http://www.greedytriallawyer.com/

greedytriallawyer@gmail.com

• Text Size: A A

E-mail this Article Print this Article

Category: Why Didn't I Think Of That?

Only a Washington bureaucrat would think to make a point about advances in health care by discussing his experiences in buying a new set of golf clubs. One can only assume the idea dawned on him during one of his midweek golf outings.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is now publishing Secretary Mike Leavitt's Blog where this important analogy appears.

Defining Personalized Medicine

The term personalized health care is often used these days. It is an exciting outgrowth of our better understanding of the human genome. We now know that our genetic makeup impacts the way we respond to certain treatments.

I worry when we use the phrase personalized medicine, for some, it creates a mental picture of a patient having one-of-a-kind pharmacology developed specifically for them, based on their phenotype, environment and genetic make-up.

The vision we are moving toward, in my mind, is best described as mass personalization. Using a thorough understanding of a person's genetic and clinical history, a doctor will select a combination from a group of biological and chemical treatment tools.

Secretary Leavitt then moves on to the purchase of golf clubs.

I decided to buy new [golf clubs]. The technology has improved and there were several aspects of my game that would fall into the category of needing treatment.

The golf professional and I measured my height and arm extension (my phenotype) and inventoried my game (genetic and health history) until we knew what the best length and flexibility of the new golf clubs shaft should be, the angle of the housel, the weigh distribution of the club head and grips to fit my touch.

The golf professional said to me, "now that we know how you align your clubs (medication) with your game (ailments), we can fit you properly. We carry ten different models of club with different combinations; the X20 Long has most of the attributes you need."

I bought a set of clubs, off the shelf that was personalized to me. This company is now engaged in mass customization.

I get it, Mike. But, I feel you should take a triple bogey on this hole.

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.greedytriallawyer.com/admin/mt-tb.cgi/715

Comments

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: