1) The document discusses innovative health technologies that allow individuals to research and purchase medical treatments through online platforms. Websites provide information on medical tourism destinations, specific treatments, reviews, and ways to save money. 2) Individuals are increasingly taking on the roles of both patient and consumer, conducting their own health research online and making purchasing decisions with cost as a primary factor. 3) The document analyzes different types of online resources for medical tourism, including provider portals, social media sites, user-generated content like blogs, and commercial sites offering related services like travel insurance. It raises questions about how individuals assess information quality and what consequences increased consumerism has for healthcare.

1. Innovative Health Technologies: Point & Click for a Nip n Tuck With Dr Mariann Hardey University of York, UK Supported by: Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3), Barcelona 26 – 27 November, 2009

2. Dr, Dr… Google. Type. Point. Click. Doctor ‘Chat’. Patient ?...

3. eHealth/Health 2.0: Platform provided The Web Access to ‘healthcare’- for information. Also tool for advertising. Specialist websites e.g. NHSDirect. Also blogs, Twitter, review sites etc. ‘Healthy citizens’ must be ‘healthy consumers’ Emerging global health economy

5. Desire to publically share information

6. Need to individually assess health resources

9. Commercial

10. Primarily elective treatments

11. Travel overseas

12. Cost as primary concern

15. Regional – gateway to particular regions e.g. healthtourisminasia.com

16. National – treatment in one country e.g. treatmentinhungary.net

17. Government – national program & state investment e.g. singaporemdicine.com

18. Treatment – dentistry, IVF. Search for different providers e.g. healthtour.co.uk for dental outside of UK

20. 4. COMMERCIAL Sites offer ‘health information & other resources e.g. Overseas property sales (Turkey, Cyprus) Money-savers; financial comparison Travel insurance Access to market research (require subscription & payment) 5. PROFESSIONAL Provide policy and guidelines for patients e.g. Department of Health UK & British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & aesthetic Surgeons

22. What is the nature of the search/es?

23. How do lay individuals ‘rate’ & assess the quality of information

24. What influences decision-making?

25. What are the characteristics of the pro-active patient?

27. Words, as is well known, are the great foes of reality ~ Joseph Conrad

28. 2.0 synergistic Information critical Facetime Public care Actionable Word salad Patient Consumer Personable care Health provider Discussion Groups Feeds practitioner REAL Community Private data Live Public

29. Remember… REAL users. REAL time.

30. …I leave you with the real time plop

31. Any Questions? e. mariann@mariannhardey.net