A little less than two weeks ago, we cheered ‘well done’ to WellDoc for gaining FDA approval for its Diabetes Manager [TA 4 Aug], and that pretty much was it. Over at the HealthPopuli blog, Jane Sarasohn-Kahn sees it differently–that it signals FDA’s openness to mobile health solutions and that it’s a positive sign to all the app developers waiting in the wings. While we have a touch of ‘New Jerusalem’ at the end (managing healthcare costs), she also notes that FDA in its report on the 510(k) approval process for medical devices admits they are not ready for prime time when it comes to evaluating highly innovative systems. Article.
3 thoughts on “A greater meaning in the WellDoc FDA approval?”
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“New Jerusalem” definition
Friends, thanks for citing my blog, Health Populi, and the WellDoc approval story. I’m a bit mystified, though, by your use of the phrase “New Jerusalem” vis-a-vis the economics of remote monitoring as a potential cost-saver. Can you enlighten me as to the origins of this phrase? It’s a new metaphor to me — beyond the religious meaning, of course! I’m very happy to wax lyrically more about remote monitoring’s role in the patient-centered medical home and cost-savings that can accrue by keeping people out of the emergency department.
“New Jerusalem’
Jane, very interesting that you caught this as it’s the second article in which I’ve used this metaphor. It’s a Biblical term from Judaism onward for the City of God, the Shining City on the Hill, or the Millenial Kingdom, in heaven or on earth, depending on the theology. I use it very loosely to describe the ‘ideal state’ where we all hope to be with technology enabling better management of healthcare. Skeptical as I am of ‘ideal states,’ especially when they come in the guise of sweeping ‘reforms’, in your context it is a good thing to aim for.
Thanks for the definition of “New Jerusalem!”
Donna – so ironic, my 13 year old daughter studied the archetypal “Shining City on the Hill” in her language arts class last year! I intuited this is what you meant, but I wanted to hear it from you. Yes, it is something to aim for — but do-able if we get real about patient-centered medical homes and continuity of care. Thanks again for reading Health Populi!