Health IT Outcomes, USA: Director of Marketing Strategy at Cadient, a Cognizant Company, Says the Rapidly Evolving Transportation Cloud will Provide Brand New Levels of Mobility and Quality of Life

“With Uber rolling out its self-driving cars on the streets in Pittsburgh, PA; Tesla drivers logging more than a million miles a day of autonomous driving; and Ford sharing plans to manufacture autonomous ride sharing vehicles by 2021, the driverless car is becoming a reality,” writes Jim Walker. “The autonomous car, long the province of science fiction movies, is now moving forward at an accelerated pace.” Excerpts:

“Many industries are going to feel the impact of these changes — especially healthcare. Uber-like autonomous driving services are poised to radically disrupt the healthcare market, and in ways you might not have considered.

Autonomous Aging: For an increasingly aging population, hands-free autonomous driving is going to offer a tremendous extension of freedom and mobility, as well as more seamless and worry-free access to care providers. Simply commuting safely to the market and pharmacy on their own will be a tremendous benefit for otherwise housebound seniors. The autonomous driving revolution will provide patients — especially elderly ones — access to reliable transportation and ultimately, improved health outcomes overall.

Potential for Fewer Accidents and Quicker Emergency Response: Autonomous driving can potentially result in fewer accidents, which will ultimately result in fewer deaths and injuries on the road. Beyond simple safety, drivers who suffer from sudden illness while driving will have the opportunity to direct the car to take them directly to the emergency room.

Disabilities Transformed: For persons with disabilities, autonomous vehicles have the potential to become truly life-altering. In this digital evolution, consumers have access to everything through a smart phone or mobile device, including healthcare. The addition of autonomous vehicles will enable those with disabilities to safely travel, arrive to their destination, and receive the care they need — something once deemed impossible.

On-Demand Healthcare Services: As the transportation cloud transforms how we move about, an equally powerful “healthcare cloud” will emerge and provide near instantaneous access to healthcare services, based on passive monitoring and continuous feedback. Backed by Uber-like scheduling platforms, healthcare professionals will be more efficient based on smart appointment algorithms, mobile reminders, and decreased patient wait times.

Commuting Turned Therapeutic: With people no longer chained behind the wheel, commute time can now include preventative treatment, along with inspiration on the way to work and relaxation and decompression on the way home. Vitals signs can be monitored from the car seat, with recommendations made for meals and exercise to promote a healthy living.

Transportation and healthcare are slated to create an explosion of change, impacting both patients and providers. As consumers spend less time behind the wheel, they’ll have more time to tend to their fitness and well-being. The rapidly evolving transportation cloud will provide brand new levels of mobility and quality of life.”

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