Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine (CU-MEDi) was filled with excitement and anticipation as the campus greeted its new batch of aspiring medical scholars on the first day of the academic year.
Have you ever imagined being your own personal doctor and managing your own health sitting in front of a TV at home? Testing that once seemed risky out of the hands of medical professionals is now more than ever a touchable reality. The advancement of handheld technology has brought an explosion of personal health gadgets such as smart watches that can monitor heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and calories burned. High-speed internet advances have allowed for the efficient use of mobile phone applications, online consultant services, telemedicine, and even AI therapists. Some laboratory tests can even be ordered from home at the click of the button, with tool kits delivered and results available quickly online.
Future prospects of healthcare are moving from being doctor-centered to the patient viewpoint. Disease treatments will also expand to lifestyle remedies and coaching and extend out from visits to the hospital to a 24/7 online service. We might see more data doctors, where personal information of patients is streamed through an online platform and managed by professionals behind screens in ‘Care Hubs.’ After analysis of the person’s health data, they can provide individualized consult to each person, and recommend fitness programs that utilize entertainment and games to increase compliance. Personal devices will have bio-sensors to detect critical vital signs like irregular heartbeats and will be able to immediately send alerts to their doctors for any signs of life threatening conditions. Healthcare will be accessible where ever as internet connectivity becomes more and more ubiquitous.