Page 8 - Spring_2022
P. 8

 The long read
Most people in the industry would answer the question of why healthcare has been a technology laggard by quoting the high regulations or sensitive information as reasons (there are more). These are true. However, the lightning-fast adoption in the wake of the pandemic shows that, in fact, the main problem has been inertia.
The main disease burden today is from chronic conditions that require frequent diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and often a multi-disciplinary approach. Many also require a high level of patient compliance and behaviour change. In this world, expensive secondary and tertiary care centres do a lousy job providing good outcomes at reasonable cost.
If one was to design a healthcare system from scratch today using available technology, it would likely be focused on identifying risk factors early (either at home or in low acuity primary care centres), monitoring them (remotely) and focusing interventions on behaviour change.
A powerful analysis by McKinsey shows that health behaviours and social determinants contribute more strongly to outcomes than healthcare. Alas, the system isn’t geared to provide interventions focused on behaviours and social aspects well.
08 Albion news | Spring 2022





























































































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