YOUR HEALTH A JOINT VENTURE WITH A MGEN Beyond the waiting room “It’s time for doctors to rec- Wendy Sue Swanson is a Se- ognize that good information attle-based pediatrician, the now exists online. It’s where mother of two young boys, our patients are and where we author of the SeattleMama- need to be,” says Dr. Swanson. Doc blog, and an active social “It’s giving us the opportunity media user. She considers on- to change how we deliver in- line communication between formation about health care.” physician and patient to be Dr. Swanson blogs for the an invaluable addition to the Seattle Children’s Hospital hands-on medicine that is weekly. She tweets often, posts provided daily in doctor’s of- on Facebook and is a LinkedIn fices around the globe. user. She writes about vac- Social media and online re- cines, sudden infant death sources have allowed patients syndrome, car seats, toddler to become more informed and and teens, and the personal more empowered, and it re- experiences of being a mother, quires health care to be more a patient and a caregiver. transparent. By participating “I have all of these tools at online, she says, doctors can my fingertips. I can use them listen, learn, share, inform, to see where myths are being curate and dispel misinfor- created, state the facts, and Dr. Clive Ward-Able, left, Amgen Canada Inc.; Dianne Carmichael, UHN Solutions. mation that can be dispensed allay fears. I can connect in a in chat rooms, forums and by one-to-many format and en- other non-expert sources. gage in people’s lives in the Patients hold the key to a sustainable medical system “We can teach patients manner they choose. When where to go online and how they come to the office and to find science-based infor- mation, and encourage phys- icians to open communication channels so that office time is more productive and effi- It’s time for Securing a future cient,” says Dr. Swanson. doctors to A face-to-face meeting with a physician typically means recognize that phone calls to set up an ap- pointment for some time in good information the future, waiting periods exists online in the office, and eventually for health care spending a few minutes talk- ing about health concerns. have learned from the infor- Communication often stops mation, we can move onto sustainability for generations learn and connect online, the sample for study, participation after that, leaving patients more important discussions.” hile Canada’s to come.” health care system still relies in clinical trials or real-time with questions between ap- Technology is taking the universal health The solution lies with pa- on fax machines, telephones data feedback.” pointments or when their con- physician/patient relationship care system is tients, she believes, who can be and brief in-office meetings to Linking this information dition changes. To get answers beyond the waiting room. It is believed to be an untapped human resource exchange information. Online and sharing it across the en- to their questions, they often changing the way that families amongW the best in the world, in the fight against chronic and mobile tools can help im- tire system, from researchers search the Internet. receive care and bringing a there is mounting evidence disease. Recent studies have prove adherence to regimens, to physicians, brings a better Twitter is the fastest-grow- more individualized approach suggesting a system slowly los- shown that most patients want promote self-management and understanding of how inter- ing social network and Fa- to the doctor’s office. ing touch with patients and to participate in their own care ultimately empower patients, actions work in the real-world cebook has over one billion “While we don’t have the ill-prepared for the influx of and would be willing to take says Carmichael. and ultimately improves re- active users, but it’s not only capability just yet, my goal is an aging population suffering part in wellness programs, she “We have secure online sults. And it also points to more the millennials that are log- to prove that an empowered from complex, chronic condi- says. Proper patient engage- banking and investing today personalized medicine, where ging on: The fastest-growing and informed patient reduces tions, according to a report ment, Carmichael adds, could using applications that can be knowledgeable and informed demographic on Twitter is the health care costs and improves by the Conference Board of positively impact outcomes and similarly applied to health care patients can be more involved 55 to 64 age group; on Face- outcomes.” Canada. The 2012 report says help reduce the current 40% of outside of the institutional en- in decisions about their treat- book it’s 45- to 54-year-olds. Postmedia that before the system can be patients who fail to adhere to vironment. From customer-re- ment, he says. improved these issues must be the treatment or lifestyle chan- lations management tools and While technology and pa- faced head-on. ges that are necessary for im- mobile response technology for tient engagement are critical According to recent projec- proved health. lifestyle tracking to Bluetooth- for the future of health care in tions, health care will consume “Patients and providers are enabled devices for monitoring Canada, cost remains an issue. 80% of provincial budgets by not always communicating vital signs, embracing technol- “There is no way yet to meas- 2030; chronic conditions will as well as they could. Patients ogy and empowering consum- ure the value of innovation to represent more than 70% of often lack an understanding ers will help manage costs, en- the system and to patients, but those expenditures. Although of medical jargon or are over- hance relationships, support those capabilities are under Canada spends more than whelmed by a profound diag- active communication and en- development,” says Ward-Able. most developed countries on nosis, while providers often gagement, and lead to true par- “Technology that will make that health care, according to a 2010 lack the extra time necessary to ticipatory medicine.” happen is imminent but con- study by the Commonwealth tinued support from all parties Fund, the system is among the is needed to help understand least effective, least efficient, the effectiveness of innovation least timely and least patient- in reaching desired outcomes centred of the 11 countries sur- Waiting for the system to change will in the real-world.” veyed. take time that we don’t have “Waiting for the system to “Our aging population is change will take time that we increasingly suffering from don’t have. We need to apply multiple chronic conditions bridge the gap. One-half to four- Technology is also bringing disruptive, unique thinking to and an increasing appetite for fifths of medical information is with it the ability to under- help patients today,” says Car- technology — a world view our forgotten instantly by patients stand the human biology and michael. 20th century medical model and what they do remember is genetics of diseases, to highly Public/private partnerships did not conceive of. Historical- often recalled incorrectly. Poor characterize them, and to are one alternative. Corpora- ly, health care evolved from an engagement, non-adherence to develop therapeutics specific- tions are motivated to ensure acute-based system and we are recommendations, and lack of ally targeted to a patient, says their employees are healthy now seeing a paradigm shift to self-management result in poor Dr. Clive Ward-Able, executive and productive. Insurance a patient-centred model. Go- outcomes, additional costs to director of research and de- companies are motivated as ing forward we need to focus the system, and can add a level velopment with Amgen Can- they are footing some of the on engagement, prevention, of frustration between doctor ada Inc. bills. And health care providers wellness and self-manage- and patient.” The tracking of outcomes are motivated by a need to im- ment of chronic disease,” says She notes that technology from treatment is a critically prove patient outcomes. Dianne Carmichael, founder could transform the way pa- important component of re- “Partnerships offer a way to and general manager of UHN tients and physicians com- search, he says. “Patients can bring invested parties together Solutions at University Health municate today and be the be key collaborators in helping to preserve something that is Network in Toronto, Canada’s cornerstone of a participatory to gather the data necessary to critically important to Can- largest network of research model that can bring sustain- understand the real-world ef- adians and to the Canadian hospitals. “We need to trans- ability to health care. fectiveness of treatments and economy,” she says. Seattle-based pediatrician Wendy Sue Swanson is an advocate form the system to ensure its While Canadians shop, bank, therapies. Whether it is a tissue Postmedia of physician-patient online communication..