Trends that are Sculpting Digitization in Healthcare

Emerging healthcare trends are revolutionizing the way medical professionals securely and accurately exchange data and improve patient care, worldwide.

What is trending?

There are many developing trends in healthcare that are paving the way for advancements in patient care and provider communication. It is critical that healthcare professionals embrace new trends to understand how they can be beneficial for enhancing the quality of care they provide, and how they enable better access to medical resources for a safe, healthy lifestyle. [1]

Blockchain and AI

One of the most popular trends that is constantly evolving and adapting to societal development is artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology, used in conjunction to manufacture the best technique for data exchange and security. Blockchain is essentially a chain of data transactions that are secured in virtual boxes and unaltered along the exchange. AI is a software that has been coded to think and analyze information like a human, with a “thought process” designed to provide results based on the data entered into its system. [2]

Blockchain is the bridge that supports, enables, and scales AI software capabilities and scope for healthcare, let’s call this the Block-AI Bridge (BAIB). Blockchain ensures that data is being stored properly so there are no errors that may affect the results the AI technology produces, enabling accurate data sharing and scaled data accessibility. [2]

Data Democratization

Creating data accessibility and ease of exchange between providers and networks with the BAIB allows for data democratization in healthcare. This just means that data will no longer be dictated and monopolized by specific physicians that were the original owners of that patient’s records, enabling efficient and cost-effective continuity of care. [4]

BAIB: Predictive Analysis

That’s not the only perk of utilizing the BAIB in healthcare. Predictive Analysis is another trending concept that compartmentalizes risks and recognizes patterns based on those categorizations. This procedure can reduce waiting room time, medication errors, readmissions, etc. Having the ability to predict potential diseases, health phenomena, or specific patient health decline can help speed up action time and reduce chronic or life-altering outcomes for patients. [3]

On- Demand healthcare: Telehealth

Telehealth, or telemedicine, refers to virtual care with a provider that patients can schedule, attend, and monitor online. [5] Telehealth can be used to perform various healthcare tasks such as “booking appointments, receiving test results, remote consultations, etc.” [1] Although this style of healthcare is entirely digital, it still adheres to the standards and regulations that ensure security and privacy for patient medical records. [5]

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) tends to be solely known as a toy for entertainment, associated with video games, movies, art galleries, etc. What is so fascinating about it though, is that it also facilitates an endless possibility for medical advancements. There are a variety of current and potential uses for VR as a treatment, training, or educational tool as research around this innovative piece of technology persists.

VR is used as a treatment apparatus for mental ailments like anxiety, and for physical ailments like pain or the aftermath of a stroke. Medical professionals also use VR as a training tool for sharpening their surgery skills, or for educational purposes to teach students in a hands-on approach who are entering the healthcare industry. [1]

Why are these trends important?

All these tools serve a critical purpose…to assist physicians in creating a secure, people-centered style of care that is designed to be available to people of all demographics and geographies. With continued research and understanding about how technology is beneficial for efficiency, connectivity, and security, progressive innovation in healthcare is possible. [1]

Sources:

[1] “Digitizing Healthcare: Key Trends, Benefits and Challenges.” APACMed, July 1, 2022.
URL: https://apacmed.org/digitizing-healthcare/.

[2] Oodles-User. “Ai and Blockchain: How These Top Tech Augment Each Other.” Blockchain.Oodles, November 25, 2022. URL: https://blockchain.oodles.io/blog/ai-and-blockchain-augmentation/.

[3] Giordano C, Brennan M, Mohamed B, Rashidi P, Modave F and Tighe P (2021) Accessing Artificial Intelligence for Clinical Decision-Making. Frontiers in Digital Health, Vol 3:645232. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.645232

[4] Wang, Yuhang, Bernd Blobel, and Bian Yang. 2022. "Reinforcing Health Data Sharing through Data Democratization" Journal of Personalized Medicine 12, no. 9: 1380. URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12091380

[5] “What Is Telehealth?” Telehealth.HHS.gov, June 29, 2022.
URL: https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/understanding-telehealth/#what-does-telehealth-mean.