Jack Kreindler, founder of WellFounded Health, shared his insights on redesigning healthcare using technology, data and human connection during his keynote speech on day 2 of the ICT&health World Conference in Maastricht. He explored how innovation and empathy can work together to bring about meaningful change. ‘Exponential growth in AI and other technologies is having an exponentially growing impact on healthcare and health.’
Kreindler describes himself as an extreme environments researcher. He studies how people function under extreme conditions, with the aim of better understanding how we can ultimately live longer and healthier lives. In doing so, he explicitly looks not only forward, but also back.
Lessons for the future
According to Kreindler, it is necessary to use lessons from the past when shaping the future. He illustrates this with a simple example. A hundred years ago, marketing proclaimed that Kellogg's cornflakes were the best start to the day. We now know better. ‘That raises the question,’ he says, ‘where will we be in a hundred years, now that technology such as AI is ubiquitous? Because I believe that exponentially increasing computer capacity and AI capacity will transform healthcare.’
With a light touch of humour, Kreindler uses pop culture to make his point. He refers to Darth Vader from Star Wars. ‘He had quite a few health problems: multiple organ failure, no limbs, severe burns and severe asthma. Yet he was still walking around.’ What he means by this is that what cannot be cured or improved today may be possible in a hundred years' time. ‘We can already go from initial concept to vaccine within 100 days. This progress is overwhelming. Where do you think we'll be in 100 years?’
Extreme conditions
An important part of his work consists of studying people in a variety of extreme conditions — from cage fights to serious diseases such as cancer, but also the conditions that arise as a result of ageing. ‘I lost the cage fight, by the way,’ Kreindler adds. By analysing how the human body and behaviour respond under these circumstances, he tries to identify patterns that can be translated into better care. Data plays a central role in this.
The amount of available health data has grown explosively in recent decades. Whereas forty years ago, health data was often no more than an annual measurement of height and weight, we now continuously collect data via all kinds of devices. Moreover, this development is becoming increasingly affordable. Kreindler points out that monitoring a person's health could cost ten thousand dollars a day in 2008, whereas today it is possible for around one dollar. This makes it much easier to monitor people with conditions such as COPD or heart problems over the long term. However, scaling up remains a challenge.
Can data reduce causes of death?
According to Kreindler, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, physical frailty, mental health problems and addiction are still the leading causes of death. The question is whether data can help to break this cycle. ‘We have to try, at any rate,’ he says, not least because around five trillion dollars is spent on healthcare worldwide every year, with limited effectiveness.
This is a highly complex issue. It is not just about healthcare, but also about human life itself, healthcare systems and politics. According to Kreindler, this is too complicated to be solved by the human brain alone. At the same time, recent history shows that change can sometimes happen suddenly. The coronavirus pandemic quickly normalised digitalisation and self-care. Wearable devices became commonplace, and there was a greater focus on longevity.
According to Kreindler, technology — from video calling to AI — can help to make diagnoses at a level comparable to that of a laboratory. This gives citizens more control over their own health. With the right data, people can already do a lot themselves to improve their health. Small interventions in particular can then have a big effect.
Personal experience: South Pole
He illustrates this with a personal experience. Kreindler was part of an expedition to the South Pole, where medical devices, among other things, were tested under extreme conditions. ‘You discover that at minus forty degrees, you are barely able to connect a device to a charger.’ According to him, this experience is directly relevant to healthcare. Older people with conditions such as rheumatism or Parkinson's live with similar limitations every day. ‘You have to take that into account in technological development.’
Another important lesson from that expedition was the importance of social networks. Individual self-reliance is valuable, but it has its limits. Especially under extreme conditions. Friends, family, teams and the power of the network around you are essential.
Healthier ageing
All in all, this should contribute to healthier ageing. According to Kreindler, there is already sufficient medication available, but this mainly helps people to live longer, not necessarily to age more healthily. The latter is precisely what people strive for. ‘Everyone wants to feel like they're 60 when they're 90,’ he says, ‘but we're not yet acting accordingly.’
According to Kreindler, realising this requires a different attitude. Not only wanting to live extremely healthily, but also being willing to learn from extreme situations, in connection with others. Not isolating ourselves, but building sustainable care networks together.
His closing message is twofold: do not underestimate the power of exponentially growing technology – but also do not underestimate what extremely difficult circumstances can teach us.
