The Future of Healthcare is the Smartphone.

There are divergent views of how, going forwards (uugh!!) healthcare will evolve. There is an obvious tension in the debate - on the one hand, science, research and development lead to a ever increasing number of expensive treatments to enable us to  live longer and on the other hand  the world is running out of money so that these new treatments cannot be universally available. This is happening as more societies  come to accept the wisdom  and the humanity of universally available healthcare. In the UK, recent  centralising reforms to the NHS suggest authorities feel that changes and developments should come or be imposed from the top. There is an alternative and more exciting view - and that the smartphone - that very personalised (or personalising) connected computer carried by an increasing proportion of the world's population will define the future of healthcare. The future will be defined by the grassroots - the base of the pyramid and not by the apex - and because this development is based on digital technology, it will undoubtedly happen at a pace that will surprise all.
He thinks so and he wrote a book about it.
He thinks so because he once tweeted that the future of healthcare will come out of the barrel of a smartphone and he is (and looks like) a sage.
Here are 2 movies, one from the recent Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas where an increasing number of personalised health related devices are being shown. The second is a promo from a startup that wants to define the future.

The Power of #Homeland

I recently have seen the final episode of the second series of Homeland on 4OD, the Channel 4 catch up service in the UK. Until then, I had not realised that there is to be another series - this is great news, something else in life to look forward to.
A great strength of the series, apart from the exciting and unpredictable plot, is the intensity of the acting and the strength of character of the 2 main protagonists, Carrie Mathison and Nicholas Brody and that of Saul Berenson, Carrie's mentor. Using image editing software and acquired photographs I have tried to capture the strength of these characters as well as the final appearance of the mysterious and evil Abu Nazir

E

Posted with Blogsy

A Touching Ode to Surgeons

Incredible story, frightening and inspirational at the same time.

Ed Gavagan is a New York furniture designer 

Even the Cowboys are Pit crews now - Making Systems Work

Excellent TED talk by Atul Gawande on the need for team working and concentration on processes to make healthcare work

Risk Reduction in the Jungle

I was recently watching 'I'm a Celebrity Get me out of here' (under duress from Mrs B, he lamely claims!!)

Leadership in the Operating Room

I read this article recently in the Bulletin of the Annals on leadership in the operating room. As a cardiac surgeon who mainly performs complex long surgeries, I should know something about this subject at this stage in my career.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and An Eye for Goal.

I knew he was a good footballer (I have a talent for the understatement ) but until yesterday's wonder goal against England and the fuss that has created over here in the UK, I had not realised what an unbelievable scorer of goals, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was. The expression 'An eye for Goal' was absolutely made for this guy.
Enjoy!

Monument to the Unknown Supporters of Medical Education.

I felt uplifted when I read this story on the BBC news website recently.

A Nice Quiet Bike Ride in the Countryside.

A brave and adventurous thing to do. Not sure it would succeed to break medieval taboos - but worth the effort for us who can view the video and read Sharon's account from a distance

NICE & PCORI - a Match made in heaven

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is a Jewel in the Crown of the UK National health Service, the NHS. It examines the evidence for different treatments and makes recommendations to commisioners of healthcare in the NHS.

 

Time-Lapse Emerald Beauty

while the Green giant slumbers, the water and sky scurry around it!

Why I wish I was much younger !

Have you heard of Parkour? The Wikipedia definition can be found here. It is a gymnastic spectacular style of overcoming obstacles, popularised in France in the 1990s. The alternative angophone definition for the sport/art is Freejumping.
A bunch of lads from the South east of England have formed a Parkour/Freejumping outfit called Storror. They travel around the globe, practicing Freejumping, and capturing their efforts in amazing still and moving images.
You might wonder why I am interested in the antics of these guys? Well, over the past 2 summers, they have travelled to Malta - place of my birth and upbringing. You can see why Malta appeals to these guys - the Maltese coastline has many spectacular high rocks from which to jump into the clear blue Mediterranean - jumping into the sea from high places is a birthright of all growing Maltese lads - we all have the scars to prove it!
These guys are amazing and this video, filmed in Malta over the summer, highlights what is so great about Malta in the summer - oh what memories!

Power to the Online People

Boris, Make it so!

I am a great fan of public transport or as the Americans call it - Mass Transit. The Swiss really know how to do - their different forms of transport are so well integrated , it's a joy to use.
I originally come from the small very crowded island of Malta and if there is one place in the world that needs a decent form of public transport, Malta is it. The only form of public transport is the bus - recently taken over by the hapless Arriva.
In such a small island, it would be incredibly disruptive to dig downwards and build a traditional underground system. During geeky moments, I have always wondered whether it would be possible to have an overground system of railway - just as they do in Chicago or in many SciFi movies.
I was therefore really excited when I saw this little video - what a cracking idea. If the bike is to become a true significant part of a sustainable green public transport policy, this surely is the answer.
As Jean-Luc Picard would say ......

Do Social Media mess with your head?

The message portrayed by this video struck a chord with me. The NEED to stay connected, the DREAD after missing out for several days. I hasten to add that social media has as yet not led me to the shrink's couch or to start popping benzodiazepines. However ones wonders whether if is it all leading to a form of Herd Anxiety?  I think that some observational studies are required to examine the effect of social media on anxiolytic consumption.
One should be able to take it or leave it.

Professionalism and the Francis Report on the MidStaffordshire Hospital Scandal

I came across a link to this page on Twitter recently. I have mixed feelings about this. Acting, when one sees poor practice is part of Good Medical Practice, a set of codes, published by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom, that define Medical professionalism. Legislating for professionalism (which is what this e-petition is asking for) always makes me uncomfortable. It undermines the whole concept of professionalism when certain behaviour is enforced through the letter of the law.
I have a sneaky suspicion that something like this may very well be the end result (or part of it at least) of any legislation that results from the Government's response to the Francis report. This report is the product of the independent public inquiry that was initiated by this government to investigate the terrible things that happened at MidStaffordshire Hospital in the English Midlands. Its publication is long overdue, April, then June, now October and it is inconceivable that new legislation will not result from its publication.

Awe and Danny Boyle

Yet more amazing footage of our Earth from the International Space Station. The soundtrack is from Sunshine - the amazing Danny Boyle (yes , he of the Olympic opening ceremony) movie which is both sad and spectacular. Awesome is an oft misused word, but it is THE only word to use when our planet earth is viewed from up there. My perspective of  work life etc changes when I see something like this. I need to remortgage the house and book a trip on Richard Branson's space plane!
“The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.”
― Chief Seattle, The Chief Seattle's Speech

Use full screen in a darkened room with the volume turned up.

Hat tip to EOSHD.com

How Many People Work in the NHS?

Whilst in church yesterday, my parish priest told me a joke (my parentheses).
A journalist asked the pope (David Nicholson), 'how many people work in the Vatican (NHS)?'  'Oh, at any time I reckon about half' came the response - boom boom

The Olympic gold Winning 2 Days by Jess herself

 Thanks to Channel 4 News.

 

The Crowd at the Olympics - who or what are they really?

I have just seen Andy Murray play like a possessed and talented demon and thrash Roger Federer in the Olympic Gold medal tennis match. In the immediate post match interview Sue Barker rather predictably asked whether the crowd helped him? Was the crowd like an extra man, she lamely asked?
The 'crowd being an extra man' thing has come from the commentators of the rowing regatta at Eton Dornay - the influence of the very loud crowd there having the same effect as that of an extra rower in the boat! But in tennis? Surely Sue Barker should have said an extra arm, an extra leg for Mo Farah, an extra leg & arm for steely but cute Jess Ennis and an extra sail for Ben Ainslie!