The healthcare industry is an ever-changing field. Each year, new scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements empower professionals to provide patients with better care and help them live better lives. And this is a continuous process as the healthcare sector continues to change and evolve.
Technologies such as robotics and AI have already paved their way into the healthcare sector. Considering the impact of such technologies, it’s safe to say the healthcare sector is about to go through a major transformation soon. In such a situation, it’s best to keep up with this rapidly changing industry, whether you’re a healthcare professional or not. To advance in their careers, healthcare workers need to grasp the new trends of their field, while patients need to understand medical trends to gain the best possible care. So, be sure to watch out for the five healthcare trends mentioned below.
Data analytics in healthcare
Thanks to the digitization of the healthcare industry in recent years, it’s now possible to collect large amounts of medical and patient data. Thus data analytics is also an integral component of healthcare systems as it is in other industries. It allows healthcare professionals to analyze vast amounts of medical data and identify hidden trends. For example, a patient’s medical history data can be used to reveal illnesses that run in the family and stop them from passing on before it’s too late. However, the reach of data analytics goes beyond discovering illnesses, as it can also be used to predict future pandemics and design preventative measures.
With AI and machine learning making their way into healthcare data analytics, this technology is predicted to significantly impact healthcare management. Data analytics can help reduce errors, fraud, and waste of healthcare resources while improving patient outcomes. For anyone interested in healthcare management, it’s crucial to understand the future impact of data analytics on the field. So, be sure to learn how Big Data impacts healthcare management for a successful future. Interested professionals can increase their know-how by leveraging online learning opportunities.
Telemedicine
A few years before the pandemic, telemedicine was not a common practice in many healthcare facilities, nor did many people know about it. However, with the arrival of the pandemic, traditional healthcare seemed to fail as it put patients and healthcare professionals at risk. As a result, patients and professionals acknowledged the versatility of telemedicine, allowing it to rise as a new trend. However, the popularity of telemedicine will continue to rise far beyond the pandemic. After all, it has not only helped people safely receive healthcare during the pandemic but has also provided several other benefits.
Patients living in remote areas or those suffering from illnesses that make it difficult to travel to hospitals can now receive assistance over the internet. Telemedicine also helps reduce healthcare costs by as much as 50% in some cases since people don’t have to spend on commute. On the other hand, healthcare professionals benefit from telemedicine, as virtual meetings are more comfortable and easier to handle. As technologies such as VR and AR start to emerge in telemedicine, the future seems to be full of possibilities for this new trend.
Electronic health records
A few years ago, a patient suffering from an illness such as cancer would have to go through several doctors ranging from pathologists to nutritionists to provide medical history. However, EHRs change everything. Data collected from one diagnosis or examination is automatically stored on the cloud and made available to every authorized doctor taking part in a patient’s treatment. This saves everyone’s time.
But more importantly, electronic health records track a patient’s medical history and data in real-time, updating it as changes are made, and examinations are recorded. As a result, EHRs are more accurate and reliable than traditional records. There is no risk of using obsolete patient data to develop treatments. Moreover, a reduced chance of errors due to human mistakes and handwriting misunderstandings further adds to the accuracy of EHRs. Additionally, EHRs help to improve patient-physician communication. The patients will feel more comfortable with their healthcare providers if they are fully aware of their conditions and the procedures they are going through.
Wearables
Wearables in healthcare include devices patients and healthcare providers can use to monitor health conditions such as vital signs, blood oxygen, body’s electrical activity, and movement. These gadgets allow people to collect important medical data in real-time and monitor health. These devices can also be connected to EHRs and other information-sharing platforms through the IoT. Doctors can further understand a patient’s condition, as these devices can capture conditions that may not have been noticed at a healthcare facility. As a result, wearables are not only used to treat illnesses, but also to prevent them before they get out of hand.
Additionally, wearables are also helping to improve telemedicine. Healthcare professionals can now run accurate tests on patients in their homes through devices connected over the internet. As a result, patients only need to visit their doctors in person if they need a major operation such as surgery. Not to mention, wearables have also improved the mental health of more than half of their users.
Robotics
The emergence of AI in robotics has further enhanced the capabilities of this technology, allowing professionals to perform repetitive manual accurately. For example, robots are now being used to conduct complex surgeries. Unlike human surgeons, surgical-assistance robots demonstrate exceptional agility, control, and precision during surgeries, allowing them to perform operations without errors. In the future, doctors may be able to perform surgeries remotely by controlling robots through high-speed internet connections.
However, robots are not only making medical procedures faster, accurate, and efficient, but they are also improving safety for patients and professionals. Medical tests, examinations, and surgeries on patients with contagious diseases can now be done through robots with no risk to doctors. Moreover, robots are sterilized, making medical procedures safer for patients.
Conclusion
Technology is becoming more influential in the healthcare industry each year. New trends will continue to emerge, improving medical processes beyond imagination. Hence, it’s crucial to keep up with it by understanding the trends mentioned above. As a healthcare professional, these trends will help you provide patients with better care.
