Eric Agdeppa

2. Deep empathy of human existence biologically, behaviorally, and socially

 
Personalized medicine, stratified medicine, population health, patient-centered care, patient experience, patient empowerment, and patient satisfaction will converge into a common context of deep human empathy in biomedical science.  In the next 10 years, biomedical scientists will go from not only generating value for their field or technology organization (e.g., R&D function in a company) but also generating significant value for patients, their families, and the health system across the care continuum.  For instance, the intellectual property currently generated by inventors in academia and industry are measured on the novelty and non-obviousness of their intellectual property which often times not only encourages inimitable solutions but also promotes technologically complex solutions.  All the while, patients, caregivers, administrators, providers, and payers are looking for the most cost-effective solutions, the best care, the best outcomes, ease of implementation, and ease of use, all of which may be inconsistent with a complex technical solution.  

 

The next 10 years of biomedical science will see translational researchers hone the marriage of deep, insightful identification of customer problems with new technologies, yielding the potential for transformational biomedical solutions.  Researchers and innovators will collaborate with behaviorists, social scientists, and economists to develop solutions that deliver impactful, financially viable, and measurable return on investment for providers, payers, patients, and all parties in the value chain and broader value network.  

 

The change from technology-driven solutions to human-centered ones will, in turn, help companies realize higher technology adoption across the continuum of care as payers and providers also broaden their care of patients from hospital to community care to care in the home.