Tuesday, November 13, 2012

B2B Perspective: Docs' Smartphones Enhance Patient Care



This article captures part of a conversation between eMarketer's Tobi Elkin and Larry Mickelberg, Partner and Chief Digital Officer at a healthcare communications company, Havas Health.  Mickelberg provides his perspective on the future of digital platforms with doctors.  He discusses how he sees tablets and smartphones facilitating a better dialogue between doctors and patients.  An example he provides is how doctors used to have to turn their backs to their patients as they input medical information into a desktop computer.  Today, a doctor can face his/her patients when holding a tablet (instead of using a desktop computer) and conversing.  Mickelberg also talks about how smartphones will be a major area of growth and use for physicians in the future.  He mentions a “pill plus platform” approach that marketers will need to adopt.  An example of this kind of approach is developing an app that provides alerts and comprehensive information to a patient about their diffused therapy for their rheumatoid arthritis.  When sitting for hours and getting infused, a patient can scan the companion app for relevant, engaging information.

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