The modern era is characterized by the reality of technology transformation. If you own a healthcare business, you’ve probably now understood how crucial it is to keep up with the digital transformation in healthcare. Though using technology transformation brings more value to customers, drives business growth, and maintains a competitive edge, you still need to know that digital transformation in healthcare is much more than that.
Thus, understanding the health trends and medical advancements in the key changing areas like radiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and pathology becomes urgent. Also, you will be surprised to know that in the next three to five years, you are going to experience immense medical advancements in the healthcare industry. These technology changes aren’t just about the usual incremental advances but offer a leap on an innovation curve.
Let’s take a quick look into the key digital transformation in healthcare in 2024, and learn about the digital trends shaping the health industry.
5 Emerging Digital Transformation Trends in Healthcare Worth Monitoring
1. AI is the Main Focus in the Healthcare Industry
The initial health trend observed in the healthcare industry is the swift implementation of AI. The enthusiasm for incorporating AI into healthcare is increasing, with generative AI slowly becoming more prevalent in our everyday routines. Healthcare executives believe that the digital transformation process such as the generative AI has the potential of enhancing health equity, cutting down patient wait times, simplifying claims procedures, and dealing with staff burnout.
Furthermore, the inclusion of large language models (LLMs) also demonstrates great promise in providing immediate patient information for accurate diagnoses, effective treatment preparation, and improved patient results. Healthcare professionals increasingly rely on technology transformation such as AI-driven systems to effectively analyze and extract valuable information stored on computers or tablets in medical laboratories.
In 2024 and onwards you can expect more and more use of artificial intelligence and other generative models in the healthcare industry.
2. Wearable devices powered by IoT are highly Demanding
In earlier times, if you saw most of the patients usually underwent a yearly medical evaluation and visited the clinic as needed for specific health concerns. However, concerning the digital transformation in healthcare, and medical advancements in a patient-centered approach, patients’ expectations throughout the entire healthcare process are changing rapidly. They anticipate and are looking forward to receiving more regular and proactive healthcare, along with immediate health status updates.
Therefore, the healthcare industry is putting resources into wearable tech gadgets that combine instant monitoring of at-risk patients to detect critical health emergencies early. According to a new study, the wearable medical devices market is projected to reach $41.8 billion in 2024 and is expected to increase to $86.2 billion by 2029.
Hence, having a proper digital transformation strategy to use the latest technology transformation is highly crucial. Some of the digital transformation examples in the field of wearable gadgets include:
- Devices used to measure blood pressure levels.
- Devices for measuring blood sugar levels
- Heart rate monitors
- Devices to monitor physical activity and health.
- Activewear that is combined and coordinated.
If the reports are to be believed, by the end of the year 2024, various wearable devices will be available for purchase as more healthcare consumers adopt health monitoring and focus on preventative health measures over long-term chronic treatment.
3. Rise in Improved Security and Privacy Protocols
When dealing with patient information, security, and confidentiality are emerging as the primary health trends in 2024. Recent evidence confirms that security is a crucial aspect of the healthcare industry, and there is a growing frequency of data breaches in the industry. Healthcare organizations need to have heightened security measures implemented.
In 2024, we anticipate technology transformation in safeguarding patient data as well. Regarding this, you can look forward to hospitals and health insurance providers starting to implement biometric authentication, encryption, and added security measures such as two-factor authentication. Additional policies are also expected about the digital transformation in healthcare to be implemented to safeguard the confidentiality of patient information.
4. Rise in the Adoption of Blockchain
Blockchain technology is also seen growing rapidly in the field of medical advancements. Blockchain which is also popular among the health industry as a digital ledger or a computerized database of transactions, is undergoing a technological transformation. Shared among various computers on a network, it enables clients to securely share financial data with vendors, eliminating the necessity for an intermediary like a financial institution. Blockchain, a digital transformation process will soon have a crucial impact on maintaining the accuracy and security of electronic health records.
According to the GlobeNewswire report, the blockchain healthcare market stood at $304.04 million in 2021, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48.90% to reach $10,939 million by 2030 globally.
This proves that the upcoming frontier in healthcare is the metaverse that integrates DeFi, NFTs, decentralized governance, decentralized cloud services, and self-sovereign identity. There are already businesses developing metaverse platforms specifically for the healthcare industry.
5. Rise in the Use of Virtual and Augmented Reality
Another digital transformation in healthcare is the use of virtual and augmented reality functions at a rapid stage. Simply put, Augmented Reality (AR) is a modern technology that enables patients to interact with virtual generative models that behave like real people. However, Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology created to form a virtual environment all around. This modern digital transformation process provides enhanced access, better results, and improved experiences to all regions of the world, including the most remote areas, and is considered a significant digital transformation trend.
To this, a recent study conducted by the Economic Times reveals that the metaverse into healthcare is also projected to transform the industry and potentially hit $800 billion by 2024. Together, healthcare professionals can anticipate using these technology transformations to overlay images and data in real-time using holographic technology. This will subsequently enhance surgical effectiveness. Furthermore, VRET and ARET are utilized in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, and phobias.
In 2024, these digital transformation examples like AR, VR, blockchain, wearable devices, and AI generative models will become the ultimate game changers strategy in the healthcare industry.
The Bottom Line
This was all about the digital trends noticeable in the healthcare industry. These five health trends mentioned above call for the need for a well-defined digital transformation strategy in healthcare
Digital transformation in healthcare has just begun. Having the right expertise and resources like timely receiving the medical news at the right time is the key. Are you considering taking advantage of the digital transformation in healthcare?
Team up with DistilINFO HealthPlan now and receive continuous medical updates on how to plan, develop, and allocate the right resources to get positive results
FAQs
1. How will digital transformation in healthcare revolutionize healthcare delivery and patient care in the next five years?
Ans. The digital technology transformation will look to leverage the health trends like telemedicine and AI generative systems will be highly used. These medical advancements will revolutionize patient care by simplifying the diagnosis process and providing patient-centric tailored care.
2. What role will AI play in digital transformation in healthcare?
Ans. AI will have a crucial role in the digital revolution of healthcare. AI and machine learning improve medical operations by digitizing and automating tasks such as diagnostics, treatment suggestions, and predictive analytics, leading to increased efficiency and accuracy.
