Digital Transformation in Healthcare: Tapping Into Technology

We live in an era of unprecedented medical advancement and innovation. From state-of-the-art surgical techniques to breakthroughs in gene therapy, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, the world of medicine is making waves every day. But with these advances come big changes.

The healthcare industry is going through a digital transformation that will be as significant as the advent of antibiotics or the introduction of vaccines and anesthesia in the last century. Numerous studies have found that primary care physicians are not able to keep up with the volume or complexity of cases coming their way. And when they can't solve a problem on their own, patients are being referred to more expensive specialists which drives up costs for everyone involved. Physicians and patients are being forced to find other options outside of the traditional health care system because it is failing them. As years go by, it's increasingly becoming clear that this system is unsustainable for patients, hence the need for a radical change.

Enter a switch-over to digital change. Healthcare innovation is happening at a breakneck pace. The increase in the availability and accessibility of integrated data, coupled with the rise of powerful new tools to analyze that data, is leading to a strong push for digital transformation.

One such growing innovation is that of mobile technology in healthcare. Mobile apps allow for easy communication between the concerned patient and caregivers.

For example, you can keep track of your physical health-related activities by entering your meals/exercise/medicine in personal apps, reduce unnecessary and stressful visits to the hospital by simply checking in with your care coordinator about an appointment via an app. You can put on healthcare trackers and wearables that help you to monitor your health, detect any abnormalities and prevent critical situations.

Digital transformation has been a critical focus for companies across industries, but it may be even more important in healthcare because of the stakes: lives hang in the balance every day. This transformation has led to a complete change in the way healthcare providers interact with patients and care for them.

The future of healthcare looks to be all-encompassing. With the advent of emerging technologies, we are beginning to see a healthcare system that will not only include doctors and hospitals but every person in society. This may sound utopian to many people as they keep on wondering about the possibilities and what the future might hold for those who want to take charge of their health.

The emerging trends are that care will be delivered in a more integrated way, with different levels of care coming from diverse professional groups and practices. It will also involve the use of technology in various ways to support better communication, collaboration, and coordination among providers.

With telemedicine and virtual care, we can get medical help from experts anywhere in the world. Treatment decisions are shared more quickly and in a more timely manner via new digital collaborations through telemedicine, videoconferencing, remote monitoring devices, text messaging alerts, and mobile applications.

Most experts believe that this type of healthcare delivery model could help improve quality and reduce cost by increasing efficiency and access to care for all populations.

In the future, it is envisioned that everyone will be able to get preventive care at home through telemedicine and telehealth, where skilled practitioners can remotely diagnose patients and give treatment instructions. This would reduce the need for extreme cases to come into emergency rooms.

Doctors would be available 24 hours a day through live streaming video chat on smartphones for consultations with patients or their family members or friends. Doctors could also remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions in their homes and agree to teleconferences with other physicians when necessary. Such an experience would greatly reduce the need for expensive visits to hospitals

Also, medical devices will be able to monitor our health and transmit integrated data directly to providers. We will use wearables and other devices that are capable of measuring blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and more. This integrated data will be sent wirelessly or by barcode scan or other input devices for instant analysis by providers.

With the push to make healthcare affordable, comprehensive, and accessible, there will be a greater need for physicians to work together with hospitals and physicians' offices.

Hospitals are providing more outpatient services to reduce the need for patients to visit emergency departments for routine care. There is an increase in the number of telemedicine consultations and On-Demand healthcare care-delivery platforms. Physicians also provide care coordination among themselves and other providers through electronic medical records so patients can get the care they need.

The goal is to now sustain and scale the hybrid care model that delivers integrated care and surveillance across inpatient, outpatient and at home.

Tapping Into Technology to Treat the Whole Person

With these innovations, treatments are made easier. This includes everything from reducing healthcare costs to personalizing treatment.

Health technology can diagnose a patient before they ever set foot in a doctor's office and it can monitor their progress all along the way. It also means that patients who are on an extensive treatment regimen can receive care 24/7, even when they are at home or on vacation.

Health technology is also being utilized as a tool for effective therapy. There are many different types of technology that can be used to treat mental health such as Virtual Reality(VR) systems, wearable devices, and mobile apps.

Virtual reality therapy could be used as a form of rehabilitation for patients. Many therapists have already begun using these therapeutic tools in their practices because they can help patients address underlying issues without needing to express themselves verbally or through words at all.

How Caregivers Will Tap Into Immersive Technologies

The rise of immersive health technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality, is enabling caregivers to deliver care to patients from home. These technologies are providing caregivers with the ability to remotely monitor patients from afar, as well as offer new ways to teach caregivers about their patient's needs.

There are an estimated 39 million caregivers in the United States alone, with that number expected to rise sharply. With a population that's growing exponentially, it's no surprise that many of these healthcare providers are taking on an enormous responsibility of caring for people having severe sickness.

In-home care providers could be the next high-demand workforce in the United States. They'll need to be prepared for complex tasks like monitoring vitals and administering drugs remotely.

Caregivers can also tap into immersive health technologies like AR and VR headsets, sensors, and wearables to make their jobs easier and more efficient. Virtual reality (VR) headsets will allow people to indulge in realistic, life-like experiences without leaving their homes. VR headsets combined with motion controls, haptic feedback and voice controls will allow patients to follow doctors' instructions without them even having to go into a hospital for treatment.

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and Predictive analyticscan also be used to determine when a patient might need assistance, allowing them to react before it gets too serious. We are in an "age of interoperability" where health data sharing and information exchange is now very important.

Other examples include home monitoring systems that monitor things like breathing rates or weight, remote video visitation, and specialized software that provides reminders based on data input.

Home health aides are becoming more and more valuable in the healthcare industry.

Immersive technology improves patient outcome because it restores a sense of control over their surroundings. Home-based care providers can use devices to help patients recover more quickly and efficiently while keeping a close eye on the person's progress from home. This would allow the healthcare providers to reduce burnout and provide a better quality of care for their patients.