Digital Healthcare In 2021!

2020 was a year of unprecedented times. It disrupted the lives of humans in a way which we never imagined. It resulted in a global disruption and chaos. On the other hand, it has also been a year of changes which accelerated the growth of the world of digitalization. Almost every industry, domain and organization were already going through changes in terms of technology and innovation, 2020 however proved to be a driving catalyst for all the changes that were in the pipeline.

Among many industries, the healthcare industry was one of the most challenging industries in 2020. It was both disrupted and reinvented on a large scale. On one hand, the healthcare workers were fighting against the deadly covid-19 on the front line and on another hand, the sector as a whole was going through revolutionary changes in terms of innovation and digitization. There has been an increased adaptation to the field of telehealth and digital health platforms. In 2020, virtual care and digital health platforms have become the most preferred means of primary care for patients. According to a recent Gartner survey, it is expected that the digital health industry will be worth $185.6 billion by 2026.

Digital Health Trends in 2021

As per the latest happening and predictions all over the globe, digital healthcare will witness a major boom in 2021. A few of these trends are:

1. Standardization Across Medical Records Through Digital Healthcare Connectivity

In the traditional healthcare system, medical records have always been about papers and files. Sharing of medical information and history between multiple doctors of a single patient has been very difficult because there was no common repository amongst them. Due to covid-19, sharing of medical records has been extremely simplified due to the surge in digital transformation. When the entire world went virtual, the physical contact between the patients and doctors became almost negligible. This acted as a catalyst for the need of digital record-keeping of medical information due to which Electronic Health Record (EHRs) or Electronic Medical Record (EMRs) Systems have become the need of the hour.

2. Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML) in Healthcare

AI is one of the world’s highly adopted technologies and is expected to exceed $34 billion by 2025. There is a wide untapped potential in the power of AI which has started to unravel in recent times. AI coupled with Machine Learning algorithms will become the major cause of digital transformation in the field of healthcare in no time. Using AI/ML’s potential in pattern recognition, precision medicine, predictive analysis, drug discovery and medical imaging, clinical efficiency can be widely improved by maximizing the diagnostic accuracy and minimizing the risks involved.

3. Treating Patients with Virtual Reality (VR)

Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (XR) have the power to transform the medical field. It is expected that the global market of digital health will grow to $2.5 billion by 2026. Virtual Reality is not only used to treat chronic diseases such as anxiety, pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, it also has the potential to shape medical education in a sense that certain medications or surgeries can be eliminated completely. It has a wide scope and a vast number of applications to change the way traditional treatment is given to the patients. VR simulation is another breakthrough in the digital transformation world which has the capability to plan and replicate real-life complicated medical cases.

4. Growth of Wearable Medical Devices

In today’s era, wearable medical devices are the most convenient way of monitoring one’s health. With tremendous technological advancements and digital transformation, the capabilities and the features of these devices have increased manifold. They not only help patients in preventing and maintaining their health but also help in analyzing that information for future concerns as well. According to a recent survey, the market wearable technology devices expected to reach more than $27 million by 2023. These devices help in monitoring the heart rate, oxygen level, blood sugar levels along with keeping a track of physical exercises.

Conclusion

The evolution of digital healthcare and digital health solutions has been tremendous recently. It is not about convenience anymore; it has become the need of the hour. From EHRs to on-demand virtual care, virtual appointments, virtual medical services and technologically advanced medical facilities, the scope and potential of digital healthcare has reached newer heights.

Pratiti Technologies, through its innovative unique IoT based healthcare solutions, has become a preferred healthcare development company in India. What has made Pratiti into a dynamic healthcare application development company is our zeal for innovation coupled with our technical expertise, advanced analytics and access to a global talent pool. Do reach out to us in case you are looking for custom and transformative digital healthcare solutions.