One of the things I enjoy about my work is the variety of projects with which I get involved. Heidi L. Hoffman, MPH (Health Care Consulting and Management Support) asked me to work with her on a project to develop an Immunization Action Plan for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She was engaged by MDPH who received a grant from CDC to support this initiative. The goal is to increase adult and adolescent immunization rates in the Commonwealth.
So there I was on Friday morning at Shrewsbury, MA Town Hall with a diverse group of health care professionals (providers, payors, administrators, etc.) all of whom are committed to getting out the vax . This was the first of five regional meetings that MDPH is conducting around the state. We’re looking for input from various parties about the strengths and weaknesses of current efforts to increase immunization rates and the opportunities and obstacles to doing so. All health care is local and this is exemplified by “Community Immunity” a campaign we heard about that the City of Worcester Board of Health has implemented.
Several non-traditional ideas came out of the meeting about how to make access to flu shots convenient. Vax and Vote was one of the more innovative ones. Why not get your flu shot at the same location where you vote? For now, get out and vote AND get out and get vaccinated.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Back to the Future, Forward to the Future
Personalized Medicine: Hi-Tech, Hi-Touch, Maximum Engagement. That was the title of the conference - hosted by The Massachusetts Health Data Consortium - which I attended on Friday.
One of the topics was Concierge Medicine which most certainly falls into the hi-touch category - house calls, same day visits, doctors on call for their own patients. Personalized medicine that is reminiscent of another era, of times gone by. Albeit, as pointed out by one audience member, Concierge Medicine is limited to those who can afford to pay a significant out-of-pocket fee.
Then we heard about Personal Genomics. Definitely hi-tech and yet how much more personal can you get than having full knowledge of your own genes? A different kind of personal, however. One of the speakers pointed out with optimistic excitement that the combination of genetic test results and electronic health records means that doctors don't have to see patients in order to diagnose and treat them.
Perhaps we need to go back to the future where face-to-face patient-doctor relationships can thrive and couple that with the forward to the future promise of genomics. I’m encouraged by the possibility that this allows for a shift away from reactive medicine to early detection, and better yet, preventive medicine.
One of the topics was Concierge Medicine which most certainly falls into the hi-touch category - house calls, same day visits, doctors on call for their own patients. Personalized medicine that is reminiscent of another era, of times gone by. Albeit, as pointed out by one audience member, Concierge Medicine is limited to those who can afford to pay a significant out-of-pocket fee.
Then we heard about Personal Genomics. Definitely hi-tech and yet how much more personal can you get than having full knowledge of your own genes? A different kind of personal, however. One of the speakers pointed out with optimistic excitement that the combination of genetic test results and electronic health records means that doctors don't have to see patients in order to diagnose and treat them.
Perhaps we need to go back to the future where face-to-face patient-doctor relationships can thrive and couple that with the forward to the future promise of genomics. I’m encouraged by the possibility that this allows for a shift away from reactive medicine to early detection, and better yet, preventive medicine.
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