*This is part 1 of a 2-part series.
The healthcare sector has experienced the most transformation since the COVID-19 pandemic. It has undergone many changes and has adapted to new circumstances. The use of healthcare tech is a key trend in healthcare that will shape the future.
According to the HIMSS report, around 80% of healthcare systems intend to increase their investments in digital health over the next five years. The intention is clear. But which technologies are worth spending on? This report will give you the answers to your question.
Overview of the healthcare IT market in 2022
Rock Health healthcare market analysis revealed that 2021 saw $21.3 Billion in venture funding in 541 deals. This surpasses the 2020 record of $14.6 Billion. According to the Deloitte report, there is a growing need for accessible and secure healthcare, remote monitoring, and interoperability among healthcare institutions.
Verified Market Research predicts that the global healthcare market will be $665.37 trillion by 2028. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, healthcare market analysis has shown that the US’s national healthcare spending reached $4.1 trillion in 2020, or $12,530 per individual, and they expect that to reach $6.2 billion by 2028. Healthcare professionals are constantly looking for new technologies to meet their clients’ needs.
Digital health trends for 2022
According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, more than half of the surveyed patients would be willing to use Telehealth services, which receive high ratings on their cost-effectiveness and quality.
Experts evaluate the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), cybersecurity measures, remote monitoring (RPM), Fintech Integration, Cloud migration, and Big Data analytics as to the latest trends in healthcare. These technologies have proven their effectiveness in shaping the global digital healthcare landscape and passed the pandemic test.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (ML) are gaining ground in the healthcare industry. They are most effective at meeting the patient’s needs. They can be used to support healthcare organizations’ management, as well as strongly empower analytics and decision-making.
Cognitive automation (CA) and robotic processing automation (RPA) are also promising new technologies in healthcare. Combining ML with AI and other technologies creates the next level of automation and augmentations in compliance, control, and capacity processes.
The top trends in healthcare digital transformation for 2022
- Wearables devices
- Cybersecurity and data privacy
- HIPAA-compliant video conference platforms
- Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
- Concentration on mental health care
- Big data and analytics
- Cloud migration
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
- Instant online scheduling
- Cognitive Automation (CA)
- Fintech integration
- Interoperability and connectivity
- Telehealth
Precedence Research estimates that the global IoMT market will reach $172.4 million by 2030.
Trackers and wearables are an integral part of healthcare IT development. They provide valuable data for doctors to monitor patient’s health statuses in real-time.
IoMT facilitates a shift in patient awareness. People can track their behavior in real-time and make changes. Providers can use gamification features to motivate patients and help them live healthier lifestyles. Technology has a tremendous impact on our lives. It can help us live healthier lives and add fun to the process.
Doctors can now receive alerts and be more involved in the patient’s care. This technology can provide rich data about a patient’s sleep patterns, nutrition habits, and activity levels, among other parameters. This information allows healthcare professionals to create more realistic coaching programs and track treatment progress better.
Wearable devices and chronic conditions
IoMT innovations are most effective for disorders that require lifestyle changes. They could be suffering from over anxiety, smoking addiction, or obesity, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes.
The most recent data shows that approximately 422 million people have diabetes worldwide. Type 2 diabetes treatment was a constant reminder to patients, leaving doctors with no choice but to trust their promises and words. Healthcare providers were unable to control Type 2 diabetes treatment progression because success depends on lifestyle changes.
Wearables have solved this problem and allowed doctors to collaborate with patients in building healthier lifestyles. It helps to establish Patient First Approach. This is the framework that educates patients about treatment stages and milestones. The global personalized medicine market was worth $4933.1 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at a 6.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), between 2021 and 2028.
Cybersecurity and data privacy
Data security remains a major industrial concern. Cybersecurity will continue to be relevant in the future of health information technology. Future technological advancements will adhere to the requirement for a substantial security layer. Protecting sensitive patient data online is the ultimate goal.
The number of weekly attacks against healthcare amounted to 626 per organization by the end of 2021 and continues to grow. According to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, cyber-attacks compromised more than 40,000,000 patients’ records in healthcare in 2021. Half of all internet-connected hospitals are at risk.
Examples of cybersecurity measures currently include interconnectivity between IoMT devices, threat detection within the network, and the application of robust AI models to overcome the need for sharing patient information while analyzing it. Organizations can use these highly effective recommendations to combat cyber-attacks.
Cybersecurity is still a hot topic due to the increasing number and risk of data breaches. This problem will only worsen due to growing interoperability and information sharing. Given the current circumstances, the healthcare market will continue to search for reliable and secure software that adheres to patient safety standards.
These indicators are for Type 2 diabetes. They include the maximum sugar permissible and the minimum daily activity. The device can also store regular human insulin (RHI), which is a great feature. The treatment is now more effective and easier to follow.
HIPAA-compliant video conference platforms
Since the pandemic, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act has been a mandatory video conferencing standard. This federal law requires companies to “protect the privacy and security” of individuals’ protected health information (PHI).
Most Telehealth video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom for Healthcare and VSee, follow this rule.
The next step in the industry is the upcoming communication platforms. They will offer safety beyond the current end-to-end encryption, which stores patient data in cloud storage but still risks it. These new alternatives include Tauria, DuckDuckGo, and Signal.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
Remote patient monitoring is a trend in medicine that COVID-19 helped to create. Virtual healthcare has many forms. It can be done online, remotely, or via video conferencing. The wide variety of IoMT devices provides RPM with more options.
According to Research and Markets, the Global RPM Systems market will be worth more than $1.7 billion by 2027—nearly 128% more than the current market opportunity.
Hands-free communication will be a critical future trend in healthcare technology for revenue cycle management. RPM is a time-saving tool that healthcare organizations of all sizes can use to save valuable resources and time.
It was especially effective in handling personal protective equipment during the pandemic. The future will be a better place for RPM to unlock the ability to combine hands-free and on-site treatments for patients to receive the service they need.
RPM contributes significantly to health equity, which means everyone has equal access to all health services regardless of where they live, their economic status, or how others perceive them. This is a significant step forward in technology that shows how technology can improve the world.
Concentration on mental health care
Global pandemics like COVID-19 have dramatically accelerated mental health problems worldwide. According to WHO, a suicide occurs every 40 seconds, and about 50% of mental disorders begin by 14.
These problems can be managed by enhancements to RPM. Patients can receive high-quality psychotherapy help without putting their health at risk with Telemedicine.
McKinsey & Company claims that telemedicine usage has increased 38% since February 2020 and then stabilized. They also note that the majority of remote visits are for mental health care.
The technology also opened up the doors to the most vulnerable patients, including those with chronic disorders, comorbidities, and mental illnesses. They couldn’t access healthcare providers previously due to racial inequity, shame to be seen publicly, and lack of resources. Today, they only need an internet connection to launch a communication platform.
Deloitte Global forecasts that the global spending on mobile mental healthcare apps will exceed US$500 million in 2022.
About the Author
Alex Tate is a Health IT writer for various platforms. He provides perceptive, engaging, and informative consultancy on industry-wide topics. He knows that no single approach is the right one for every practice, and so shall advise according to the requirements. The consultancy is based around EMR for small practices Systems, Practice Management, Artificial Intelligence, Interoperability, and Patient Engagement.
Want to learn more? Read Emerging healthcare technology trends: Part 2.