Is it crazy using terms like healthcare, collaboration, catalyst, transparency and consumerism in the same sentence as the #1 reason behind personal bankruptcy in this country?

Standing-room-only crowds are exploring the implications that these terms hold for society. On one hand, people battling for their lives have an incredible thirst for perspective… aiming to validate or contradict what their doctor is telling them. And in the middle of all this, healthcare institutions are trying to reconcile the implications for them, where tendencies trend toward conservatism and a desire to control perspectives.

The world of Web 2.0 – search, blogs, wikis, communities and mashups make-up a society of collaboration that has bridged into one of the largest single components of the U.S. economy – healthcare. Health 2.0 is defined by blogger and physician Scott Shreeve as a "new concept of healthcare wherein all the constituents (patients, physicians, providers and payers) focus on healthcare value (outcomes/price) and use competition at the medical condition level over the full cycle of care as the catalyst for improving the safety, efficiency and quality of health care."

Surveys report that the Internet has people tending to trust others like themselves as health resources, more so than doctors and clinical experts. Combining demand for better transparency with an abundance of user-generated information, and where insured consumers are bearing more financial responsibility for our insurance, who couldn’t predict that we would become sophisticated healthcare shoppers? And as in the case of the online book space, shoppers demand transparency… more and more commonly extending this requirement to diagnoses, procedures, insurance, prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, hospitals and doctors. All tied to the ultimate bottom line… price, quality and results.

This panel will examine the ways Health 2.0 is empowering patients, caretakers, advocates and communities to be more effective consumers. There will be analysis and examples involving trends and technologies through which Health 2.0 is enabling consumers to redefine the relationships and expectations that drive the industry that is the #1 reason behind personal bankruptcy… healthcare.

Innovation in health care is perhaps one of the great mandatories of our culture over the coming decade and beyond. There is a significant opportunity to leverage new ideas, new technologies, and entreprenurialism to foster a better health system for us all: better access, cheaper care, better health. Let's bring a panel of great innovators in the Health 2.0 space and connect them with this forum to discuss how we can jumpstart this movement that will hopefully help all of us.

Jay -

It's excellent to see Health 2.0 at SXSW...talk about a perfect cross-pollination of memes and methods of communication.

Figuring out what's next for American healthcare will take the combined brainpan-power of more than just us relatively isolated healthcare, medical, and academic types - getting the word out here is of primary importance.

Can't wait to see the panel!

We need Health 2.0 panels like this at SXSW!! There's a huge push for hospitals to use Web 2.0 tools, but it's so new in our industry. We want to do it right - with sensitivity, honesty and benefit to our patients and their family members.

People looking for health information or support online deserve to have access to accurate and honest content and that is depended on the support that the providers of this content give to the development of 2.0 tools. I have not doubt that this will be a great panel.

I am looking forward to hearing this panel, it should be very interesting. I hope you also cover privacy and how that factors in.

Jay - Congratulations on your continued success and truly making an impact in today's world in this industry. Your work touches many, your thoughts and direction are right on and your passion says it all so well. Best wishes and know that you have many cheerleaders out there on your team.

Jay - Healthcare is probably the industry that needs 2.0 technology the most. While the patient diagnostic tools have advanced, the technology-driven services that help patients have not. Your work is appreciated and sorely needed! Keep up the fight!

Social media points thrive best when the stakes are high - and illness/wellness and care of family members are areas of high, passionate engagement and deep need.

Glad to see this topic cropping up at SxSW! I'll be there!

Good topic

Awesome..