How Online Health Communities and Personal Health Data Are Shaking Up Healthcare

Weekly Blog

BOOMITY|Health

By Joan Kincaid August 29, 2024

Remember when the internet first became a thing? It didn’t take long for people to start flocking online to find support for their health issues. Today, no one would be surprised to hear 95% of internet users go online to look up medical information, and 66% people with a chronic illness are part of an online health community. Clearly, we all need a little help from our peers when it comes to navigating health challenges.

Today, online health communities aren’t just about finding support anymore. Combine them with the rise of personal health data from our gadgets, and you’ve got a recipe for seriously shaking up the traditional healthcare system.

Why These Online Health Communities Are a Big Deal

Online health communities have come a long way, becoming super valuable for anyone dealing with health issues. Here’s why they’re so important:

1. Real Support, Anytime: These online spaces give patients and caregivers a place to find information, connect with others who get it, and share their own experiences. Whether you’re part of a cancer survivor group or a chronic pain forum, these communities offer something that’s often missing from traditional healthcare—real, relatable support.

   
   

2. Insights Straight from the Source: Doctors and researchers are finding gold mines of information in these communities. By listening to patients, they get insights into what really matters—like which treatments actually help and what symptoms are most challenging. It’s like getting a sneak peek into the patient experience beyond the doctor’s office.

   
   

3. Leveling the Playing Field: These communities are also changing how patients interact with healthcare providers. People aren’t just sitting back and taking whatever the doctor says—they’re actively participating in their care and pushing for changes in how the system works.

   
   

4. The Rise of Personal Health Data: With all the wearables, apps, and gadgets we have today, people are collecting their own health data like never before. This data doesn’t just sit there; it’s being used to complement traditional medical info, giving us a fuller picture of our health.

   
   

Why This Is Disrupting Healthcare

These online health communities, together with personal health data, are starting to make some serious waves:

1. Rethinking How to Sustain OHCs Financially: The typical ways of making money online—like ads—don’t really fit with these health communities, where privacy is key. There’s a constant balancing act between keeping the community feeling genuine and figuring out how to sustain it financially.

   
   

2. Mixing Personal and Clinical Data: Traditional healthcare has always focused on hard data from the clinic. But now, the personal stories and data from online communities and devices are gaining importance. This shift is opening the door to a more balanced approach to healthcare that values personal experience just as much as clinical outcomes

   
   

3. Small Is the New Big: While most online platforms aim to get as big as possible, health communities often thrive by staying small and intimate. It’s all about maintaining trust and focus, even if that means not going the traditional route of scaling up to make more money.

   
   

What’s Next for Healthcare?

So, what does this all mean for the future? We’re moving towards a new kind of healthcare ecosystem—one that’s centered around patients, driven by data, and ready to challenge the old ways of doing things. It’s not about replacing doctors or hospitals but adding a new layer of support that makes healthcare more personal and responsive.

Platforms that get this will be the ones leading the charge in healthcare innovation. BOOMITY|Health is one of those platforms. We’re all about helping health organizations create dynamic, supportive communities where members can truly connect and grow. By focusing on what really matters to people, we’re helping to shape a future in healthcare that’s as personal as it is powerful.

To learn how we can help your health organization, contact me at joan@boomity.com and visit us at www.boomityhealth.com for more information - and together we can create a more supportive environment for everyone facing health challenges.