It’s important to pause and reflect on the previous year to predict what we can expect to see in the future of healthcare.
The coronavirus pandemic was a roadblock for artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of things (IoT), however, it still experienced developments during 2020.
Furthermore, healthcare was impacted by the pressure of providing vaccines, medicine, and environmental health.
As we look forward to what’s in store for 2021, we collected our top four predictions in the healthcare space.
1. Healthcare Plays a Role in Every Company
No matter what industry a business operates in, it will learn to function as a healthcare company. Keeping their staff and clients safe will become an essential aspect of doing business.
For employees working at their physical office, biosecurity efforts including sanitizing stations on-site, health screening tools, and isolating pods will be implemented. Innovative technology will help improve safety measures and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
Some companies find that it’s best to work remotely depending on technology to orchestrate their work initiatives.
Additionally, supporting the mental health of remote staff will be necessary for employers. Expecting workers to effectively do their jobs at home, while dealing with personal pandemic-related realities must be addressed.
2. Virtual Care Skyrockets
Patients have the ability to receive care in the comfort and safety of their own homes, through virtual appointments with their providers, thanks to digital apps and secure screen sharing websites. In particular, routine screenings and minor incidents can oftentimes be handled via video conferencing — not surprisingly, remote visits have soared during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forrester Research is predicting that virtual visits will reach one billion by the end of this year.
3. Data & Artificial Intelligence Paves the Way for Equitable Healthcare Coverage
The pandemic has proven consumers’ willingness to share their personal data to benefit the greater good. Tracking and tracing measures have positively reduced infection rates from accurate reports of consumers.
Predictive technology will be significant in foreseeing financials. The novel virus pandemic has taken a major blow on the United States’ healthcare revenue, decreasing by 50%. Elective cases were nearly eliminated and other surgeries that were not deemed crucial were put on hold.
For that reason, AI tools will be utilized to predict where and when resources can be most effective. This includes insurance companies that leverage forecasting technology to mitigate risk, as well as fine-tuning premiums that are accurate and fair.
4. Digital Health
Becker’s Hospital Review analyzed and reported their top predictions in digital health.
The takeaway? Lessons from COVID-19 will influence digital healthcare in 2021, including the restructuring and optimization of supply chains. The Chief Innovation Officer at Mass General Brigham, Chris Coburn, predicts that 2021 will bring, “the increased use of digital to shrink distances, drive growth and enhance care overall —such as the expansion of remote monitoring/assessment and online scheduling — and all of it integrated with the EHR.”
Consequently, the coronavirus pandemic is predicted to command greater attention. The Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer from Cambia Health Solutions, Mohan Nair, shared, “Digital technologies, like telehealth, digital therapeutics, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, are all candidates to catalyze a new world with a common cause.”
Stay tuned later this month — our next Auxo Medical blog will do a deeper dive into covering the expansion of virtual healthcare.