While technology is creating new opportunities in health, it is, in fact, health care that will catapult the growth of innovation and technology in Miami-Dade. A number of underlying factors support this – we have a large concentration of health care institutions and academic capability in this market, but just as importantly, we have a highly diverse population, whose unique health needs will spark innovations in personalized care.
Many small innovations are being incubated here – from next-generation consumer apps to innovations that drive efficiencies in the health care work environment, which include digital workflows, three-dimensional mapping of facilities and asset tracking, and innovative drug and device trials.
Today we are entering into an area of more personalized medicine. For instances, if two individuals were diagnosed with diabetes, even simple, long-held medicine would work differently on each of them. Dietary restrictions for patients with diabetes are highly variable and there is no true national standard that would apply to all racial groups.
Hispanics are the least represented in clinical trials today, even as they are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. There is an immense opportunity, therefore, to personalize present-day treatment diagnosis, including screening and prevention, for Hispanics. This is not something that is a focus in the Northeast or Silicon Valley – areas where technology is being developed. It is an enormous opportunity that would be of true value to the country, and it places Miami-Dade in the pole position.
The concept of wellness, prevention and rapid ac-cess to consumers, as well as the capability to personalize care will drive growth in the health sector in the medium term. The capability to geographically disperse services, whether or on a physical or virtual basis, will be an important theme. Better access is no longer just about physical access, but virtual access, digital access, and ethnic-appropriate access. Investing in platforms that change the awareness of the consumer and enable the consumer to interact with medical experts regardless of education status or income status is the next big step.
