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Doctors , at least theoretically, should be able to add a lot to the biomedical and health innovation supply chain. The reality is different. There are many barriers to engaging clinicians in the creation, development, testing, validation and deployment of new medical technologies and the reasons falll into several cagtegories:

Medical travel continues to grow, either outbound, inbound or domestic, and there are many reasons why doctors should be paying attention. The industry still has a way to go before it becomes universally accepted, pricing is not transparent, and the business models are not defined or consistent.

Customers are expected to do more for themselves, whether it’s in the grocery line, the gas station, the airline check-in counter or , of course, on online commerce sites. In the future, patients will be doing the same thing.

Despite the research reports, eco-devo white papers, industry analyses and industry marketing hype, medical travel/medical tourism is still an early stage industry looking for the right formula for success.

Most of us who are interested in healthcare entrepreneurship are drawn to it because we hope to make a positive impact on the health and wellness of others. Healthcare innovation, however, is not limited to the popular realms of digital health, medical device, biotech, and pharmaceuticals. There are indeed many ways to create and deliver value to patients at various stages of a physician’s career.

One of the joys of living in the West, and Colorado in particular, is having access to thousands of miles of rivers and streams where you can fly fish for cutthroat, rainbows, brown and brook trout.

Patients are turning into customers or clients and, in many instances, citizen doctors and scientists, donating their DNA and money to the betterment of science and medicine via Internet platforms. In addition, satisfying patients has become big business with dollars and reputations riding on the results. A recent Hastings Center report questions the entire business.

Robots are getting smarter, cheaper, faster, more empathic and friendlier and are likely to appear more and more at a sick care facility near you. They take a little getting used to , like the new neighbors next door, but, if you take some time to know them, they are really nice.

The last time I called ADT about a home security problem, I was put on hold for 20 minutes, I was given advice that did not solve the problem and I was scheduled for a service call in 10 days and “told” that I needed to be available between noon-5PM because they couldn’t telll when the technician would be available with any more accuracy. Time for a new vendor.

The alternative to Obamacare is Othercare. In other words,  employed and independent practitioners can struggle using old models of care and try to chase their tail every time the government and payers issue new rules, or, you can be innovative and be proactive. Skate with the puck v skating to where the puck will be. You need to adapt to several major trends like fee for service migrating to payment for valued care, improving the patient experience, the demand for care outstripping supply, and many more.