The healthcare sector has recognised the possibilities that technology could bring, and its integration has been steadily increasing even before the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic, however, led to a remarkable surge in the utilisation of ICT by physicians and patients alike. Remote monitoring, patient portals, and telemedicine are identified as indispensable components of healthcare moving forward.
According to a recent survey carried out by EY, 83% of the healthcare professionals who participated reported a bolstered trust in digital health technology due to the advent of the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, 67% of respondents declared their intent to employ advanced technology to enhance patient care and simplify their operations.
This prompts us to question: which technologies will they utilise? There are myriad options available, but from our conversations with healthcare experts, we have identified that the following six are in high demand.
Telemedicine
Telehealth has become a permanent fixture and a direct outcome of the higher technology usage during the pandemic. Although COVID-19 has been the main catalyst for the emergence of telemedicine, its benefits regarding convenience and effectiveness indicate that it will continue to be a valuable resource for the future.
The amplified utilisation of telehealth facilities before the pandemic has made it clear to both healthcare experts and patients how telemedicine can be advantageous for routine health check-ups and minor illnesses.
Remote Patient Monitoring
The notion that remote patient monitoring is encompassed in telemedicine can be made, and this is factual. What separates RPM from a routine check-up or a virtual health consultation is the utilisation of several devices, including wearables, to acquire patient health data and transmit it to their physicians.
As a result, healthcare providers will have access to the most recent information regarding their patients’ well-being. By using wearables, medical professionals can monitor key indicators such as weight, blood pressure, glucose levels, body temperature, and sleep quality. With the integration of AI, these devices can supply invaluable data to assist physicians in customizing care for individual patients.
Communication and Collaboration Platforms
Social distancing did not only have an impact on patients; physicians also had to adapt and rely more heavily on digital tools to maintain professional relationships and co-ordinate patient care when remote. Consequently, healthcare has become a major area of interest when it comes to communication and collaboration solutions.
Healthcare workers can take advantage of various communication and collaboration platforms, which can facilitate the provision of improved care for a more extensive range of patients, specifically those who require a multi-disciplined approach. Doctors no longer need to hold in-person appointments to discuss patient progress as they can blend cloud-based, desktop, and mobile applications.
Online Patient Access System
Internet-enabled systems are not exclusively utilized for corporate purposes. Healthcare establishments can also leverage cloud-based technologies to engage in constant communication with their patients. Several hospitals and clinics have already introduced patient portals to enhance care management. Patients can utilize these portals to monitor medications, access lab results, make payments, and gain further understanding about their treatments. However, the services provided may vary depending on the institution offering the portal.
Patient portals can streamline appointment scheduling by enabling patients to choose a suitable time and date from anywhere with an internet connection. Chatbots can also be integrated within these portals to automate the procedure, lessening the workload for patients. In addition, the integration of AI could yield innovative features such as automated reminders for routine services or follow-up appointments.
Cloud-hosted Applications
It is apparent that telemedicine, remote patient monitoring (RPM), collaboration, and patient management applications depend heavily on cloud-computing infrastructure. Without a reliable cloud-computing structure, these solutions would cease to be practicable. Therefore, healthcare providers need to make investments in this technology.
Healthcare facilities may experience numerous advantages by shifting their operations to the cloud. Although on-premises hardware and software may be sufficient, the benefits of cloud technology should still be taken into account.
Data Analysis with Artificial Intelligence
The use of AI for data analysis is not a new concept, but its significance for the healthcare sector cannot be undermined. AI has been incredibly advantageous during the ongoing pandemic, being utilized for COVID-19 diagnosis, the development of vaccines, and contact tracing. Looking ahead, AI will have an even more substantial role in healthcare, particularly regarding customized treatment strategies.
With its proprietary technologies and artificial intelligence, IQVIA provides unprecedented insights that lead to better decision-making and new possibilities in healthcare. Works is proud to have contributed in the development of an adaptable system for IQVIA that can cater to changing scenarios and accommodate rising demand. It is a prime example of how intelligent technology can transform every facet of healthcare, from research and development to commercialization.
Revolutionized Healthcare through Technology
The healthcare sector can evidently capitalize on a wide array of technologies. Although we have already mentioned some of the most prominent ones, other solutions such as blockchain, 5G, robotics, the Internet of Things, and edge computing have potential in delivering customized treatment strategies. These technologies present innovative approaches to the industry.
Choosing a technology to incorporate in a healthcare establishment can be a difficult undertaking. While success is not guaranteed, deliberate evaluation of the organization’s necessities, goals, resources, and products can aid in identifying the most appropriate technology to address key areas of concern.
Healthcare technology has now become essential to medical practices as it offers efficient resolutions to pressing concerns. These tools played a crucial role in bringing order to a chaotic environment and achieving positive results during the pandemic. It is hard to conceive of a healthcare system in the future that does not leverage their power.
