Technology has driven patient-centric innovationwe must keep it going if we hope to improve outcomes and quality of life – Modern Healthcare

People living with a chronic condition may feel as if it controls their lives. The discomfort, misery and pain some patients may feel both physical and psychological can keep them from living life to the fullest. Monitoring symptoms, taking medications and attending regular appointments can make managing a condition feel like a full-time job.

Many of the technologies we quickly adopted as a society to continue working and socializing during COVID-19 can make it easier for people with chronic conditions to access care and manage symptoms long-term.

The pandemic has contributed to flare-ups or a worsening in condition for many people living with chronic inflammatory conditions such as the 65 million1 around the world suffering from atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema), the 10 million2 living with an inflammatory bowel disease, and others. For this and other reasons, telehealth use in general has increased by as much as 4,000%3 in the U.S. alone since the onset of the pandemic.

Through our relationships with the patient community, we believe that many patients could find telehealth visits significantly reduce the time and disruption regular doctor appointments may cause in turn reducing the burden of managing their disease. Moving forward, we must advocate for policies that ensure continuity of care for patients that includes equal support for virtual and in-person options.

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Technology has driven patient-centric innovationwe must keep it going if we hope to improve outcomes and quality of life - Modern Healthcare