient Autonomy and Capabilities

1. Patient Autonomy: People have the right to make decisions about their own health. This autonomy is fundamental to person-centered care, putting focus where it belongs: on the person and what they are solving for: health. Autonomy is supported by ethical principles like respect for persons and informed consent.

2. Capabilities: While people are increasingly informed and empowered to manage their health, the ability to sift through complex medical information varies widely. Some people are well-equipped to research and understand their conditions, while others may struggle with the volume and complexity of available information. Still, a paternalistic, "Marcus Welby" approach is not contemporary to our current state of technology, data and access. AI has the potential to be able to curate information relevant for an individual and fill the gap in what testing is valuable to an individual.

Health System Centeredness and Timeliness

1. Person-Centered Care: Ideally, the healthcare system should be centered around the needs of people. However, there are systemic challenges that can impede this goal, such as limited appointment times, administrative burdens, and fragmented care delivery. Many doctors are not "present" and the impression is they are not really listening to a person's concerns. The crucial change in culture is away from regarding people with a problem as "patient's," which is a pejorative, as it depicts an unequal power relationship.

2. Timeliness: Timely access to healthcare is often a challenge. Delays in appointments, diagnostic tests, and treatments can lead to worse outcomes. Somehow the "care" is always at the convenience of the provider rather than the person. Home-based tests can potentially address some of these delays by providing quicker access to diagnostic information.

Understanding and Communication

1. Provider-Person Relationship: A strong, communicative relationship with healthcare providers is essential for effective care. Unfortunately, many people feel that their providers do not have enough time to truly understand their needs or engage in meaningful conversations. The trust has been lost, in part, because people sense that a "money" motive is preeminent in the relationship.

2. Early vs. Late Intervention: Many interventions, tests in the current healthcare system are reactive, addressing problems after they have become severe. Early intervention is crucial for better health outcomes, and home-based tests could play a significant role in identifying issues before they escalate.

Regulatory Considerations

1. Regulatory Oversight: While regulation is important to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical tests, overly paternalistic regulations can limit access to potentially beneficial tools. Patients should have the freedom to use home-based tests while being provided with the necessary guidance and support to interpret the role, optimal use and results correctly.

2. Information Quality: It’s important to acknowledge that healthcare providers can also provide poor or incomplete information. Ensuring that patients have access to accurate, understandable, and relevant information from all sources, including home-based tests, is crucial for empowering them to make informed decisions.

Conclusion

Balancing patient autonomy with the need for accurate and timely healthcare is a delicate task. The integration of home-based tests into the healthcare system should be approached with careful consideration of both the potential benefits and the risks. Regulatory bodies must find a middle ground that protects patient safety without stifling innovation or access to valuable tools.

For the future of health, individually and collectively, it’s imperative to focus on empowering people through education, accessible information, and tools that support early intervention. This approach can help create a more responsive, person-centered healthcare system that meets the needs of individuals in a timely and effective manner.