What are some of the biggest unsolved problems in healthcare today that technology could fix? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
Answer by Heather Fernandez, Co-Founder and CEO at Solv., on Quora:
Significant investment and discussion in healthcare tech centers around areas that push the boundaries of what’s possible today. Genetic testing, artificial intelligence, robotics and wearables all hold the exciting promise of highly personalized care recommendations and outcomes.
But guess what, when consumers are asked what they really want from the healthcare system today, consumers seek ease of access and visibility of cost. Consumers want more control in their healthcare experience and feel like they aren’t getting it.
Along with the Urgent Care Association, Solv ran a survey asking consumers what kind of healthcare tech would most meaningfully improve their experience in healthcare. As it turns out, the top technology requested by patients is something that restaurants, airlines, hair salons and yoga studios have had for over a decade — easy online and mobile booking. 67% of respondents indicated this as the most important, and despite the narrative that it’s millennials driving all the change in healthcare, it was those age 45 to 60 requesting it the most.
The next two top requests also fall into the category of what we call, the “brilliant basics”. 48 percent of consumers requesting paperless check-in, followed by 40 percent requesting access to prices ahead of time.
When you consider that consumers have grown accustomed to doing nearly everything on their mobile phone, these findings are obvious. The astonishing part is the disconnect between consumer desire and their current healthcare experience. While nearly every other industry has been redefined through the use of mobile technology to smooth the “transaction”, healthcare continues to be years behind.
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