Archive · 1 Oct 2025
Patients Take Charge of Their Health with Tests, Devices, and AI
More and more, people are taking charge of their own health.
This means ordering tests, using devices like smartwatches and heart monitors, and even using AI chatbots to get medical information.
Companies like Quest and Labcorp now offer tests you can order yourself.
While this gives people more control, it also comes with risks, like not having a doctor review the results.
AI can provide answers and help with health questions, but it’s important to use these tools carefully and consider the source.
Patients are actively managing their health due to doctor shortages and the rise of chronic diseases.
Companies such as Quest and Labcorp offer direct-to-consumer lab tests.
Wearable devices like smartwatches and heart monitors are used to track health information.
AI chatbots are utilized for symptom diagnosis, managing chronic diseases, and providing health advice.
Concerns exist regarding misinformation, data privacy, and the need for regulation in AI health tools.
- Who
- Patients, companies like Quest and Labcorp, AI chatbots, and medical experts.
- What
- Patients are increasingly taking a more active role in managing their own health through direct-to-consumer tests, devices, and AI tools.
- When
- Ongoing, with rapid developments in technology.
- Where
- Primarily in the healthcare space, impacting patient care across various settings.
- Why
- Driven by doctor shortages, long wait times, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and patients' desire to be more involved in their care.
- Companies Offering Direct-to-Consumer Tests
- Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp
- Popular Quest Test
- Comprehensive health profile (over 75 markers)
- Comprehensive Profile Cost
- $385
- Home Blood Draw Cost
- $79
- AI Tool Concerns
- Misinformation, lack of regulation, data-privacy risks