Allianz : Doctor On Deck

This information can enable individuals to have more direct control over their health. It also helps create a system that is not only curative but works to prevent people from becoming sick. Providing individuals with more control over health measurement and linking this to medical and insurance systems can allow for in-time interventions.

Is this painting an unrealistic view of the future? Not really. In 2015, there were 800,000 virtual consultations in the United States alone. In 2016, according to BCC Research, this nascent global telehome and telehospital/clinical market was estimated to be worth nearly $23.8 billion and is expected to grow to $55.1 billion by 2021.

Clearly, people are willing to embrace remote consultations. When powered by fast Internet connections, linked to smart devices and supported by changing insurance standards, this will lead insurance more in the direction of healthcare services. In the early stages, patients can use devices to monitor blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs and send the data to their doctor, who can provide health coaching and preventive programs. In the primary care and diagnosis stage, it is possible to provide tele triage and telemedicine advice, while in the treatment stage technology can assist with disease management and medication adherence, as well as with outpatient and ambulatory care.

As populations age, such solutions will play an important role in providing continuance in quality service while preventing an explosion in healthcare costs. Doctors are already able to link up with patients by phone, email and webcam on Skype. Today, prescriptions can be delivered online and even linked to pharmacies so that medicines can be delivered to your door. This is a vision that is not so much rapidly approaching as already here and being rolled out. It will fundamentally change the way you receive healthcare.