Healthy Outlook Blog

Thanks to technology, we now have powerful tools to reach people — and people have powerful tools to find and manage information. And emerging mobile technology puts access to information literally in the palms of people’s hands — allowing them to connect to information and resources whenever and wherever they need it. When we use these avenues strategically, we can make people more aware of their personal health needs and risks, motivate them to actively participate in their own health care, give them the tools to manage it and provide easier ways to share this information electronically with their doctors.

The healthymagination programs are great examples of using technology to bridge this connection. The Decoding Data tool communicates health information in a visually impacting way to connect actions to health outcomes. Morsel sparks participation in an individual’s own well-being through a daily action plan. And by leveraging mobile technology, Morsel becomes part of a person’s everyday life, reaching them wherever they are. Better Health Conversations allows people to become more aware of their specific health risks and then help them make their doctor’s appointments more effective by preparing questions and issues to discuss.

Through these and other programs, we can begin to expand our focus from just treating people when they are sick to helping keep them healthy. And while the need for this change in approach has been widely recognized, technology will help us scale our efforts faster. Harnessing the power of technology to drive a concerted focus on prevention will help us advance the commitment of delivering better health to more people around the world.