Emerging Trends in the Healthcare Sector

Introduction

The healthcare industry is experiencing rapid transformation due to ongoing technological advancements, resulting in new trends emerging. There is a growing demand for convenience among consumers, who are becoming more technologically savvy.

During the last few years, the healthcare system has flourished, and the use of technology has increased dramatically. Despite the numerous obstacles faced by the healthcare sector, we have seen tremendous advances and changes, particularly in the health IT domain.

According to Deloitte, US health expenditures will increase from $4 trillion in 2020 to $8.3 trillion by 2040. Among the main reasons for the rise in healthcare costs is the adoption of emerging medical technologies by healthcare companies. The advancement of technology in healthcare services will only continue to evolve, providing people with more cost-effective and preventative treatment options.

The healthcare industry is expected to experience several innovations as healthcare automation is on the rise. Listed below are the top emerging trends in health information technology.

Top 5 Emerging Trends in Healthcare

So, without further ado, let us get straight to the topic…

1. Health Informatics

With the advent of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, health informatics is leading the way in developing technology in health care and simultaneously improving patient care. Patient-centric care, enabled by health informatics, is an integral component of quality care. But this begs the question: what is health informatics?

Health informatics refers to a field within the healthcare industry concerned with organizing and analyzing health records to improve the quality of care.

Among the fastest-growing fields in healthcare, health informatics involves acquiring, storing, retrieving, and using medical and health data. Health informatics is in high demand due to the increasing emphasis on evidence-based medicine, quality assurance, and patient data security. It assists in designing and creating clinical decision support systems, telemedicine applications, and ethical guidelines for the practice of medicine.

2. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

According to a report published by Precedence Research, by 2030, the global internet of medical things market will be valued at $172.4 billion.

Trackers and wearables play an essential role in developing healthcare information technology. The ability to view real-time and detailed information about a patient’s health is one of the most significant advantages for doctors.

The Internet of Medical Things has significantly improved patient awareness. Using trackers, people can receive real-time information about their daily behavior and make changes as they go. A device with gamification capabilities may encourage patients to lead a healthier lifestyle by rewarding them for their efforts, thereby motivating them to stick with it. As a result, technology enhances the desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

At the same time, physicians receive notifications and can participate in their patient’s care with a greater degree of involvement. The data set obtained by this innovative technology can include information regarding sleeping patterns, dietary habits, and daily activity levels. Healthcare practitioners can use this information to create more effective treatment plans and track recovery progress more precisely.

3. Telehealth

The use of telehealth makes it possible for patients to receive healthcare regardless of their location using mobile and internet-enabled devices. In today’s patient-centered healthcare system, fewer large, expensive facilities are required, and patients have higher levels of control over their health and well-being, making it easier to manage diseases.

Telehealth requires patients to complete daily health assessments using a touchscreen device. Vital signs can also be captured and relayed through various medical devices attached to the monitor. A secure website receives the information and allows registered nurses to review it and communicate directly with the patient. The key objective is to reduce the incidence of readmissions by identifying and addressing potential issues in advance.

4. Cybersecurity Mesh

As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, cybercriminals had multiple opportunities to target businesses. As cyberattacks have increased, organizations must invest in an infrastructure that protects them from these threats.

Businesses must employ a cybersecurity mesh to ensure the safety of their systems. An organization that adopts a “zero-trust” network policy will likely experience this problem because, by default, no device is permitted access to the network. The flexibility of such a network enables it to quickly adapt to changing security threats and trends, quickly altering access requirements to prevent any breach from occurring.

It is expected that healthcare will adopt cybersecurity mesh more rampantly in near future, as it is often viewed as an easy target for hackers.

5. Big Data Integration

Data volumes accumulated by healthcare organizations (for example, medical records, IoT applications, and DICOM files) will grow rapidly as the number of available data sources increases. Medical service providers will use data fabrics to combine and manage large volumes of dispersed and structured data.

The medical industry will prioritize implementing a secure multi-cloud solution that integrates siloed data with healthcare systems and manages, stores, and analyzes large amounts of data.

Data integration can provide healthcare organizations with a comprehensive picture of their services. Healthcare organizations can gain a 360° view of their operations by integrating data and making more informed decisions.

Integrating systems allows business processes to be automated, and resources can be utilized more efficiently for cost savings. In every aspect of health care, integration helps evaluate the quality of care they deliver, analyzing their data and using the insights gained to make improvements or changes to their services.

Conclusion

That’s our list of the top trends in healthcare and beyond.

A more robust healthcare system has emerged as a result of the pandemic. As technology advances, the healthcare industry will continue transforming to improve health. To eliminate legacy systems and processes, organizations must trust disruptive technologies, take calculated risks, and invest in innovative technologies.

Increasing competition from unbundled healthcare providers leads to innovation among healthcare providers and insurers. In addition, technology (such as automation, analytics, and electronic health records) allows consumers to gain more control, optimizes medical devices’ supply chains, and enhances physicians’ efficiency.

There is no way of knowing what the future holds. Nevertheless, healthcare organizations that can capitalize on these trends will be well-positioned for success in the coming years.

About Theresa Duncan

Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.