Digital Health is Snake Oil declare James Madara CEO of AMA (American Medical Association) !
Contents
Is this true ?
he stated that digitial health tools where making physicians less, not more effective and was scathing in his view of todays health technology.
James Madara states some interesting points to back up his statement that Health technology is overblown.
Doctors have become the most expensive data entry workforce in history.
A new AMA study analysis on physician time
50% of the physician time is devoted to the keyboard
30% of the physician time is devoted to the patient
Watch James Madara Speech at the AMA Annual Meeting
Snake Oil Cure-All Fraud History
Where does the terms Snake Oil come from. This term was used before the 19th century was commonly used in the Americas and in Europe, and was recommended for many uses such as rheumatism and skin diseases.
In 1712, a patent was actually granted to Richard Stoughton Elixir.
The famous or perhaps infamous Stanleys snake oil was analzed in 1917 to be made of the following components
mineral oil
fatty oil
red pepper
turpentine
camphor
Absolutely no snake, in there. See Wiki article for more information.
How successful has Digital Health technology been ?
30% of app only intervention led to a statistically significant improvement for people with chronic disease (2015 Journal of Medical Internet Research)
43% of IOS apps in healthcare where useful
27% of Android apps in healthcare where useful
On the other hand we have programs such as the HPB National Step Challenge which has been highly successful, Personally, I have lost 10 kg personally in 5 month with the Fitbit.
Along with other voices, in this industry, I understand James frustration, but his position is too sweeping.
About the Author
Credits & Related
Read more about Digital Health History here National Step Challenge HealthHub Singapore HealthHub by Szukini