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The first time I met Danielle, she came into my office loaded down with a backpack, a suitcase, and several plastic bags.
"Where are you headed?" I asked.
"Right here," she said.
Most patients bring me a list of their medications; Danielle had brought me the contents of her entire medicine cabinet—as well as binders full of meticulously organized medical records and the food labels from everything she'd eaten during the last week. "I want you to have as much information as possible so you can figure out how to help me get better," she said.
Danielle was being smart: Her luggage held a wealth of clues, and we pieced them together to come up with the right diagnosis.
The care that doctors deliver is limited by how much we know about our patients, which is why I believe the future of medicine will be all about the details—the kinds Danielle brought me and so many more. We will have the technology to gather precise information about our bodies, and the scientific know-how to interpret that data. The result will be more personalized, holistic healthcare. Here's a look at some of the advice I expect to be giving a decade from now.
Next: Why your DNA could help doctors treat you
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