In our everyday lives, technology enhances our experiences. We can check in for flights, track our heart rates, and receive customized shopping suggestions. Yet, managing health feels stuck in the past. Many people still print records, repeat medical histories at every appointment, and fill out the same forms repeatedly. This is both frustrating and potentially dangerous.
Recently, leaders from health care and technology came together at the White House, aiming to fix the broken parts of health tech. It’s time to stop waiting and start making real changes.
Take the story of my daughter, Morgan. She has a rare disease, sees 12 doctors, and takes 21 medications. For over a decade, she has dealt with uncoordinated systems, repetitive paperwork, and inconsistent medical records. During her short office visits, she doesn’t receive enough continuous support—no smart tools to help manage her symptoms and no tailored advice.
Her smartwatch tracks her activity, but it doesn’t account for her condition. It can’t tell her when to rest or take her medication. She deserves a more personalized approach. After uploading her medical records to an AI assistant, we discovered a crucial error in her diagnoses that might allow her to join a groundbreaking clinical trial. This is the true potential of connected health data—when it works, it can lead to life-changing opportunities.
However, current systems fall short. While the federal government has invested in digitizing health care, simply going digital isn’t enough. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), led by Dr. Mehmet Oz, is working to create a national provider directory. This directory aims to connect different systems so patients can receive coordinated care. Currently, there is no single source of trusted information about healthcare providers, leading to inefficiencies and wasting over $2.7 billion annually in administrative costs, according to the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare.
Modernizing how Medicare and Medicaid data is shared is essential too. The goal is to build tools that allow patients to manage their health confidently, making them as seamless and smart as our favorite daily apps. Importantly, this will not create a federal database of individual health data. Instead, it will be a network of providers that prioritizes privacy and transparency, with patients controlling who accesses their information.
The private sector must play a role in this transformation. Apps and services that convert raw data into meaningful health guidance will come from innovators—clinicians, developers, and startups.
Imagine this: at your doctor’s office, you could scan a QR code to instantly share your health history, similar to how we board flights today. Or picture having an AI assistant that understands your care plan and helps you with medications or appointments. This isn’t science fiction; it’s well within reach.
The time for change is now. The right data at the right time can be life-changing. Let’s move past the outdated systems and build a health care environment that is clear and connected. The potential for improvement is huge, and with collective action, we can create a health care experience that is as user-friendly and reliable as technology in other parts of our lives.
For more on this initiative, visit the CMS Health Technology Ecosystem.
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