Not sure what they are (or were)? You’re not alone.
Health stations, or medical exam “Pods” are stand-alone containers, like a large changing room, equipped with telemedicine and remote sensors (e.g., blood pressure, temperature, scale, etc.).
A few health startups launched in the mid 2010s featuring them as a point for remote care, but the idea of a health pod never gained traction (references in the comments below).
While it was an interesting concept, one invented long before the pandemic, they lost out to the modern telemedicine and remote patient monitoring platforms that we use today.
Despite the rise of telemedicine platforms like Teladoc Health, and the expansion of #hospitalathome programs , there could be a role within the remote patient care ecosystem for a new generation of medical exam pods.
An idea I’ve heard is to deploy a modern form of the health pod to areas that lack nearby medical care facilities.
The idea consists of a new generation of forward-located “mini-clinics” for patients who need minor procedures, or other care services that need to be done in a clinical environment. These mini-clinic pods could providing an additional point of access, expanding care options for those who lack access to a medical facility.
Is there a future for a new generation of medical pods in the coming years? It will be interesting to see how this develops.
