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Entrepreneurs are always trying to solve problems. But overcoming difficulties in the healthcare field is more challenging than in any other area of life. It’s one of the most complex fields and the regulatory environment is not conducive to rapid progress. 

Even so, business leaders in the sector are still solving problems at a rapid clip. While progress might not be as fast as it is in some areas, you can still see the upward trajectory clearly. 

This post looks at some of the healthcare headaches entrepreneurs are solving today and what this trend means for the future. 

Medical Adherence

Top of the list is the issue of medical adherence. Entrepreneurs are finding ways to encourage patients to take their medicines as prescribed. 

The actual number of patients who take their medications as instructed is surprisingly low. Many give up after the first sign of side effects. 

However, companies are coming up with solutions like smart pill bottles and digital reminders. Notifications on phones nudge patients to take their medications, while smart pill bottles prevent the taking of doses at the wrong time. 

Administrative Overhead

Entrepreneurs are also looking at ways to reduce the administrative burden on clinicians. Tech titans are developing tools that automate the paperwork and help them get more done in less time. The hope is that technology will mean that specialists spend more of their day focusing on patients instead of filling out forms. 

Patient Data Fragmentation

We are also seeing entrepreneurs seeking to deal with patient data fragmentation – the problem of disparate records – and trying to bring them all together. Companies want to enable clinicians to see a full patient profile, giving them a complete picture of a patient’s history and what to expect. 

The optimal way to do this is through the cloud. Entrepreneurs are developing secure tools that enable information-sharing across health settings via a single login. 

The system is essentially the same as cloud-based emails or word processing. However, the security is higher to remain GDPR and HIPAA-compliant. 

Low Access To Research Materials

Low access to research materials and equipment is another problem leaders in the field are looking to solve. Distribution companies are finding ways to centralize equipment and reagents to furnish laboratories and research departments at low cost. 

The idea is to make research materials as on-demand as possible, similar to the consumables market in the healthcare system. Hospitals and clinics should be able to order the materials they need when they need them and receive them in good time. Patients should also have access to laboratory equipment that can improve diagnoses and disease characterization. 

High Costs

Finally, entrepreneurs are looking for ways to reduce the high costs that currently affect the healthcare system, particularly in America. Companies want to provide patients with better value for money, looking for ways to improve outcomes. 

Political changes are necessary, but they aren’t the only adjustments that could be made. One option is to simply automate procedural tasks, getting machines to take care of them to prevent costs from rising further (even if they don’t come down).