46% India’s younger healthcare professions don’t know how to use digital patient data to inform patient care: study

Philips Future Health Index report captures vital insights from a new generation of healthcare professionals, revealing the gap between their expectations around training, technology and culture, and the reality of their experience as healthcare professionals

Philips India announced the India findings of its 15-country Future Health Index (FHI) 2020 report- The age of opportunity: Empowering the next generation to transform healthcare. Emphasising the role of digital healthcare, the study reveals that 91 per cent of younger Indian healthcare professionals feel that digital health technologies, including Adaptive Intelligence (AI), telehealth and digital health records amongst others, will aid in improving patients’ experiences and 90 per cent say they are an important tool to achieve better patient outcomes. Above other countries surveyed, 81 per cent of younger Indian healthcare professionals believe that AI will allow them to offer personalised care. Digital health records topped the list as the most beneficial technology for improving patient care over the next five years.

Commenting of the launch of the India report, Rohit Sathe, Vice President, Health Systems, Philips Indian Subcontinent said, “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare landscape has shifted dramatically. The pandemic has accelerated the pace of adoption of digital technologies that will enable healthcare professionals in delivering improved patient outcomes. Philips’ Future Health Index 2020 India study confirms the desire of younger healthcare professionals to embrace healthcare technology whilst highlighting the need of right training by healthcare institutions on the use of these technologies. To support the industry’s rapid demand and shift towards digitisation, we have organised over 100 hours of digital learning engagements and webinars for healthcare professionals in India. We hope that the insights from our report will offer guidance to key stakeholders on empowering the new generation of healthcare professionals.”

The report also evaluated the gaps in healthcare education and training of younger healthcare professionals in India. It pointed that although 81 per cent of younger Indian healthcare professionals only knew it by name, knew a little or knew nothing at all about value-based care, 46 per cent expressed that they do not know how to use digital patient data to inform patient care. The study revealed that more than half (69 per cent) of younger Indian healthcare professionals believe that training on understanding the data outputs of new technologies will enable them to use digital patient data most effectively.

The report has captured vital insights from a new generation of healthcare professionals, revealing the gap between their expectations around training, technology and culture, and the reality of their experience as healthcare professionals

Key findings of India Future Health Index 2020: Harnessing technology to help transform healthcare

• 87 per cent of younger Indian healthcare professionals believe that the right technologies have the potential to reduce their workload
• 81 per cent younger Indian healthcare professionals agree that the adoption of digital health technologies have the potential to lower their stress levels
• 90 per cent of them believe that digital health technologies are an important tool to improve patient outcomes

Creating the ideal healthcare working environment

• 70 per cent of younger Indian healthcare professionals regularly experience work-related stress
• 85 per cent of younger Indian healthcare professionals working at ‘Smart’ facilities are satisfied with their work
• 67 per cent of younger healthcare professionals in India feel they can drive change in how their hospital or practice is managed

Future Health Index 2020 reflects independent research, commissioned by Philips in 15 countries, in which India was included. It is based on the assessment of care delivery against the Quadruple Aim (better patient outcomes, improved patient experience, improved staff satisfaction, and a lower cost of care) with a focus to build sustainable healthcare systems.