Tag: Cisco

As if tablets, mobile, search and social media were not enough to have every pharma brand manager re-thinking their business, Cisco is now touting its new telemedicine.

While certainly not new, Cisco is just one player doing it; Intel and IBM are also getting into heathcare in big ways.

The reason?

A recent study from the analysts at Frost & Sullivan estimated that the telemedicine market will be $6.1 billion in 2012.

One obvious use for video technology is delivering medical services to remote places through the Internet, of course, but is that an opportunity to:

1. sponsor the “broadcast”
2. co-brand with GE, Intel, or IBM
3. provide services at the patient end of the interaction
4. re-think distribution channels
5. broadcast HCP’s as “centers of excellence” to almost anywhere on almost any device

Is it the “You Tube-ization” of individual “celebrity” physicians as well? Maybe creating the next micro-Dr. Phil, who can then raise rates on individual hours (pre-booked and pre-paid for) without ever leaving the office.

Or could doctors embrace the “one-to-many” model and review dozens of patients virtually at once and have local support staff handle the “back end” of the interaction?

While it all might be theory, a $6 billion expectation means that high tech will continue to change things faster … for better or worse.

All food for thought.

You can read more about it here.