A New Hope? (…But What About That Pesky Death Star?)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. It is a period of enormous change and worry. The challenges are great. The status quo of poor health care quality and crushingly high costs is bearing down on the people—but that enemy is also under attack. A growing band of folk from all parts of the galaxy are attempting to bring every imaginable force—technology, market, government, people power—to the cause. No one’s certain how it will all turn out…

Earlier this month, I participated in the 2011 HHS/IOM Health Data Initiative Forum and self-styled “Data-Palooza”.  It was exciting.  Lots of dynamic leaders attended —from the government, the software development world and other industries—lots of Twitterati—social media personalities.  The place buzzed, literally.  (It was just missing the Tatooine bar music.)

I couldn’t help but flash back to last year’s markedly more freshman, inaugural meeting and compare.  The differences one year later were striking—even startling at times.  The obvious progress could make one pretty hopeful.  The vision of creating tools that use previously moribund federal (and other) data in unique ways to solve real problems is already bearing some remarkable fruit.

During the “Data-Palooza” plenary session, a parade of app developers demonstrated technology that mines and harnesses data for very cool, practical purposes.  High points: PatientsLikeMe;  Asthmapolis; and Multistate Foodborne Disease Outbreak Investigation System (catchy name…).  The whiz bang, jaw dropping technology of these, and other, examples was impressive.  Last year, one really had to suspend to imagine how all this talk might actually have a major impact.  This year it could seem as if the vision isn’t keeping up with the technology.  In fact, perhaps we should be bolder, much bolder.

But, then, the enormity of the challenge brings one right back down to Earth—or rather—Endor.

In spite of the great hope all this vibrant creativity inspires, one wonders about the potential, even cumulatively, of these new app tools to make a dent on our high cost, low value care problems.  In the closing session, Tim O’Reilly pointedly noted that unless we find ways to move the embedded status quo health care incumbents aside just a bit—or at least find ways to open markets so that new approaches can take root, thrive, compete—all this work will be terrific—but ultimately not game changing.  The status quo will soldier on, as always.  In my nightmare daydream (read nightmare) I started worrying that these new technological wonders would, rather than triggering imperial defeat, instead end up being like Ewok wooden spears bouncing ineffectually off the usual huge armored imperial Walkers.

But all is not lost, of course.  As we know, the rebels did ultimately destroy the Death Star and defeat the empire.  They did it by working together and not relying on any single silver bullet (er, blaster) or group or approach.  The new technology on display last week that helps people practically use data to solve tough health and health care problems is incredibly important.  We just need to make sure that we’re also simultaneously doing all the other necessary things—like improving market information, adjusting payment to reward high value, waking up the sleeping health care consumer and supporting our Jedi health professionals—to allow innovation to do what it should be doing for us.  That is, we need to create the conditions that will allow creativity to help us rapidly achieve sustainable high value care focused intensely on and built entirely in partnership with the patient and consumer.

Cue epilogue theme.  (Roll credits).