If you have a smartphone, you might use one of the many banking apps that exist to manage your finances. From depositing checks to paying back your coworkers, technology has turned the complicated world of banking into a simple, convenient, and consumer friendly task.

Why can’t healthcare do the same? It’s also a complicated system. Why can’t we get all our prescriptions filled in a couple taps, get a diagnosis online, or get a For one, your health is a lot more complicated than money. The math that’s required to paint a picture of your health is a lot more complicated than calculating your available balance. It involves tests, scans, and years of health history: data, data, data.

Still, some things have got to be simplified. It’s called “consumerization,” and simply put, it means making  services more accessible to its everyday users, which helps change the system. When it comes to healthcare, however, we’re talking about a relationship. You have a relationship with your banking institution, but it’s not quite the same type of relationship you have with your doctor. That relationship is supposed to be more like a partnership. Our doctors are not just service providers—they’re human beings working with us (i.e. we have to do some of the work!) to make us the healthiest people we can be.

So when we think about consumerizing or simplifying healthcare, we really have to find those solutions that not only give us better access to our care but in turn that help our doctors provide us with the best care possible. Technology can provide this in the form tools, apps, and services, that not only help us reach our doctors, but provide them with accurate and organized information about our health.

In order to simplify healthcare, both doctor and patient need easier access to records. Patients need to be able to self-track data that makes sense for the doctor (that is, all those calorie counting apps we use need to be able to spit out a report that’s usable to your doc!). And most of all, communication has to improve on both ends. Instead of pressing “0″ to leave a message, we should know our message got delivered to our doctor. And instead of having to tack on an extra hour to their workday calling patients back, taking notes, and filing paperwork, doctors need an easy way to review their patients’ questions and respond on their own time. Removing barriers reduces cost and improves productivity—and that improves care!

We’re optimistic about the future of healthcare. We’ve spoken to enough innovators, physicians, and patients to believe a change is on the horizon.

Spend any amount of time with a teenager and odds are you’ll observe them interacting with some form of technology. Today’s young adult doesn’t know a world without friending, tweeting, or blogging. And while their parents hardly have to worry about depleting the minutes on their mobile plan, they’re in trouble if they don’t have unlimited texting.

According to a Pew Internet survey published this month:

• 78% of teens now have a cell phone, with 47% of those owning smartphones.
• 74% of teens access the internet on mobile devices
• 1/4 teens are “cell-mostly” Internet users, vs. 15% of adults.

(Source: Pew Research Center “Teens and Technology 2013.”)

The average teen has more access to online information than ever before. This means she can get news, educational resources, and entertainment whenever she wants. It also means the answer to some of her most pressing questions lies at the end of a quick online search.

You can probably recall the trials and tribulations that came with being a teen. From acne to STI’s to bullying—the teenaged years bring with them a whirlwind of changes that can have a lasting impact on a person’s emotional and physical health. And for many young adults, the thought of consulting their parents—let alone their doctor—about such issues is nothing short of mortifying. So, how can doctors ensure their young patients are getting the right information?

Many doctors have come up with a solution. Many involve some form of texting combined with the creative use of social media and blogs. The doctors profiled in this New York Times piece from last year have all found great ways to reach their teen patients. Unfortunately, many have to do so at the sacrifice of HIPAA compliance.

Doctors are understandably wary about opening up access to any patients—let alone the text-savvy teen! But young adults are comfortable communicating online. What may seem impossible to discuss over a phone call may be easily divulged by sending off a message to their doctor. To young adults, communication like this feels second nature. It feels safe. Isn’t that exactly what we want for our youth?

With so many young adults owning and accessing Internet-capable devices, there is huge potential for doctors to reach and treat their young patients like never before. HIPAA-compliant technology like PINGMD, for example, offers a secure way for young adults to reach their doctors.

With secure messaging, teens can be confident that every message that reaches their doctor is private and protected—no matter how sensitive the topic. And that means they may be more likely to reach out when they don’t have to worry about dad checking the phone records or asking mom to leave the exam room.

The teenage years are not an easy time—these young patients deserve a stress-free way to get advice about their health. Moreover, they deserve the full reassurance that whatever they discuss with their doctor is secure and confidential. We owe it to all our patients to adopt the tools that will ultimately improve the quality of their care.

A recent NPR Health blog reported on the rising popularity of the group doctor visit. Much like a regular doctor’s visit, these sessions allow the patient to get their vitals and symptoms checked, followed by a chance to speak to their doctor and ask questions. The only difference is that much of this occurs with a group of strangers: all looking for some extra time with their doctor. The blog explains:

With an estimated 27 million people expected to get insurance coverage in coming years as the federal health law’s mandate kicks in, group medical appointments may help ease a shortage of primary care physicians, proponents of the practice say.

Group medical appointments can work for all kinds of routine care — from post-surgical joint replacement follow-up to chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. 

http://n.pr/XsItgv

The idea of discussing symptoms in front of a group of strangers may horrify some patients, but the concept of the group visit can really be looked at as an innovative solution to a growing problem: an imbalance between the number of physicians available and patients needing care. Instead of trying to cram an office visit into a rushed 10 minute session (during which the patient may not even have the chance to absorb the information given, let alone ask questions) the group visit allows for patients to connect with their doctor, as well as patients with similar conditions. Though at first glance such visits may seem a bit impersonal, they actually may have the side effect of better connecting patients to their doctor and their condition.

It’s no secret that getting access to our own physician is a problem in healthcare today. The concept of the group visit, although innovative, is not a one-size fits all solution. We still need to find ways to ensure patients can easily reach their own provider when they need advice.

We live in a connected and fast-paced world, and healthcare is part of it: 24/7 urgent care centers and online concierge services are becoming the convenient norm for many patients. It’s comforting to know we have access to healthcare almost anytime, anywhere. But when we look for care outside of our medical home, we ultimately lose out on the personalized care that can only come from a provider who is familiar with our health history.

In order for physicians to establish a medical home for their patients, we need to keep coming up with solutions like these that better connect patients to their care provider both in and outside the office.

When doctors are more connected to their patients at home they gain deeper insight into their health and unique needs. That insight ultimately enriches each office visit, no matter how long.

If you would rather send a text than make a phone call or be paged, you’re far from alone.

Texting is the #1 most used data service in the world, and physicians and healthcare professionals are big users. For residents, texting is a quick and easy way to reach their attending. For private practices, it may help physicians and nurses quick picture of a hard to describe symptom. And there’s no easier way to get an initial consult from your colleagues and specialists in your network. The ability to text is probably one of the most convenient tools physicians have.

Or it would be… if it were at all secure. Ask yourself: if you were using text to communicate about cases in your practice or hospital, how fast would you scramble to change your habits once you got your HIPAA-audit letter?

This may be the position many physicians find themselves in when HIPAA audits begin  this September. The audits will assume compliance by the provider and their approved service providers. Auditors will be looking for any evidence of gaps in a hospital’s security and risk management.

Non-secure texting of patient data is a discernable gap, yet it’s still prolific among doctors and hospitals. You could switch to a messaging solution that comes built into your EMR or portal, but these tools are often clunky, lack mobility and lack relevance for unique medical cases.

The days of the pager are fast disappearing—doctors recognize that they need to be able to exchange info quickly in a way that does not require calling, often sacrificing security to do so. The communication tools that will succeed will be those that marry the simplicity of text messaging with HIPAA-compliant security and integrate seamlessly into the doctor’s communication workflow.