The healthcare sector is changing drastically. There was a time when to get an appointment; you had to go to the hospital and fill out a form. In addition, most operations and procedures were painful and highly invasive. However, today, many of these archaic practices have long been retired. Technology has taken over the healthcare industry and introduced a new model: telehealth.
Since its arrival, telehealth has rapidly grown, making the industry worth billions of dollars. By 2025, telehealth may have a market size of about $55 billion. So what are the trends shaping telehealth and making it one of the fastest-growing industries, and what does next year hold for the sector? Read on to find out:
Telemedicine Is Here to Stay
Telecommunication has made it easier for doctors to bridge the gap between them and their patients. It has made evaluating, diagnosing, and treating patients more manageable. The global healthcare market is estimated to reach over $175 billion by 2026; this will result in more funding for telemedicine, an increase in digital platforms, and interactive virtual care. So, to answer what the telemedicine future looks like, it is well on its way to becoming the most commonly used method patients use to consult with doctors.
More than half of all US organizations have an active telemedicine program. About 90% of the remaining health institutes are working on adopting telemedicine. In comparison, more than 50% of American patients feel that telemedicine has made them more involved with decisions related to their treatment.
AI Use Has Become More Prevalent in Healthcare
Artificial intelligence has become a significant asset for hospitals, especially when it comes to improving patient care. As most hospitals are shifting their business model online, it helps to have AI-powered chatbots that are available for patients to use around the clock, answering their questions and connecting them to doctors. These chatbots are also integrated with patient information databases and can access their symptoms, past prescriptions, and treatments to provide accurate and specific suggestions.
As a result, this makes the diagnostic process easier since patient data becomes much more accessible to retrieve and work with. For example, the FDA has approved an AI device that can examine pictures of the retina and look for diseases like diabetic retinopathy. Upon scanning, it was revealed that the software could identify this ailment in more than 85% of cases and has 90% accuracy in picking who has it.
Similar applications of AI were seen when Intel and the Scripps Research Institute in California collaborated to develop a deep learning algorithm that could identify 23 patients at a borderline risk of developing the cardiovascular disease with an 85% accuracy.
Improved Contact Tracing
The healthcare sector is also deeply involved with studying infectious diseases to keep tabs on their prognosis and spread. This allows them to prepare for an epidemic by researching the ailment, looking at its molecular structure and scheduling a vaccine that can counter its effects. This is made possible through contract tracing. This technology uses online databases such as mobile devices to collect information about the ailment. For example, suppose a patient has recently recovered from a contagious disease and has the contact tracing app on their phone.
In that case, this technology will use Bluetooth and GPS to monitor their movements and track information on where they are through specialized codes. This safeguards their privacy but allows the system to keep tabs on the patient, so the app will notify them if they come across another person with an infectious illness. This practice was widespread when the COVID-19 virus was on the rise. Patients with a contact tracing app are immediately notified if they are exposed to someone who tested positive, reminding them to try and mitigate the risk of spreading the pathogen.
Greater Adoption of Mobile Health
Mobile technology has become the cornerstone of modern healthcare. This palm heel decision has played a significant role in making healthcare accessible. This is because mobile healthcare has enabled the sector to invest in applications that keep patients updated and informed on their health. There is also less waiting time, and patients don’t have to get their stamina lectured.
It has also allowed hospitals to come up with online chatting platforms outside of WhatsApp that enable medical practitioners to share, discuss and discuss a patient’s health while upholding the HIPAA oath. These secure chat rooms prevent data leaks or accidentally expose a patient. In addition, other health applications like the diabetes manager by Welldoc are popular tools among nurses and doctors to monitor a patient’s blood glucose information. This allows the doctor to recommend personalized treatment and become more specific in dealing with the patient’s health.
Consequently, patients with diabetes can manage their symptoms well, get timely notifications to test their blood glucose levels, and get recommendations from their doctors on what to do because of one app.
Final Thoughts
2023 is a good year for technology. As digitization expands and further seeps into the healthcare sector, it will lead to developments and innovation that will boost healthcare outcomes. This will keep a community healthy and in good shape, which is vital for a thriving society. In terms of technological development, many new inventions and concepts have made their way into the sector. This includes the popularity of telemedicine, the wide-scale application of AI, an enhanced method of contact tracing and ensuring that infections are curbed, and mobile health applications that facilitate the process of patients and doctors staying in contact.
Technology has come a long way, and its influence in the healthcare sector is remarkable. Not only has it transformed the business model, but also made healthcare more straightforward and more accessible. So as the years progress, the medical industry will continue getting more extensive, leading to more exciting ideas entering the mainstream market.
