The Patient Equation

15Aligning Incentives

To get the most out of a patient equation–powered world, lots of pieces we've discussed already need to come together. Data needs to be integrated across health care in much more complete ways than it is now. Pharmaceutical companies need to embrace the power of sensors and adaptive trial designs, and bring clinical trials into the twenty-first century. Best practices for disease management apps need to be developed and tested. Companies and organizations across life sciences and health care need to think about how they can use new streams of data to provide better and more actionable insights to patients who use their products and services. Reimbursement models need to move in the direction of value-based care. And, finally, doctors and patients need to come fully on board.

It is far too easy to put doctors and patients to the side when we talk about the patient equation-driven future. After all, they aren't the ones developing the products, launching the clinical trials, deciding on reimbursement models, or looking at the big picture of the life sciences industry. They aren't dealing with FDA regulations, or, in most cases, spending much energy thinking about the business side of medicine beyond their own practices or experiences.

And yet, doctors and patients will determine the success or failure of the data revolution. If doctors aren't on board with recommending and prescribing smart devices to their patients, diffusion won't be achieved. If doctors ...