By S.C. Stuart

I used to live in NYC, where I had a fancy executive job (with accompanying salary) and booked my annual physical at a high-end medical practice in SoHo. It wasn’t covered by insurance, but I didn’t care; they gave a great service and I was happy to pay to ensure the stresses of international travel and corporate life weren’t killing me (yet).

Something Artificial This Way Comes

I moved to Los Angeles, hit the ground running and made do with what my regular insurance provider furnished. But recently I’ve felt nostalgic for my old top-tier doctor’s visits, so I decided to check out Forward, a new AI-powered med-tech startup.

Founded in January 2016 by former Google exec Adrian Aoun, Forward has some serious backers, including Eric Schmidt, former executive chairman of Google, and Marc Benioff, founder, chairman and CEO of software company Salesforce. “As consumers, we demand the latest technology in everything because it improves the quality of our lives. Yet when it comes to our healthcare—arguably the most important thing of all—we accept outdated technology and tools,” Aoun points out.

It’s Your (Life) Style

Forward is also looking outside the box when it comes to locale. It doesn’t want to be near other clinics or major hospitals but right at the center of all things lifestyle. In San Francisco, you’ll find one amid high-end retail and eateries on Sutter Street. Here in Los Angeles, it’s in the upscale mall at Westfield Century City (upstairs from the Tesla EV charging stations and near Amazon’s new concept store). A third location, opening August 2018, is in Newport Beach, again within a plush mall.

A Welcomed Disruption

From the outside, Forward resembles a Nordic-style spa lobby, all bleached woods and soothing cerulean blue lighting. The big clue that this is something more complex are the flat screens shimmering with real-time data feeds. “I started Forward to put the most advanced technology in the hands of doctors to ultimately improve the outcomes of those under their care,” says Aoun.

A 3-D Diagnosis

As I was just doing due diligence, I didn’t have a full consultation, but attentive staff walked me through the detailed process. Firstly, I stood on a 3D body scanner, looking straight ahead at the screen, and slid my finger into a recessed sensor. The full body scan results and vital signs data would then serve as my baseline health analysis and be shared, in real time, with a clinical advisor waiting in one of the exam rooms.

No Scrubs

As each metric was recorded, my Forward mobile app, which I’d already downloaded onto my phone, would then be populated with all the information gathered so far, including a 12-minute, on-site full metabolic panel. Other data sources can include genomic, prior test results and medications. I liked the concept that I’d have all this data in one place and, best of all, that I could then changes over time.

Moving through the doors at the back, I saw several exam rooms, all softly lit, with quiet furnishings. No scratchy, unflattering open-at-the-back gowns or harshly lighted examination tables; and, doctors at Forward don't wear scrubs. It's all very civilized, as you'd expect for a premium service (prices are $149 a month for unlimited use membership). I slipped into a zero-g recliner (designed by Forward’s team), which moved effortlessly into flatbed mode.

Action Items

My guide next explained that my personal clinician would walk me through my results on the flat screen ahead, developing an action plan to improve any current or future health concerns. The screen had voice recognition so our conversation could be recorded, using natural language processing for interpretation. Usually my doctor has half an eye on me but then turns away to type in notes, but here I felt I, as the patient, was the focus.

Next up: the wearables. This is a key differentiator for Forward’s service. Real-time data feeds, captured from sensors on the body, enable a much higher level of service.

I was keen on learning more about the Oura Ring sleep-management device and the Nokia Steel and Misfit Ray activity devices. Hopefully I will never be at risk of heart attacks and have to wear a Kardia EKG, but it’s great it’s another option in the Forward platform.

“By building the first doctor's office that learns, we are putting key data and insights in the hands of our doctors,” explains Aoun, “enabling them to make highly informed decisions. We are excited to accelerate the learning in healthcare.”

Custom Care

I’m still considering my future health options, but Forward is an impressive set-up—one that illustrates a new healthcare paradigm, shifting from one-size-fits-all medicine to truly “me-based” AI-powered care. So, if you’re looking for tailored service, a serene environment and high-tech gadgetry that utilizes the magic of AI go Forward.