The digital technology era has enabled faster communication and greater access to resources in daily life, including the healthcare system. Today, patients can not only research medical information pertaining to their conditions, but they can share their personal experiences and connect with others throughout the process.
In this episode, I am joined by Susannah Fox to discuss the “patient-led revolution” that has arisen from digital technology. Susannah, a health and technology strategist and researcher, outlines the ways in which peer-to-peer healthcare can support patients outside their doctors’ offices.
“It used to be that clinicians had all of the information and all of the power, all of the access to data. And the internet has broken that open and shown us that patients themselves also have information that science can learn from.”
From physician recommendations, treatment options, lifestyle changes, and even emotional support, Susannah explains how the internet and social media facilitate communities among patients. For common diseases, like heart disease, a patient may be able to find statistics on the condition itself and recovery plans following treatment. For rare diseases, where research may be difficult to find, a patient and their family can connect with others worldwide who have the same diagnosis.
“'I've been down this part of the healthcare maze before, and I'm going to share my map with you. I know about a clinical trial. I know about a really great new assistive device. I know about a doctor who might be able to listen in a way that they can finally hear what's going on with you.’ That's the kind of wisdom and guidance that peer-to-peer health care can unlock.”
How are these communities built, and how can you participate in them? How can the healthcare industry guide patients toward online support while also protecting them from misinformation and disinformation? Listen to the full episode to learn how we can best utilize this growing revolution.
Here are the details of our conversation:
[00:02:01] The themes of the patient-led revolution
[00:03:31] Peer-to-peer healthcare
[00:05:01] Misinformation vs. disinformation online
[00:08:21] Merging institutional healthcare and peer-to-peer healthcare
[00:11:08] Seekers, networkers, solvers, and champions
[00:14:48] What role will you take on in the revolution?
[00:17:38] Using digital technology for common diseases
[00:19:23] Navigating an overabundance of information
[00:20:56] Using digital technology for rare diseases
[00:22:58] Spreading the flames of peer-to-peer healthcare
[00:26:13] Known uses of peer-to-peer healthcare
[00:31:05] Connecting through community
