Targeted And Proactive Disease Management 

The antivirus software in my computer prevents it from getting invaded by software viruses that can delete files and make my machine useless. The software updates itself periodically and lets me know if my computer needs to be protected against new viruses.

Very effective!

Now let’s compare that to our health care system.

The only way I might get information about a new and potentially dangerous disease is by listening to the nightly news. The problem is that unless an illness has a significant economic impact, it won’t be deemed important enough to be news worthy.

But here is an ingenious way to use technology to stop the spread of disease.

Los Angeles County, health officials are conducting a pilot program that uses e-mail and the Internet to notify the sex partners of people who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The program focuses on individuals who use Internet sites to meet new sex partners. According to health officials, between 2001 and 2003, nearly a quarter of gay and bisexual men who have syphilis in LA county had used the Internet to meet sex partners.

Hundreds of individuals who have tested positive for a STD voluntarily provided contact information for sex partners who might have been exposed. Those people were then contacted via e-mail and encouraged to visit their physicians for testing. And half of them made arrangements to get tested.

Very effective!

See, if an outbreak of Mad Cow disease is threatening the population, I’m warned about it if the beef industry is impacted negatively. But people who could seriously be impacted by another disease, like a STD, don’t get to learn about the spread of it right away unless it’s considered news worthy. As a consequence, many individuals can’t take precautions to lower the risk of getting sick or get medical attention if they contract something.

For individuals dealing with long term health care issues, this type of targeted and proactive disease management system can save lives. I know this type of system can be viewed as a bit invasive, but I think the benefits outweigh the risks. Simply consider how much time and money can be saved by limiting the spread of communicable diseases. How many lives could be saved by starting treatments sooner.

I think we all deserve as much care and as effective of a health system as our computers get. What do you think?