The future of healthcare tech is now the norm. The ball has started rolling, but healthcare must retain the momentum to keep up with the new generation of healthcare users.

In the last year, healthcare has risen to the challenge that the tiny enveloped virus has delivered with crippling damage to health and the economy. Healthcare as we knew it has gone and in replacement, a newer modernized system capable of moving into an exciting future where the possibilities are endless. 

Healthcare is currently in the process of embedding our new tech. “On-demand” clinicians and healthcare professionals have access to an array of patient data that they can access during virtual consultations with their patients. Care facilities have regular access to multidisciplinary teams through virtual ward rounds. Hospital departments can easily share digital patient notes between specialists across geographical borders, and healthcare organizations have large data sets at their fingertips to inform future planning.

All of this has been made possible through advances in technology such as artificial intelligence AI. AI in healthcare is capable of taking immense amounts of data and cleverly processing it with defined algorithms. The amalgamated data is translated into clinical notes, images, and predictive analysis, ready on hand for the end-user. Here we take a look at these developments in more depth.

Cross-system management of patients

Workflow management and the sharing of information between hospital departments are fundamental in effectively maintaining services. Especially over the last year, healthcare organizations could not have sustained departments with staffing shortages and patient flow increases without health tech. AI brings a new life to the healthcare world. New and potential uses of AI within radiology are reaching new heights with the introduction of teleradiology. Stroke and other critical services are being revolutionized with images sent to clinicians more rapidly for review, even across geographical or organizational borders. 

Population health data

Quality improvement processes and patient population health management depend upon decision-makers making the right choices to implement services to meet the local need. Healthcare organizations can only achieve this by analyzing and understanding large amounts of patient data gathered and organized through new and innovative health tech. Specialist systems of data management can be utilized to implement risk management and more effective care.

Virtual healthcare

With the requirement to stay at home and the vast numbers of patients shielding, virtual consultations have become standard. Health professionals have adapted their working practices around the virtual world. Patients can now book appointments, upload medical images, access their records through their phones. Doctors and nurses can consult with the patient at a time and place that is convenient to both. Any health professional acting in the patient’s care can review a full paperless view of the patient with electronic health records EHR. Medicines, allergies, and relevant clinical backgrounds are easily accessed and reviewed, giving the clinicians all the tools required for safer and effective decision-making. 

Health tech monitors

We are moving toward a world of self-care, where individuals take responsibility for their health. Every day, people are encouraged to adapt to the idea of preventive healthcare through wellbeing and healthy living, and preventative medicines. Tech giants have created new and innovative wearable health monitors giving people the ability to control their own health needs. People can now monitor their healthcare using specialist equipment such as pulse oximeters and wearable blood pressure or heart rate monitors. Diabetes and other long-term health conditions can be monitored and controlled with new systems that link up with tech devices. People are empowered and encouraged to manage their health conditions.

Integration of care services

The borders between social, mental, and physical healthcare are becoming a thing of the past, making the transfer of patient’s medical and social backgrounds safe and straightforward. Records are available at a time when it is needed most. A patient with dementia, for instance, will see numerous siloed care providers both in the community and in the hospitals. With the help of health tech, joined-up care is a reality with a spirit of collaboration and a common purpose.

These healthcare advancements are examples of preventative care at its best, but it can only get better! Healthcare organizations in the private and public sectors must work hand in hand with specialists in healthcare technology communications to continue this trend whilst reducing health inequalities. The improvement of population health and the reduction of ill health will rely on optimizing future and existing health tech capability.