Managing Critical Changes in Medical Treatment: The Importance of Data and Personalized Health Curves

Summary

In this article, we explore the importance of managing data in medical decision-making through the speaker’s experience of managing critical changes in medical treatment for babies in a neonatal intensive care unit. We also debunk the idea that 98.6 is the normal human body temperature and discuss the limitations of relying on a single point in time to determine health. We introduce an educational device called Scout, which measures heart rate and blood flow fluctuations, and emphasize the importance of understanding personalized health curves and using analytics to improve personal health.

The Essence of Being a Doctor: Managing Data
The Myth of 98.6: The Importance of Personalized Health Curves
Scout: Measuring Heart Rate and Blood Flow Fluctuations
Understanding Personalized Health Curves: Using Analytics to Improve Health

The Essence of Being a Doctor: Managing Data

The speaker begins by recounting their experience managing critical changes in medical treatment for babies in a neonatal intensive care unit. They initially disagree with a friend’s remark that managing data is the essence of being a doctor, but later realize its importance in health decision-making. The speaker emphasizes the importance of managing data in medical decision-making and highlights the limitations of relying on intuition and experience alone.

The Myth of 98.6: The Importance of Personalized Health Curves

The speaker then debunks the idea that 98.6 is the normal human body temperature, which was first proposed in a paper by Karl Reinhold August Wunderlic in 1868. They argue that temperature is not a point or a line but a waveform that changes throughout the day and the year. Therefore, the idea of an average temperature is not useful, as it varies based on age, gender, medication, and physical activity. The speaker emphasizes that it’s not the number but the curve that matters in temperature measurement.

Scout: Measuring Heart Rate and Blood Flow Fluctuations

The speaker discusses the limitations of relying on a single point in time to determine health, such as taking a temperature or measuring blood pressure. They introduce an educational device called Scout, which measures heart rate and blood flow fluctuations. The device connects to a phone and allows for the creation of personalized health curves, which can be used to better understand changes in health over time. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding these curves and using analytics to improve personal health.

Understanding Personalized Health Curves: Using Analytics to Improve Health

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding personalized health curves and using analytics to improve personal health. They argue that personalized health curves can provide valuable insights into changes in health over time, and can help individuals make more informed decisions about their health. The speaker encourages individuals to take advantage of new technologies, such as Scout, to better understand their health and improve their overall well-being.

Conclusion

In conclusion, managing data is an essential part of being a doctor, and personalized health curves can provide valuable insights into changes in health over time. By using new technologies, such as Scout, individuals can better understand their health and make more informed decisions about their well-being.