IT Trends in Healthcare to Watch

 

9. Interoperability and Connectivity

This is another popular trend in healthcare technology popped up during the global pandemic due to the lack of data interoperability. It has slowed caregivers down for years and impacted their ability to provide the best possible care.

The interoperability and connectivity of medical devices are widely recognized as important factors in helping hospitals achieve better patient data flow, synchronization, quicker and more accurate identification of high-risk patients, and improving the overall outcome.

According to Google Cloud’s research, nearly 59% of doctors believe better interoperability will help them more quickly identify high-risk patients. In comparison, 95% of docs agree that enhanced interoperability will improve patient outcomes.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has finalized its rules that give individuals greater control in sharing health information, a consumer-centric approach to healthcare. Patients can now access and share their electronic health information more easily. Interoperability between providers and MedTech developers is also expected to improve, and we will see huge growth in the field in the upcoming years.

10. Telehealth

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has seen the wildest growth and has become one of the hottest trends in the healthcare industry. 82% of customers experienced telemedicine for the first time since the start of COVID-19.

According to Precedence Research, the telemedicine market is poised to grow to $225 billion in 2030. It has become an integral part of the whole healthcare industry.

Telehealth uses mobile technology, including virtual doctor visits and remote patient monitoring tools, to enable permanent access to medical care. These services eliminate the need for nonessential doctor visits and make it easier for patients in rural locations, or without easy access to transportation, to see a doctor or other healthcare professional, including medical specialists of wider specialization.

There is no need to say that telemedicine will continue expanding, supported by the continuously growing demand. The current market is divided into three main segments by the source of healthcare: telehospitals, telehomes, and mobile health. All three niches of the industry are expected to grow.

Telehome, also known as telehomecare, is an industry term for home-administered healthcare and health monitoring. It’s one of the largest trends in telemedicine of the past year.

The largest market driver boosting this healthcare trend is the growing number of chronic diseases — 133 million Americans have at least one. This need for better, more comprehensive continuous treatment, combined with technological innovations, result in new services being offered and more patients expecting convenience in the services offered to them. Thus, telehome will play a significant part in the future of telehealth.

Millennials in age 25 to 40, together with Gen Z, the oldest of whom are in their mid-twenties, are the most tech-friendly and tech-savvy generations on the lookout to save and receive more convenient services. They present a unique market for telehospitals to increase further, and it’s likely to stay one of the top telehealth trends for 2023 and beyond.

One of the biggest telehealth industry trends, in general, is making health more accessible. Mobile healthcare is the broadest term in the telehealth industry, encompassing everything from apps that help users conduct breathing exercises to connecting to healthcare professionals directly.

The most significant market driver boosting mobile health is the popularity of smartphones and tablets.