From pills to participation: building a more engaged healthcare system

As a rural doctor in Iceland, I was often the only physician on call in sparsely populated areas. On one particularly long drive back from a house call to a patient with uncontrolled hypertension, I began to question the tools available to me and to all doctors. Was prescribing yet another medication the best solution for a patient like her, especially within one of the world’s best healthcare systems?

 

Early in my career, I became intrigued by public health approaches and prevention strategies. In rural medicine, I realised the need for innovative and accessible solutions that address underlying factors beyond medication.

 

For as long as I’ve been practicing medicine, one observation has stood out: most people struggle to stay connected to their health. We tend to view healthcare in discrete moments, such as a doctor’s appointment or taking that pill in the morning, rather than something we can influence every day. Globally, healthcare encourages an episodic mindset: you see your doctor, get a plan and think about health again only at your next appointment – or during a crisis.

 

As a physician, I’ve seen countless individuals who want to make healthy changes but feel lost after a brief clinical visit. Providers do the best they can in limited time, but the reality is that patients can feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to manage their treatment or recovery plan. The only way to scale better health solutions is to tightly align patient outcomes with business outcomes.

 

Rethinking the patient journey: the missing manual in healthcare

 

When you’re diagnosed with a condition or are recommended a lifestyle change, it can feel like stepping into a complex maze without a map. Specialists, treatments and medical jargon often leave you on your own to figure out daily actions that work for your health and lifestyle.

 

It is remarkable how daily life has changed in the past 30 years. Digital health tools, ranging from wearables to mobile apps, are starting to provide the missing manual. Technology has become ubiquitous; mobile devices and digital platforms part of our everyday lives. These tools often tap into our brain’s natural reward mechanisms to keep us hooked – and it’s these psychological principles that can be redirected towards healthy outcomes, sparking engagement and transforming how people interact with their health.

 

Patients now have greater visibility into their health and more opportunities to act. You can monitor your blood pressure at home or track your daily steps. But knowledge alone isn’t enough. People also need motivation. That’s where thoughtful design, drawing on behavioural science principles and gaming concepts, can be a game-changer.

 

And that’s why I founded Sidekick Health, a digital health platform to level up health and care management and create long-lasting positive change in the health outcomes of my patients.

 

Level 1: let patients take the controller

 

In any good game, the player believes in their own agency. They know they can influence the outcome and that their choices matter. Healthcare should be no different. That’s why the first step is handing patients the controller.

 

Giving people access to their health data, trusted education about their disease and timely nudges shifts them from passive health advice consumption to active participation. This sense of ownership is critical because it allows lasting behavioural change to take root.

 

Level 2: power-ups to fuel daily engagement

 

Games are designed around momentum, keeping you coming back with power-ups, badges and achievement streaks. Healthcare can learn a lot from this. At Sidekick, when and as relevant, we harness these principles – small milestones, playful challenges and friendly reminders – to keep patients connected to their goals.

 

Over time, small wins accumulate, motivating people to make one more choice until healthy habits become second nature.

 

Level 3: winning means real outcomes

 

We’re not gamifying healthcare for the sake of entertainment. The real level-up is in improved health outcomes. At Sidekick, we’ve seen how when patients actively participate in their healthcare and change their behaviours, there are tangible improvements in health outcomes. Meanwhile, complications, emergency room visits and overall healthcare costs go down. That means:

• Patients win with better health outcomes, improved quality of life and fewer ER visits
• Providers win with smart, evidence-based tools and more engaged patients
• The wider ecosystem wins by reducing the cost of care, supporting medication adherence and driving commercial efficiencies

It’s a positive feedback loop: engagement begets better outcomes, which in turn motivates people to stay engaged.