CEO at Sphere, Building a Better Future for People Around Us. AI Powered Technology Services.
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I see the transformation in healthcare from two perspectives: as a tech expert and as a patient. From a professional standpoint, I've witnessed the industry undergo a profound shift toward innovation and personalized care. As a patient, I've experienced firsthand the impact of these advancements on well-being and treatment.
This dual perception helps me see how technology enhances healthcare delivery while emphasizing patient-centered care's human element. Healthcare is evolving from a one-size-fits-all approach to a personalized one. This change isn't just about technology; it's about prioritizing patients.
Here are seven trends to consider for keeping your healthcare organization patient-centric and innovative.
1. Customized, Patient-Centric Analytics
For years, healthcare organizations have relied on generic data analytics solutions. However, these one-size-fits-all tools no longer meet the demand for personalized patient care.
In 2024, healthcare companies are moving away from these broad approaches toward more customized analytics. This shift improves patient care and enhances operational efficiency by providing insights tailored to specific healthcare scenarios.
Healthcare organizations embrace this trend by developing patient portals with lab results, medical history, appointments, billing information, personalized notifications and more. Prioritizing data privacy, system interoperability and strong security measures can help unlock healthcare data's full potential.
2. Cloud-Driven Solutions Over Outdated Legacy Systems
Legacy systems have proven to be a significant roadblock in healthcare's digital transformation. Their inability to integrate with new technologies and adapt to the new environment has lead organizations to say goodbye to these relics. Seventy percent of healthcare businesses have already adopted cloud computing. Cloud platforms can facilitate real-time data sharing and collaboration, essential for modern healthcare delivery.
Cloud computing provides the scalability and flexibility to manage large volumes of data and rapidly deploy new services. When migrating to the cloud, healthcare organizations can better prioritize patient data security and regulatory compliance. Healthcare providers rarely migrate between clouds due to high costs and interoperability issues.
In 2024, the trend will move toward fully utilizing cloud capabilities for data storage and collaboration and as a platform for deploying AI and analytics applications.
3. Integrated Healthcare Ecosystems Replacing Siloed Systems
Siloed systems in healthcare are a source of inefficiency and fragmented care. As we step into 2024, there's a collective move away from these isolated systems toward integrated healthcare ecosystems. These interconnected platforms ensure a seamless flow of information, providing a holistic view of the patient journey and better health outcomes through coordinated care.
This trend includes both reducing the number of separate software within the organization (MRS, widgets, imaging and billing systems) and consolidating systems between hospitals and healthcare providers. Involving stakeholders early can enhance IT system compatibility, while a strategic plan addressing technological aspects will facilitate a smooth migration process.
Interoperability between different healthcare systems and devices ensures patient data is accessible and usable across various platforms. In 2024, healthcare organizations will likely focus on enhancing health information exchange, adopting standards like FHIR and participating in health information networks to facilitate better care coordination.
4. Automation And AI: Farewell To Manual Processes
Manual, time-consuming processes are becoming a thing of the past. The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is on the rise, transforming everything from patient scheduling to diagnostics and treatment plans.
Healthcare organizations adopt AI cautiously, seeing it not as an independent technology but as an instrument in a doctor’s hands to increase efficiency. While using AI for personalized notifications and scheduling is common, AI-driven diagnostics and treatment are still in the testing phase. Healthcare providers still lack trust in AI technologies—thorough AI testing and validation should add reliability to AI applications in patient care.
5. From Reactive To Proactive: Predictive And Preventive Care
The traditional, reactive healthcare model is quickly becoming outdated. In its place, predictive analytics and preventive care gain growing significance.
By analyzing vast amounts of data, healthcare providers can identify risk factors and intervene early, shifting the focus from treating illness to maintaining health and preventing disease.
To transition from reactive to preventive care, healthcare organizations can leverage anonymized patient data exchanges shared across the hospitals. It will help to proactively identify early health issue symptoms, prevent or diagnose diseases in the early stages and reduce the cost of healthcare.
6. Blockchain For Health Data Integrity
Blockchain technology offers a secure and transparent way to manage health records and transactions.
In 2024, many healthcare organizations will start pilot projects to explore blockchain for ensuring data integrity, facilitating health information exchange and managing supply chains for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
While blockchain is still considered a "bleeding technology" among healthcare providers, it allows patients to own their patient data records and transactions efficiently. Storing digitized patient records and transactions on the blockchain will enable patients to control access to this data. Yet, blockchain regulatory compliance and setting interoperability standards for its use in healthcare provide a challenge.
7. Wearables And Remote Patient Monitoring
Wearable devices and remote patient monitoring technologies will continue to rise. These tools empower patients to take charge of their health while providing healthcare providers real-time data for better decision-making and early intervention. For example, some blood glucose monitoring devices have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Such devices can share patient data with doctors directly or through third-party integrations like the Apple Health app.
Integration of this data into electronic health records (EHRs) will be a key focus area and will eventually lead to fewer in-office patient visits. Potential challenges of implementing this trend include educating patients to use wearables and overcoming trust issues in sharing patients’ medical data through remote patient monitoring devices.
Embracing A New Era In Healthcare Technology
2024 marks a significant turning point in healthcare technology and data analytics. As we bid farewell to outdated trends, we welcome a new era of innovation and efficiency.
Healthcare organizations that embrace these changes and realign their strategies accordingly will increase their chance of surviving and thriving in this dynamic landscape. The future of healthcare is here, and it's more integrated, intelligent and patient-focused than ever before.
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