Digital transformation in the healthcare industry in recent years has led to improved providers’ efficiencies and increased patient convenience. Research from Markets and Markets valued the global healthcare IT market at $394.6 billion in 2022. This number is expected to triple to $974.5 billion by 2027, owing to the growing adoption of health technologies such as e-prescribing, telehealth, and other global healthcare IT solutions.
Today, technology has become a key component for progress in the healthcare industry. LHH’s insights on marketable healthcare candidates reveals how tech skills will be essential for healthcare professionals moving forward, as 88% of clinicians globally agreed that being technologically savvy is more important in their daily roles today than it was a decade ago. As innovative industry services like telehealth continue transforming the fast-growing healthcare industry, we are looking at 2.6 million new jobs added by 2030. For the workforce to navigate the future healthcare industry, it’s essential to understand where it’s headed. Below, we’ll look at the top healthcare tech trends for 2023:
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has existed for quite some time. In our post discussing the “Advantages and Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare”, we highlighted the role that AI plays in helping specialists better analyze and treat their patients. AI innovation in the industry has also long helped improve work operations and communication among medical clinic staff, helping reduce healthcare costs while preventing human errors in the field.
At the same time, AI in healthcare has its own challenges. Most recently, medical and biotech giant Pfizer created an innovative digital system to help Pfizer colleagues identify and assess potential challenges in AI solutions, such as biases and disparities. As is a common concern with AI in other fields, AI algorithms are prone to making biased decisions based on the data they are fed by humans. With Pfizer’s new system, AI health solutions may shortly bring us closer to unbiased AI solutions in the industry.
Telehealth
While telehealth preceded the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdowns and remote arrangements to our way of working in the past few years have resulted in a rapid growth of telehealth adoption. Even today, as we return to in-person appointments and events, some patients still rely on the convenience and flexibility of telehealth to access their healthcare. Some popular uses for telehealth today include mental health services and general consultations. Telehealth has also become a preferred alternative for elderly patients who may find it difficult to travel without a companion.
Recently, telehealth is also being adopted in school curriculums. While schools today are familiar with delivering care through a school nurse or staff member with medical training, telehealth, and other digital health tools are equipping students and staff with on-demand access to healthcare providers. According to a telehealth feature from Health Leaders Media, access to telehealth in schools in 2023 will help reduce both staff and student absenteeism, boosting morale as well as test scores. As the industry tries to make healthcare more accessible to rural and underserved communities, telehealth in schools gives students and their families the necessary care they may not be able to afford or travel to otherwise.
Hospital security
Finally, digital innovations in healthcare have also helped maintain hospital security — both digitally and physically. With the rise of digital solutions in the field, it’s unsurprising that there are growing cybersecurity concerns within healthcare. Campus Safety Magazine cites that the healthcare industry had the highest data breach costs in 2022 — its 12th consecutive year. On average, hospitals paid $10.10 million for a data breach to regain access and improve the security of extremely sensitive data. As we advance, investments in healthcare data security will be of utmost importance.
However, the damage isn’t just digital. Among four global health organizations, almost 60% of their members had seen an increase in reported violent cases in their workforce. To counter this, hospitals have adopted digitized video surveillance technologies for healthcare organizations to use together with access control systems, automatic license plate readers, sensors, and more to protect buildings and people, improving efficiency and the overall patient experience.
Aamna is a young enthusiast writer, who Loves different niches, Internet tech, Gadget, Mobile trends and is always eager to share useful informative content to help readers. She has expertise in Digital Marketing and technical advisor.