By Craig Stoltz

What
sort of digital tools are available to health consumers to help them
manage the healthinfosphere–and [not to put too fine a point on
it]–their health?

Kevin Noland, CEO, ADAM

iPhone app: the Adam Health Navigator. Puts personalized health
content on iPhone–click a body part on an image of the body, or search
for information. Essentially it puts commodity-level health information
on the small screen. Cool features, some geomobile-related some
leveraging multi-function nature of iPhone: Find nearest ER; prompt to
call 911; educational videos for conditions; connect to doctors in your
neighborhood.

David Clymer, CEO, MyMedLab

Web-based tool lets you choose a lab test online. A physician
approves order instead of a doctor’s visit in real life. You can find a
lab in your area. The tools help you choose tests based on gender, age
and disease profile. Results interpreted by an MML doctor and put in
your PHR. Key detail: Results can be completely confidential.

Linda Avey, co-CEO, 23andMe

A user provides a saliva sample, and can get information about
genetic risks. The idea: Add genetic information into the healthcare
system at a consumer level. An analysis is sent to a personal dashboard
page, which provides a simple analysis of risk. Click on an indicated
risk, you can read hyperlinked research reports. The science team
reviews research papers based on the “confidence” level of potential clinical application. Key detail: You can also provide ancestry information to add information to your risk profile.

Mari Baker, CEO, Navigenics

Also processes saliva samples and creates a dashboard of potential
risks, including approximate mathematical risks compared to the
population and total estimated risk. Also it indicates what percentage
of your total risk is based on genetics, as opposed to controllable
factors. The service also provides information that helps you reduce
risks for those conditions for which you [may] have a genetic
predisposition. Key detail: Added information provided to help
people manage risks responds to the
but-what-can-I-do-about-it-if-I-learn-I-have-elevated-personal-risk
objection.

Adam Bosworth, CEO, Keas

A preview of a health management service not yet debuted. It links
to HealthVault and Google Health personal health records. A lab archive
shows you how your data changes over time, with some visualizations of
progress vs. targets. Creates a “to-do” list to identify the behaviors
you need to change, including food, exercise, lab tests, etc. Also
takes into account of what foods you currently eat, your ethnicity,
etc. Suggests food preferences with visuals, reporting calories and
what the effect will be on your weight over time. Minor feature: Video education and feedback based on progress and needs.

Ray Schoenberg, CEO, American Well

Virtual office visits via online tools–its first market is Hawaii
[only place it’s currently available]. Carries you from “Talk Now” with
an available online physician to your credit card information to
authorize a co-pay and “talk” with a physician. He has your information
and can decide whether to engage with you. He talks to you on screen
and you can do live chat. Information is audited, summarized and sent
[if you like] to your primary care physician. Key fact: It’s a
10-minute session. If you are not insured, you can go onto the system
with a credit card or ATM and have a virtual visit.

Stan Nowak, CEO, Silverlink

A phone-based reminder/coaching/feedback system. An automated voice,
drawing on your personal profile, reminds you that [for instance] your
prescriptions need refilling. This presumably happens automatically.
The voice offers the idea of switching to the generic alternative, with
an offer to contact your physician to see if the change is approved. Observation: For an automated phone program, the voice is very. . .human-ish.

Michael Cho, DestinationRx

A tool for comparison shopping of Rx meds, offering alternatives–
but [first] also warning you about potential drug interactions and
safety. Once safety and interactions are screened, you get data on
therapeutic alternatives and cost savings for drugs you currently take,
including generics and drugs on lower co-pay tiers on your healthcare
plan. It will also allow you to contact the drugstore and place the
order. Additional feature: The platform helps navigate the
complexities of choosing a Medicare Part D plan, including the
potential savings, comparing premiums vs. out-of-pocket costs.

Erick VonSchweber, CEO, PharmaSurveyor

Premise: It’s not just interactions, but toxicities involved with
each drug that can affect patients. This tool reveals a much broader
assessment of med risks. By integrating with partners like
DestinationRx, this tool provides an additional layer of safety and
vetting using powerful math and analytics. Risk is shown for each drug,
plus the cumulative risk of an entire multi-drug regimen. By adding
personal information about the side-effects the patient is showing, it
can link side-effects to the current drugs. Then it can do a diagnosis
showing where the risk is coming from, with an option to show
potentially safer options that still deliver the needed therapeutic
benefits. Observation: Very powerful data-analysis tool that,
while a bit cumbersome to use and hard to navigate, appears to raise
the bar for drug-regimen-analysis tools. Rx: Usability treatment
regimen.

Marlene Beggelmann, CEO, Enhanced Medical Decisions, DoubleCheckMD

This tool reviews a patient’s recent treatments and personal health
records, providing an analysis of the treatments and user directives.
This information can go back to the doctor for review, potentially
driving better treatment decisions. Can also be used proactively as a
way to recommend future treatments. Able to continue to monitor
treatments over time, providing update of recent information for
treating physicians. Observation: Appears to deliver consumer
value, but will be interesting to see how doctors welcome these
suggestions and reviews of their treatment decisions.

Stefanie Fenton, Director of Market Development, Intuit’s Quicken Health Group

Helps you manage your bills–as Quicken itself does for taxes and
business expenses. You can have bills put in Health Expense Tracker
[with insurers who cooperate] to see what’s due, status of deductibles,
“special circumstances,” etc. Permits you to analyze and pay bills. You
can see whether you’ve refilled prescriptions. This all becomes a
financially-based personal health record. Thinking aloud: How
valuable is this compared to the information and services you get from
your insurer? And does it fully replicate the personal health record?
Or is this just a layer on top of those services that provide
visibility and clarity?