Technology as a means, not an end

I was part of a brainstorming session yesterday about the role of technology in health and health care, in preparation for a June 2008 Ix conference here in DC. Here is one of the quotes I captured from another participant:

Technology is always framed as an end and it is not. It is a means. The “end” for most people is getting the information and care they need.

The group went on to talk about how convincing docs to track their patients with electronic medical records is really not the point. Better health outcomes is the point.

Can we break that down a little further? If you had one minute to address the nation on the topic of health, what would you say? Put another way: What would your headline be?

Susannah Fox on A survey about clinical trial support groups: “Hi Diane, here is one article I found about Tirzepatide — a drug that’s in the headlines these days since…” Mar 9, 10:37
Diane on A survey about clinical trial support groups: “I’d love to hear about clinical trials of the new weight-loss drugs believed to help people with diabetes and pre-diabetes” Mar 8, 12:15
Dave deBronkart on Lessons learned about hospice care: “I want to add some things I’ve learned in the years since you posted this. First, it should be noted…” Feb 20, 16:44