Healthcare sector is often considered as one of the most progressive industries that hugely benefited from technological advancement. Technology in healthcare is able to improve the diagnostic process as well as the treatment of illnesses and deceases. Top healthcare companies have already profited a lot by incorporating healthcare technology on a daily basis.
Electronic medical records or online registration services are quite familiar to everyone. However, each year there appears a lot of different tech trends which are steadily shaping the medical industry. The trends like Artificial Intelligence, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things should not be only related as a part of computer games or sci-fi movies, but as a reality of modern prospects. The trends that are shaping the current healthcare market and benefits both medical education and diagnoses.
Our team has chosen the top 5 digital trends which are playing an important role in the future of healthcare industry in 2019 and beyond.
Artificial Intelligence
Medical treatment stands on the whole new level due to AI. Cooperation between people and machines in terms of monitoring human health conditions and come up with a unique solution in healthcare practice is what define AI as a great solution to various problems in healthcare. AI robotics is widely used in caregiving, however, it is not the only way to benefit from this trend. There is an ability to manage big amounts of data as well as:
Workflow management. As a predominant feature of the AI technologies is the automation of the routine processes. Routine paperwork, scheduling, and time-sheet entry will be much easy to proceed which potentially will save a lot of time.
Medical diagnoses. AI applications can improve the accuracy of the diagnosis. AI tools help to analyze survey data more quickly which consequently mean s that doctors can be more accurate with diagnoses. Currently, such methods are widely used in the dermatological and optical deviations, diabetes and other diseases which cause the appearance changes.
Medical product development. The process of research and development of new drugs is quite time-consuming as well as an expensive process. No to mention that pharmacists usually face financial, legal and ethical challenges on a daily bases. In that case, AI allows exploring chemical and biological interactions in the drug discovery process safely with minimal resources.
VR / AR in the Healthcare
Virtual and augmented reality are shaping the healthcare industry at the moment, from medical education to the diagnostics. While virtual reality created total artificial surroundings for a participant, augmented reality generates images that can be layered on top of the real-world environment. In both cases, the user can see the created imagery or text with the help of virtual reality glasses, while their hands stay free.
For diagnoses, VR/AR allows to model different conditions and manipulate the camera in order to compare the existing examination data with the examples from the database or replicate the effects of treatment. VR world could shape the new understanding of medicine due to the fact it deals with such issue as:
Cardiovascular diseases. Heart treatment is quite difficult to monitor and detect the heart defects at the early stages. In that case, VR videos would be helpful providing better services. Therefore, Stanford University School of Medicine with support of technology company specializes in virtual reality - Oculus. Due to the usage of virtual reality glasses, there is an opportunity to detect and understand what patients experience.
Respiratory diseases. In fact, lung illness (asthma, COPD, tuberculosis, etc.) is the most common reason for mortality among children. One of the practical implementations of the VR apps allow people who suffer from asthma visually understand the symptoms. Especially, it is a great tool to teach young children how to use inhalers correctly by visually illustrate how to breathe correctly.
Diabetes. VR technologies are using specifically for educational purposes in order to get a profound understanding of the heart and vascular system of diabetes sufferer.
Alzheimer's disease. People with Alzheimer’s and dementia experience struggling with speech, environment, and memory. Developing software which could recreate the elderlies’ previous experiences or stimulates positive via scenarios like traveling to exotic places or observing wildlife. Additionally, VR technology helps to detect a risk for people who has certain symptoms.
Blockchain technology
Blockchain technology entails the meaning of decentralized system in which transactional or historical data are recorded, stored and maintained across a peer-to-peer network of personal computers. Surely, there is a tendency to link blockchain with the cryptocurrency, however, this technology contributed a lot to the healthcare field, too. It’s secure and immutable which makes it a great technology for the medical industry. According to the BIS Research report blockchain technology can save around $100-$150 billion per year by 2025 in costs related to data-breach, operation, support function, and personnel costs.
In fact, blockchain technology can truly revolutionize the healthcare industry, especially the pharmaceutical sector, specifically drug discovery, development, and distribution process.
Additionally, blockchain helps to deal with data analytics and avoiding data inaccuracies. Data gathering and analytics might be quite challenging to proceed. In fact, the pharmaceutical industry deals with a huge amount of data on a daily basis. Incorporating blockchain technology could improve the drug supply chain, manage drug trial data for research purposes, smart contracts between patients and hospitals and B2B.
Needless to say, that blockchaine is the solution to deal with payments methods as well as storing medical history. Therefore, these are a secure way to manage financial transactions and digitally store patient’s medical records with the following accuracy and details specifications.
Big Data and Analytics
One of the most widely known applications that helps to manage big data is the electronic health record system (EHR). It allows gathering health data about individuals. This approach saves tons of doctor’s time due to a total elimination of the paperwork and bureaucratic routine. Actually, a new approach towards the big data management could gather, process, store, interconnect and analyze a huge amount of data.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) stands for web-enabled connection of everyday devices, such as voice commands, automation, and electronic interactions. Such practice creates the most convenient condition for patients to contact professionals from their homes. The IoT allows tracking factors like sleep, heart rate, temperature, physical activity and blood pressure, etc.
One of the great examples of the IoMT is the Kinect HoloLens Assisted Rehabilitation Experience (KHARE) platform for mirror neuron therapy. In fact, the mentioned platform creates the ability to real-time data feeds that allow practitioners to create holistic and personalized physical therapy programs for patients regardless of their location. he KHARE platform is currently undergoing a clinical study that is scheduled to end on January 2020.
Conclusion
Technologies are constantly evolving and every day there is more opportunity to incorporate digital trends to various industries. Healthcare sector benefits a lot from modern technologies. It is not a surprise. Due to the fact, AI, VR/AR, IoMT, blockchain technology and the ability to manage big data and analytics are predominant features to find solutions to various healthcare issues and help thousands of people.
As the company, who has several successful cases in web and mobile app development for the healthcare market, we know the importance of following the healthcare trends in the new product development process. Healthcare companies and institutions which were our clients are shaping the healthcare sector with the apps that were developed by our devs. It is a great pleasure to make a contribution to the development of the future of healthcare.
Thinking about building your own healthcare app? Or perhaps you would like to build a product to deal with healthcare issue and incorporate digital trends to benefit the healthcare sector? One way or another, feel free to contact our team and we will help you in any inquiry.
