Is this the best idea of 2017?
We only visit doctors when we’re ill. But what if we worked to pre-empt our medical issues as well?
That’s the premise for the newest wellness clinics sprouting across the U.S. which have been listed as one of Time’s 25 best inventions of 2017.
The concept behind the clinic adds a contemporary element to the traditional health care system and that’s pre-empting illness with the help of technology. Forward specialise in preventative care, they help you “look toward your future and look out for things that are longer term,” as Adrian Aoun, the founder and CEO, and a former Google executive puts it.
How do they do this?
It’s a subscription-based service and for $149 members get unlimited access to genetic screenings, blood tests, weight-loss-planning and of course routine doctor’s visits with access to all the generic medications and treatments.
Doctors devise personalised plans for patients and monitor them throughout the year to ensure goals and needs are met.
Healthcare augmented with technology
“They have the kind of tech you see on TV but in real life” remarks Mike in San Francisco, one of the many gleaming testimonials on their website, and the tech they use is far from a gimmick.
Doctors, engineers and designers work together in attempts to revolutionise the industry by turning the originally labour-based business on its head so they can treat a higher number of people more efficiently and effectively.
With such a model they are able to slash waiting times dramatically from the average of 38 minutes to just 1 – 2 minutes, while time spent with doctors increases from the previous average of 15 minutes to a whole hour if needed.
Credit: Forward
The futuristic looking interface replaces a doctor’s notes and clipboard and captures and structures the important parts of a conversation transparently, resulting in better data and collaboration.
The company has reportedly raised $100m in funding and recently opened a new site in LA.
Forward are giving the healthcare industry in the US a much-needed push into the future and combining preventive care in their service.
Although preventive care is nothing new, such an emphasis while combining it with traditional healthcare and tech could pioneer the way we manage our health.
What are your thoughts about Forward? Would you like to see something similar in the UK? Let us know in the comments below we’d love the hear from you.
To find out more about Forward, visit their website.