The Guide to the Future of Medicine

Book excerpt: A few short years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that exoskeletons could enable paralyzed people to walk again; that billions of people would rely on social media for information; and that the supercomputer Watson would be a key player in medical decision-making. Perhaps more than in any other field, technology has transformed medicine and healthcare in ways that a mere decade ago would have sounded like pure science fiction. From his unique vantage as a trained physician, researcher, and medical futurist, Dr. Bertalan Mesko examines these developments and the many more down the pipeline. His aim is to assess how the hand of technology can continue to provide the dose of humanity that is crucial to effective healthcare. "The Guide to the Future of Medicine: Technology and the Human Touch" is his incisive, illuminating roundup of the technologies and trends that will shape the future of medicine. Patients, medical professionals, and any healthcare stakeholder will find an eye opening, reassuring roadmap to tomorrow's potential in this accessible and fact-based book. By preparing for the inevitable waves of change, you can make informed decisions about how technology will shape your own well-being.