Treatment from afar
Technology enabling remote medical care
Technological ways of providing medical care remotely are becoming available in various parts of the world, including SA, but large-scale use is not yet feasible
Technology is pushing health care to new frontiers, and some medical schemes, such as Discovery, are eager to jump onto the tech innovation bandwagon. In May the company will launch a new feature on the Discovery Health app with a curated library that will allow members access to information about their ailments and available treatments. Data gathered through wearable devices, the Discovery app and the Vitality Active Rewards platforms have made a great deal of information on patients available to doctors and the medical scheme. The curated library will be an alternative to using “Dr Google”, as so many people do nowadays. But whereas the Internet may bombard searchers with a cluster of possible diagnoses for their symptoms, the app will analyse people’s medical history and detect patterns, and it will do this more effectively than a human could. Discovery Health CEO Jonathan Broomberg says prediction and customising treatment for each patient will improve their health outcomes. The...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.