The New Triangle of Digital Health

Facebook Israel general manager Adi Soffer Teeni writes about the increase in accessibility, shifts in consumer behavior, and technological leaps that drive the digital health revolution

Adi Soffer Teeni 13:4624.10.18

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My next big bet is on digital health. We have been talking about it for a while now, but in 2018 all the pieces are aligning to take this industry to the next level. It is important for all of us, because health is at the core of our lives. We all wish to get better treatment, to improve our well-being, and to live longer.

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When we look at the catalysts for this impending disruption, we see three main pillars with a symbiotic relationship between them —shifts in consumer behavior, technological leaps, and an increase in accessibility.

Adi Soffer Teeni. Photo: Amit Sha'al

Consumers are changing rapidly. This generation wants everything here and now. Thanks to the internet, consumers are more aware, informed, and knowledgeable than ever before. They use this knowledge to move from being reactive patients, who deal with conditions after they happen, to proactive people, who use preventive solutions to avoid illness.

From the technological aspect, alongside the astonishing scientific developments and innovations, companies are creating machine learning systems that run on massive data sets generated from newly developed devices to derive deeper and more informative analysis. These technologies are the infrastructure for personalized treatments and progressive, predictive diagnosis.

As for accessibility, the health industry has changed, and the classic barriers are diminishing in a way that is closing the gap between technology and consumers. Most of us constantly carry a device that provides us with important real-time data like stress levels, pulse rates, sleep patterns, and other health metrics. That opens the door for new consumer-centric experiences and life-changing technologies. The mobile experience has also raised the bar for how people consume health services—instantly, in a convenient and tailor-made way, similar to disruptive services like Netflix and Uber.

And the most important thing, for me at least, is that Israel will be at the forefront of this revolution, with more than 500 startups, hospitals, and clinics that are far more advanced than any other developed market, supported by a phenomenal ecosystem of investors and incubators.

That's why, in my opinion, the upcoming years will be the years of digital health.