Healthcare Trends 2021: Digital Transformation of the Industry

When we talk about technological advancement and innovation, we rarely think about the medical industry. Nevertheless, it has been seeing a number of healthcare industry trends in the rise of AI, consumer-facing apps, software solutions and IoT. Pharmaceutical and laboratory equipment industries also transition to digital health. Around 69% of medical experts talk on how Covid-pandemic caused them to take into careful consideration IT for management and daily hospital routine, and what a difference it can make.

Advances in technology are reshaping healthcare. So let’s see why technologies will continue to be valuable throughout the year in more detail and check new healthcare trends in 2021. See how these trends make it possible for people to interact with the simulated environment and learn about mhealth.

1: Telemedicine Services for Individuals

Telemedicine is the delivery of health care services using remote technologies. More healthcare facilities are looking forward to adopting this trend in 2021. Telemedicine is the main thing driving the adoption of technology in the future of healthcare and medicine sector. One of the main reasons why this is happening is because the technology allows a lot of people to access medical help which wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

Telemedicine is key in three main areas:

• Promoting the development of healthcare apps
• Creating a decentralized healthcare system
• Improving and promoting cybersecurity in medicine

As more areas of life are adopting remote communication, so is the healthcare sector, even at a slower pace. Apps are being developed that would promote and simplify communication between healthcare providers and patients. Telemedicine is also in favor of protecting healthcare data. Expect to see more innovations that promote remote monitoring of patients in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2: IoMT Solutions

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is one of the top medical trends of 2021 and a valuable technology, especially when combined with telemedicine. It is a crucial addition to preventive medicine. Thanks to IoMT, more wearable devices are being developed. These allow doctors to not only monitor patients but also screen them for preventable illnesses. There are already many smart devices in use, including smart beds. These apps and devices increase the frequency of checkups.

Wearable devices provide real-time information about the patient which allows doctors to provide adequate treatment when the need arises. The key factor here is consistent communication, which is exactly what it does for the healthcare system. Apps provide a lot of data which can facilitate research as well.

3: Cloud-enabled Digital Tech

Storage of medical data is easier with technology. More hospitals are turning to cloud-based solutions to store patient data. This facilitates data storage and maintenance. The cloud provides an easier way to access data, especially regarding patient history. This in turn makes consultations more convenient for doctors as they can easily see the patient’s case file.

The main challenge when using the cloud is adhering to protocols. Many people still feel that the HIPAA Privacy and Security measures do not provide the necessary protection that the healthcare sector needs.

In 2021, there will be stricter measures in place that will provide a secure place for storing patient data. One example is providing private-cloud systems so that healthcare providers have more control over patient data.

4: Big Data Health Market Trends

The medical field generates tons of data. This data can be used to make useful predictions. Big Data will provide more accurate insights from patient information. By using Big Data, medical professionals will reduce the rate of errors. To protect the data and avoid risks with the security, you can work with a professional development team. The development companies and startups may prevent systems threats and save you money.

What’s more, in the big data industry will be more insights into the prevention of diseases. This allows doctors to quickly provide medical help to patients who have alarming changes in their health condition. Doctors also have access to predictive information about a patient, giving them more time to prepare for any emergencies beforehand.

5: Virtual Reality (VR): What Will It Bring?

Virtual reality also continues to make incredible strides in medical training. Pretty impressive devices and tools presented in the past year helps solve key challenges, providing such advantages as:

• Customizable experience with simulated patients
• Better understanding of possible procedures
• Phobias, fears, and anxiety therapy
• Skills practicing and education by using 3D scanning
• Operation procedures simulation and more

Some companies are working on empathy simulators, which put doctors in a patient’s position to let them experience a condition through their perspective. Researchers feel this will help to improve the way doctors interact with patients.

The more popular virtual reality technologies become, the more they are expected to offer new opportunities for the medical scene. Some of the innovations in virtual reality include:

• Accuvein – a device which helps clinicians visualize veins on the surface of the skin, thus making it easier for nurses to draw blood or place IV lines in patients.

• Medical realities – a virtual reality medical education program that helps both students and doctors  to perform surgeries.

• Vivid vision – it helps optometrists to examine eye conditions in a more accurate manner.
• MindMotionPro – a software that helps to improve movement in patients who have suffered from a stroke.

6: Mixed Reality

Augmented reality (AR)  and (VR) are trends that the medical sector is looking forward to applying more in 2021. The uses of these two technologies extend in both training and medical practice. From a teaching point of view, AR allows students to learn using 3D models. Visual content and interaction with different simulations improve the retention of information. So students can learn faster than before.

When it comes to providing healthcare, AR and VR both assist in producing a simulated environment. These simulations are being used to treat many conditions such as chronic pain and memory loss. Doctors can also use mixed reality to help patients with mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). AR provides extra information that can be of high value to doctors. For example, AR can assist patients to accurately describe their symptoms, which allows doctors to place a diagnosis faster. Also, doctors can train and practice surgical techniques thus reducing the risk of errors and increasing efficiency.

7: Mobile Health (mHealth)

Mobile applications that provide medical support, or mHealth took an important direction in digital medicine. The top drivers of growth here are advances in mobile tech and applications development in emerging markets.

What are the trends in healthcare mobile market? According to the reports, the volume of the global mobile healthcare market in 2027 is expected to grow with annual average values (CAGR) of 22.3%, reaching $230,419 million.

For delivering patient value, the healthcare giant AnthemInc has launched a new digital incubator to foster the growth of healthtech startups. With the increasing rise of mHealth and connected health initiatives, it is expected to see more and more programs in the future, including development of apps.

Additionally, the healthcare applications that have the confident prospects can be divided into several groups:

• Collection and storage of various medical metrics of the user (pulse, pressure, heart rate, sleep, etc.);
• Fitness applications (sets of exercises, performance control);
• Applications for a healthy lifestyle (nutrition, active lifestyle, tips, etc.);
• Apps for reminders to take medications and store medical records;
• Apps for interaction with a medical center or clinic, including a video chat and conference options;
• Applications for people suffering from a certain disease.

8: Tech for Good and AI

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is paving a new path for innovation in medicine. AI would be the main topic of the DavosAgenda summit 2021, highlighting what are current technological trends in healthcare, data for common purpose, digital inclusion, 4th industrial revolution and more. This technology:

1. Provides more accurate ways to diagnose and treat patients;
2. It is also a great source when it comes to medical research;
3. There is also increased efficiency when performing clinical trials;
4. AI will be a key factor in the growth of personalized medicine and more.

By 2035, AI might start replacing doctors, thus reducing operational costs and promoting efficiency. It also assists in predicting epidemics. There is more room for improvements in medical imaging, reducing the risk of human errors.

Furthermore, AI is effective in screening patients at risk of serious conditions, enabling doctors to create appropriate treatment regimes in time. Taking a personalized approach when diagnosing and treating patients will become a reality with Artificial Intelligence.

9: Software Solutions

Software solutions aim to simplify the work of doctors. This begins with an evaluation of patients right down to the management of diseases. Another important aspect is analytics. It also allows medicine facilities to stay up to date with the latest technological trends. So healthcare providers can build better portals for storing patient data. It is important to make sure that patient data is secure and only accessible to doctors working with the patient.

The software also provides digital analytics which is profitable for both treating patients and research. Analytics can provide more accurate predictions about the outcome of a brew treatment during clinical trials. This means more research can be carried out.

So healthcare is going to invest more in digital analytics in an attempt to reduce costs while increasing the quality of care provided to patients. Various software solutions also aim at promoting remote patient monitoring while also collecting data that can be of use in providing an individual treatment regimen for each patient. Connected devices give medical professionals access to a patient's vital signs.

10: IT Industry and Initiatives

There is an increasing need to provide remote monitoring of patients. Applications and other IT solutions that provide a day to day information about a patient's conditions have increased in demand.

Healthcare providers are ready to invest in apps because ultimately it is cost-effective. There are so many self-monitoring applications on the market. Different tools and features allow patients to check blood pressure for example on their own without going to a medical facility thus reducing the workload for healthcare practitioners.

For example, some applications can monitor the heart rate as a patient is exercising. This information can also be used by doctors to provide personalized treatment for individual patients.

Final Thoughts

The digital trends in the medical field offer so many opportunities for both doctors and patients. Already, they are improving many aspects of medicine and healthcare systems with new technologies discovered every day. Some of the opportunities that new tech offers:

• Aiding the diagnosis of patients
• Simplifying surgical procedures
• Training doctors and nurses
• Improving the hospital setting for patients
• Increasing the speed of recovery for patients
• Using new tech and apps to treat lots of medical conditions

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The rate at which digital healthcare solutions are developing is noteworthy, and such innovations will improve patient care and provide great opportunities for companies to invest in.

It’s a trend that typically gets people talking, and so far, brands and enterprises have been enthusiastic to invest in the industry. Get in touch to get more information within the topic and new trends, including development of healthcare solutions that will help the future of medicine!

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