Healthcare industry trends are moving toward wellness and preventive medicine to lower costs by avoiding disease.
Virtual hospital wards and remote patient monitoring are some of the latest trends to keep an eye on, while new pain management techniques that provide more effective relief while having less side effects than traditional pharmaceuticals are also emerging.
Table of Contents
1. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI), one оf the most promising IT solutions for healthcare, can significantly cut costs while improving efficiency and outcomes, supporting medical research, and ultimately providing better patient care.
AI can help reduce fraud, which cost the industry $380 billion last year, by identifying suspicious patterns like unbundling (billing for services that weren’t performed), doctor-patient collusion to submit false claims and mistakes made when self-administering medications which could otherwise lead to dangerous overdoses.
However, AI implementation requires careful consideration. This includes setting the right use cases; developing a digital literacy strategy for staff; meeting standards in digitization, data quality and interoperability; as well as creating an entrepreneurial culture within an organization. Healthcare organizations should place priority on finding solutions which reduce administrative work rather than replace it entirely.
2. Virtual Reality
VR is revolutionizing healthcare in many ways, from helping surgeons practice their procedures and medical staff training through lifelike simulations, to supporting patients with memory and cognitive issues, including supporting those suffering phobias by gradually exposing them to fearful objects at controlled doses and slowly building tolerance over time. VR even serves as a mental health treatment tool by helping surgeons practice procedures amidst realistic simulations or supporting memory problems patients.
Virtual reality (VR) is revolutionizing medical education by giving both students and doctors access to high-risk clinical scenarios, like treating an injured child, where split second decisions could make a difference between life and death. Multiplayer VR makes this learning possible across disparate learners working in one virtual scenario together; most barriers identified were associated with organizational limitations like not enough time or technical support being available.
3. Big Data
Healthcare industries generate massive amounts of information every day through information gleaned from patients, clinical trials and medical devices. Harnessing this big data enables healthcare professionals to make strides forward in diagnosis, medicine and patient care.
Medical facilities that utilize this technology have seen dramatic decreases in medical errors caused by human error, as well as quicker responses to disease outbreaks.
Digital appointment scheduling and record keeping systems have revolutionized healthcare operations, creating greater transparency and efficiency for patients to access their medical records and make appointments via online portals – greatly decreasing wait times in hospitals while simultaneously increasing service quality while helping lower costs.
4. Cloud Computing
Cloud solutions enable healthcare organizations to save on labor costs related to maintaining an internal IT staff while more quickly processing data for analysis of care components that ultimately leads to superior care for patients.
Healthcare providers can also benefit from cloud storage of patient records that meets legally mandated standards of data security and privacy, which reduces the risk of records becoming lost or damaged while giving doctors remote access to updated patient information.
Cloud computing has also allowed healthcare professionals to collaborate from anywhere around the globe on projects. Companies like YouComm are using communications software in the cloud to help healthcare professionals communicate with patients via text, voice calls, or even head gestures – providing real-time collaboration on medical procedures as well as remote telehealth consultations.
5. Mobility
Intel1 found that most clinical settings still rely on outdated, bulky computers on wheels for most patient care needs.
Due to these challenges, hospital employees have reported feeling discontented with their jobs and this has contributed to high employee turnover; some hospitals reported losing one-quarter of their staff physicians over just two years.
But there are solutions! Telehealth and augmented reality technologies provide solutions by allowing patients to receive care at home instead of hospital or clinic settings, freeing up space. Furthermore, these tools allow chronic disease patients to self-monitor more effectively so as to decrease hospital visits while helping aging populations stay in their own homes for longer.
By embracing innovative IT solutions like AI and VR, healthcare institutions can empower staff, enhance patient care, and pave the way for a healthier future. A Toronto managed IT service provider can be your invaluable partner іn navigating this digital transformation journey.
