Stanford Medicine X

Medicine X brings together the most innovative and engaging minds in academia and industry to exchange bold new ideas about the future of medicine and the role technology will play in improving health. The conference attracts public health officials, venture capitalists, health-care practitioners, researchers, technologists, patients, design experts, and business leaders. Stanford Medicine X 2012 drew nearly 500 attendees from 30 countries.

Medicine X is a catalyst for new ideas about the future of medicine and health care. The Medicine X initiative is designed to explore the potential of social media and information technology to advance the practice of medicine, improve health, and empower patients to be active participants in their own care. The “X” is meant to evoke a move beyond numbers and trends—it represents the infinite possibilities for current and future information technologies to improve health.

The opening day of the conference by tradition focuses on an important and timely topic in the field of emerging technology and medicine in a day-long symposium format. The sessions for the core Medicine X conference on Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 28-29, 2013) will be announced shortly.

This year’s Medicine X Friday symposium is titled Patient neXt: The Evolving Role of Technology and Empowerment to Improve Outcomes. The Patient neXt Symposium will present forecasts and stories from luminaries and those leading the movement to create tools and provide ways for patients to engage in their own healthcare. Join us for this special opening day of Stanford Medicine X.

Part 1: The new patient
This session will examine the evolving definition of what it means to be a patient in 2013. We will look at the evolution of the patient relationship (patient-patient, patient-caregiver, and patient-doctor) and the role technology and empowerment can play to involve patients in their own care.

Part 2: The interconnected life of patients and doctors
Among the questions and topics being examined during this session are: What are the things patients are doing online that build social capital and connect them with others? How do patients connect with other patients online to form networks of micro-experts? How can doctors communicate and work together to advance the care of their patients? How can doctors and patients connect with each other online? What are the lessons that can be learned from failure?

Part 3: The self-tracking patient
Self-tracking involves the collection of any data that can be measured about one’s self over time. Focusing on the incorporation of technology into data acquisition, the session will present forecasts and stories from luminaries and those leading the self-tracking movement. This session is being co-organized and moderated by Ernesto Ramirez.

Part 4: Lunch + mobile apps and device demo session
A perennial favorite at Medicine X, this lunchtime session is a chance for attendees to learn from technologists who are creating new tools for patients to be involved in their own healthcare through apps and self-tracking devices. Leading technology companies as well as new startups will be present to provide education about their tools and how they can be used by healthcare stakeholders to improve health. A selection of companies already confirmed include, Bodymedia, AdhereTech and Misfit Wearables.

Part 5: Involving patients in research  - the PCORI story
How can we jump-start research by involving patients in the process? How can investigators work with patients to achieve more robust science and improve health outcomes? What outcomes are important to patients? The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) will help answers some of these questions in this session.

Part 6: #Whatifhc – bringing the patient voice to healthcare
Based on the hashtag #Whatifhc proposed by Michael Seid of the C3N Project, and discussed on Susannah Fox’s blog, we will challenge the Medicine X audience to propose their own, “What if healthcare…” questions for a panel of healthcare thought leaders and innovators to discuss in partnership with our audience.