As a response to changing consumer behaviour, there have been significant advancements in the healthcare technology market. Varun Bahl, Sr Product Manager and Chitrangana Singh, Product Analyst, Optum Global Solutions (India), share their views on how intelligent technologies have equipped healthcare professionals with multifarious capabilities in the current times
The healthcare industry today is moving at a rapid pace transforming itself from being a provider of medical assistance into nurturing a robust ecosystem of wellness, fitness and healthier living for its customers/patients. In doing so, intelligent technologies have equipped healthcare professionals with multifarious capabilities by way of offering path-breaking innovations in collating and analysing patient data, using research tools, remote monitoring and so on. In part, this is also due to the changes in consumer behaviour and attitudes towards healthcare – from being a passive recipient of care to cultivating a more proactive and participative approach towards seeking healthcare.
As a response to changing consumer behaviour, there have been significant advancements in the healthcare technology market. One of these is the development of a connected system of health devices like surgical instruments, artificial joints and MRI scanners, which generate, collect, analyse and transmit data. Another and more interesting technology change is through Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). A recent research estimates the IoMT market to value $158.1 billion by 2022. Wearables like fitness trackers and mobile fitness apps, which support an individual’s ‘voice’ in the supply of his/her own data, is bringing huge patient insights into population health management.
As a result, physicians have started harnessing the benefits of technology to improve their understanding of patients’ health and build a more accurate (in some cases, proactive) line of care, thereby making it simpler to set clear health goals for patients and helping them live healthier lives.
Rise of modern healthcare helping to achieve the triple aim of healthcare
Modern healthcare is now defined by the technologies that are making new treatment avenues available to the physicians. These are, then, paving the way for greater accessibility, quality and affordability of healthcare services, or the triple aim of healthcare.
Access to care: With the advent of new age technology solutions, the typical patient-physician setting has changed. The increase in the penetration of Internet and smartphone has made it easier to connect healthcare providers to patients. Use of technologies like telehealth/telemedicine has enabled delivery of remote care to people in the heartland of the country. Access to medical information has also become easy, with a whole host of websites offering information on everything related to healthcare – be it care ratings, drug compositions, symptom trackers and so on and so forth. The emergence of non-traditional players sitting on heavy data within the healthcare space is also opening personalised services and innovative care options for the patients.
Quality of care: As patients are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about treatment options, they are beginning to expect more value from their healthcare providers. Customisable healthcare management tools which are equipped with data ranging from medical history, current medications, fitness and dietary profile, are helping physicians to meet such expectations. Further, when combined with new age technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), these can also help the physician with accurate diagnosis of existing ailment and prognosis of possible diseases. Technology-enabled behavioural health interventions like behavioural health management systems which offer integrated screening, risk stratification, data aggregation, patient engagement and reporting are also being widely adopted. Not limited to providers, employers too are seeking digital enterprise wide programmes to improve employee mental well-being and performance. All of these and more are helping provider organisations care for their patients in the best way possible.
Cost of care: The increase in the rate of technology adoption by care providers has allowed medical resources to be shared with a larger number of people, leading to an overall reduction in expenditure involved in treatment and healthcare. For instance, telemedicine/telehealth can assist in providing remote care through online consultations for at-risk patients, especially in fields like cardiovascular healthcare. It can also help in offsetting the need for constant physical monitoring by a care provider, while keeping a close watch on the vital signs, symptoms and even blood levels from a remote location. Telemedicine allows healthcare professionals to offer virtual care services to customers, which can help in handling emergency department visits – one of the greatest cost drivers – in a less costly, more convenient ways. In addition, mobile apps connected to sophisticated wearables, such as earbuds that measure blood pressure or wristbands that measure heart rate, use AI-powered algorithms to give readings that have a low degree of error. As these applications proliferate, it means there are fewer patients in waiting rooms and less pressure on front desk teams. For the patients, in addition to the cost advantage, is greater privacy as well as control over their own health.
The way forward
As the needle moves towards proactive and predictive healthcare, it is imperative to put the patient first. This means healthcare providers must help the patients understand their condition to enable better decision-making through informed consent; make them aware of the risks inherent in to minimise the potential for adverse events; and help them develop the ability to self-manage their health better. Technology has always been an enabler to support physicians in this endeavour. The continuous advancements in technology will bring an enhanced intelligence and precision into the assessment of a patient’s health, enabling care providers to make accurate and preventive choice of care and thus helping create a healthier world.