So I’m staying at a cost-effective hotel to save Medivizor $s. It’s the Comfort Inn on W 71st St., New York. It’s a very basic hotel, but it’s location is convenient to many places in town. Anyway, when I say cost-effective, I mean (among other things) that the dining room for breakfast is so small and crowded there’s a waiting line to get in. But I’m Israeli – if I see an empty seat, I simply go up and ask if I can join them. So there was this nice couple that upon my approach gladly invited me to join their table.
“What are you in town for?” is the first question that anybody comes up with (after discussing the smoldering 100 degree heat with 100% humidity outside). So they’re here for a quarterly doctor visit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Our conversation continues and it turns out the husband is coping with some serious medical conditions and his wife is the “certified researcher” caring for him. They wonder why I know so much about what they’re going through.
“Are you a doctor?” they ask? I’m flattered, no, I apologize, I’m a software product developer at heart. I continue and explain that for the last couple of years, I’ve been building a company, product and service in the healthcare space trying to help people in situations just like theirs. They’re curious, so I tell them about Medivizor. Their first reaction is “Wow! That’s so necessary. REALLY needed. There’s just so much out there. So much junk. It’s so difficult to find what’s relevant for us!” The second reaction is a serious question (with a concerned look on their faces): “So, how do you make money?” This tells me there is a pervasive distrust of Internet information out there. Of course, they just met me, why should what I say sound any better? I explain our model and how we can make the basic service free for the patients and caregivers. How we provide “the best info” out there, and how we don’t bias what we provide.
The wife has worked for a pharmaceutical company for 2 years and is in the healthcare field herself – she says she knows how much bias goes into everything. Anyway, after I explain our model, they are really excited and will try out the service when they get home.
They go on to tell me about their doctors – the good ones, and the bad ones. They also have a “specific case.” The doctor keeps treating according to “standard of care” – for instance, prescribing blood pressure reducing medication when the blood pressure was never an issue. They feel like their doctor simply doesn’t have information about this specific case to help, so they go with “standard treatments.” And mind you – some of their doctors are the best (they travel far to get here each quarter!).
Well, that was very interesting, since Medivizor successfully delivers what they and their medical team need: research, clinical trials or even blog posts- that apply and relate specifically to their situation. Such early evidence might take years to get into the “standard of care” and to their doctor. But, with Medivizor, patient, caregiver and medical team might just get what they need when they need it most.
It’s such a great way to start the day, knowing that what you are doing can help someone!
Have a great day!
