With the rest of the world embracing digital transformation, it might seem surprising that healthcare remains an analogue outlier. But, with the pressures of an aging global population and increasing chronic diseases that require lifelong monitoring and care, healthcare is beginning to embrace new digital tools.
For the first time in history, patients and healthcare providers can interact on a real-time basis, thanks to the advent of telemedicine, mobile apps, and other tech tools. This convergence of technology and healthcare is enabling more on-demand care and shifting it away from hospital and clinic visits, which are expensive and unwieldy, towards more home-based treatment. It’s a trend that could significantly reduce healthcare costs, improve access for the most vulnerable patients, and help close the gap between health and wellness.
From telemedicine to virtual reality (VR), we’re seeing more and more companies developing digital tools for the medical industry. These platforms are allowing patients to monitor their own health, connect with their doctors from the comfort of their homes, and get personalized advice and treatment. These tools are also empowering patients to take a more proactive approach to their health, rather than being reactive only when they’re sick or injured.
A recent survey found that one in five Australians use smartphones and other tech to proactively monitor and manage their health, such as tracking blood glucose levels or heart rate. This is a big increase over the previous year, and it reflects the growing global trend of people taking control of their own health through a combination of lifestyle and digital technology.
Despite this, there are still many barriers to the widespread adoption of digital healthcare. Aside from the fact that some countries have yet to create a national electronic healthcare record, there are issues surrounding interoperability between devices and the difficulty of connecting them to Wi-Fi networks. Another big problem is the lack of standardized hardware and software to ensure that different brands can communicate with each other.
While a slew of new digital health tools have been developed, the field still needs to grow to meet the demands of patients and providers. For example, a California-based company is creating ingestible chips that can track medication use, measure cardiac activity, and transmit data to a patient’s smartphone. But, to be successful, such digital healthcare products need more testing and regulatory approvals before they can be widely adopted.
In a rapidly expanding market, companies who want to develop and deliver digital healthcare solutions need to stay on top of emerging trends. This is why partnering with an IoMT development agency like StarTechUP is crucial. Our team is constantly researching and analyzing the latest in healthcare technology trends so that we can bring them to our clients’ attention right when they need it. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help your organization thrive in the digital age of healthcare.