The Creative Destruction of Medicine

The Creative Destruction of Medicine

By

Eric Topol, M.D.

Dr. Topol has written a book describing the effects of today’s “digital revolution” on our medical culture.  This revolution is driving “collaboration and crowd sourcing”, “customized consumption”, “cloud computing”, and “constant connectivity”, what he refers to as “the C’s”.  The C’s drive us to one of the “D’s”, “data driven culture”.

Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies have tested drugs by “population based” trials, which, in their most accurate form are terribly inaccurate.  In its most simple form, in a population based trial, a drug is tested on a certain number of people; works on a certain percentage, then is approved and used on a 100% of the population.   In other words, one dose fits all.  It does not take into account individual characteristics that can cause harmful side effects, or segregate parts of the population that the drug will not help.  Thus we have a drug prescribed to a large part of the population that it either hurts, or has no affect.  A prescription for sickness and loss of huge dollars.

In today’s digital landscape, the technology is emerging for “evidence based” medicine.  Evidence based medicine will be individual based vs. population based.

With new technology we are able to “capture the data”.  Sensor laden devices are shrinking and can be embedded on the person to monitor vitals of all sorts.  These sensors include embedded nanosensor chips, “chip tattoos”, and more.  “There is an app for that” has and will have new meaning.  Doctors will have apps on their smartphones that will measure your vitals while you are at home in comfort.  So will you.  Remote monitoring will achieve new levels and eliminate many office visits and the doctors that accept the new technology will be able to take care of more patients and the doctors that don’t will see their practices diminish.  Personal visits will be a HIPAA compliant “Skype” call.  All of this without the onerous “office visit”. 

Remote monitoring, accurate data collection, data transparency and sharing will all contribute to a healthier population and result in hospital populations shrinking.  In other cases, the patient will remain at home.  Hospitals will be reserved for the severely ill.

You will have access to the central database enabled by all of this “data capture” and will become more educated as to your own health.  Between your self-education and the doctor’s access to all of the available information, diagnoses will be more accurate, mistakes will be greatly reduced and a new era of “transparency” will have arrived.

DNA sequence documentation is also emerging and will result in proper treatments for illnesses.  As Topol says “ routine molecular biologic digitization of humankind is just around the corner”.

3D printing of human organs has the possibility of eliminating the need of spending time on a waiting list for a kidney or other organ.  Currently 3D printing has expedited the process of manufacturing artificial body parts (knees, etc.) and lowered the cost.  Electronic Health Records and Health Information Technology will connect virtually every citizen, physician, clinic, and hospital enabling a transparent diagnosis tailored to every individual.

Yes, there are many potential downsides, but they are outpaced by the benefits.  I could go on and on, however, Topol has covered these and many other subjects I have not mentioned.  This is a book that gives you a good look into medicines past, present and future.  The future looks good for the consumer and the progressive doctor.

Thanks for reading,

Mike