Key Digital Trends Redefining the Future of Healthcare

By CIOReview | Saturday, December 17, 2022

Technologies are gaining huge momentum and are helping patients to a greater extent in dealing with health issues. Besides that, access to care is improved with the help of technologies, and more accurate diagnostics are being provided to the patients.

FREMONT, CA: Digital technology is needed to transform the fragmented healthcare system and reorient it around consumers. Innovation in digital health allows tailoring people's healthcare to their unique needs, bringing care to their homes and fingertips, and connecting their care across sites and experiences. During 2023, it is expected to see an unprecedented acceleration in digital adoption and transformation - because adoption is high and benefits are even greater.

Digital and mobile technologies are at a historic level of engagement. According to Pew Research, 97 percent of Americans own a mobile phone and spend an average of six hours online each day. Consumers today want digital experiences in virtually every aspect of their lives, including healthcare.

A third of smartphone owners monitor their health and fitness through their phones. A further 44 percent of older adults (aged 50-80 years) use at least one mobile health app, and 25 percent have shared health information with their doctors through such apps. Forty-five percent of health app users suffering from type 2 diabetes are interested in tracking blood sugar and medications with apps.

Fifty-eight percent of Americans are comfortable with virtual consultations replacing in-person appointments, particularly if virtual consultations are more convenient. In addition, 68 percent of people choose a medical provider that offers online booking, rescheduling, or canceling.

In 2023 and beyond, digital capabilities will continue to revolutionize healthcare in these ways:

Telehealth and virtual care will expand Access to healthcare, especially for behavioral health: Patients and providers can build stronger connections through virtual care options. This is especially true for 60 million people. Rural communities are home to one in five Americans. Behavioral healthcare is an area where virtual care has a big opportunity as demand continues to outpace supply.

Healthcare technology ramps up: Wearables and technology that detect moods and stress levels are areas individuals are exploring today. According to Deloitte research, the majority of people have been using technology to detect their health and fitness since the Covid-19 pandemic when digital consumption skyrocketed. In the next year, patient monitoring, health devices, and Apple HealthKit will become increasingly popular.

Scalable data, AI, and personalization: Health care can get smarter about what people need with artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing. Consumer experiences are becoming more connected, seamless, and relevant with personalization at scale. In a nutshell, this is an amazing time for health care and for what digital technology can accomplish.