According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Americans collectively spend more than 500 million commuter hours per week in their automobiles. That’s a lot of time, and for some, the time they spend in their cars makes it difficult to follow a daily health routine that is critical to their well-being. That problem has now been solved. By transforming the car into an access point that delivers health-management content to patients in a safe, targeted and supportive manner, Ford Motor Company and WellDoc are now enabling patients to maintain their daily routines -- even on the road.
The addition of the automobile as an access point expands the WellDoc system beyond cell phones and computers to further help people living with chronic disease better manage their health within their everyday lives. For instance, a recent research project demonstrated how adults with Type 2 diabetes can manage their disease using the WellDoc DiabetesManager System through Ford’s SYNC voice-activated connectivity system. People with diabetes can enter their data regarding medications, exercise, and diet through speech-to-text interaction while in their Ford vehicle.
“WellDoc was founded on the concept of helping people manage their chronic disease with the help of everyday personal tools that are easy to use and accessible on a regular basis,” says Dr. Anand K. Iyer, president of WellDoc. “People with diabetes must adhere to a strict regimen to manage their disease. Through our research with Ford, we’ve created a unique in-vehicle environment that supports those with diabetes so they can be continuously connected to the tools that help them maintain their daily routines without interruption.”
Next up: in-car tools that can help monitor alcoholism, drug abuse and anger-management issues. We also look forward to in-vehicle systems that can help us remember our anniversaries, choose wedding gifts and predict the next full eclipse of the moon.
