Health care has changed a lot in the last decade. People are living longer and health care costs continue to climb. Innovators are taking notice and introducing new solutions to keep the industry moving forward. Here are five trends to keep an eye on in 2020:
Digital Architecture
Health care organizations are using more digital tools to improve patient experience and create more effective care delivery processes. For example, medical imaging and pathology solutions are being upgraded to make that technology more accessible and more useful. In addition, hospitals’ inpatient departments are adopting automation that reduces the amount of human resources needed.
Digital tools can also help manage and control the health care system to reduce waste and improve outcomes. More health care organizations are integrating digitization across the entire infrastructure, from the back end to the front end. This could mean that patients have access to their full health records from any device or computer. This data can provide better insight into a patient’s overall health and help determine appropriate treatment options.
AI-enabled medical research and diagnosis
Medical research is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to automate tasks and speed up analysis. This can help researchers find new answers faster, allowing them to focus on the next great discovery. AI is also being used to make research results more accessible. With more data sets becoming available online, researchers can analyze data to find correlations and linkages that weren’t noticed before.
AI-enabled medical devices are also becoming more common. This technology is often linked to medical research and diagnosis. However, AI can also improve the devices’ functionality by analysing the collected data to identify patterns or provide recommendations.
On-demand health care
Health care providers and patients are both interested in reducing the time it takes to receive treatment. For example, some clinics are allowing patients to book appointments online without the need to schedule an in-person appointment first. In addition, there are a growing number of health providers who allow patients to access their care through online services. Depending on a patient’s needs, this could mean using a software program to manage their health care.
Other providers are using virtual reality to reduce the need for patients to travel to a medical appointment. Through this technology, patients can see an eye doctor or receive treatment through a virtual environment. On-demand health care can also be utilized to reduce the amount of time spent in the health care system. For example, patients may no longer need to schedule an appointment to receive a pap smear or undergo a cholesterol screening test.
Provider-led partnerships
Health care providers are looking for ways to collaborate with other health care providers and with other businesses to improve the quality of care and lower costs. A growing number of healthcare organizations are forming partnerships with providers such as pharmacy chains and technology companies to combine their resources.
These partnerships can provide patients with more convenient access to their care. For example, a partnership with a local pharmacy chain allows patients to fill prescriptions straight from the computer or phone. Furthermore, the partnership can help manage a patient’s care. For example, a patient’s medical information can be stored in the computer system. This lets providers access the information when necessary to reduce the number of calls they need to make.
Health robotics and automation
Health care organizations are also investing in automation. This technology can help to reduce costs and make the health care system more efficient by automating some processes and tasks. Automation can also help to improve the quality of care by freeing up providers to focus on more complex issues.
A growing number of hospitals are using health robots and other connected devices to automate certain parts of the patient experience. Using sensors, these devices can identify certain health issues and provide treatment accordingly.
Bottom line
Health care is an ever-changing industry, and these five trends are just a few examples of how it’s evolving. New technology can be helpful when it comes to managing chronic disease and improving patient outcomes. However, as these trends show, digital tools can also pose risks if used improperly.
It’s important for healthcare businesses to stay up-to-date on these trends and make sure they’re ready for the changes that are coming.