The Opening Great Debate: Ix and Health 2.0 - Synergies or Tensions?

This debate featured Don Kemper, CEO of Healthwise, and Matthew Holt, co-founder of Health 2.0, LLC, discussing information therapy (Ix) and Health 2.0, and why they thought one was better than the other. Holt’s main concern was who is leading the Ix process? Physicians? Consumers? Other healthcare organizations?

Alan Greene, MD, founder of DrGreene.com, CMO of A.D.A.M., opined that patients need to start taking responsibility themselves and that doctors should provide the necessary information so the patients can understand their treatment.

It was interesting to hear Greene say that the stereotype of patients coming into appointments with medical information printed off the Internet is no longer the case according to discussions he’s had with fellow doctors. He said, “Patients are coming in with information from other patients online.”

DiabetesMine.com blogger Amy Tenderich commented that it’s all about learning; that patients either learn on their own or learn from their medical team. She said that Health 2.0 can survive on its own because of “self-motivated patients,” however there is a large number of patients who are unaware of how much important information is easily accessible. Tenderich said that evidence-based information comes from doctors, but everyday information comes from Health 2.0. She believes that Ix can’t survive on its own, while Health 2.0 can.

The ultimate question is “Why wouldn’t we want both?” Greene said, “We want the best of both worlds for the consumer.”

Do you think Ix or Health 2.0 is the way to go? Can they co-exist?