Developing a way to simplify physician burdens, forecasting an uncertain 2022, and building a resilient, adaptive supply chain for long-term health are three challenges the healthcare industry faces in 2022.
As seen in Ventra’s Health Research Institute’s survey, 2,511 American consumers, 128 healthcare executives from healthcare plans, 153 executives from health providers, and 124 executives from pharmaceutical and life sciences firms were surveyed in August and September 2020. Additionally, HRI interviewed the number of industry thought leaders and frontline hospital-based physicians specialties to understand their on-the-ground experiences during a historic year.
1. Telehealth
Telehealth still lacks enough workers to meet the demand, despite the rise in demand. At the time of writing, the future implications of the pandemic are unclear. During the crisis, healthcare providers are under tremendous pressure.
Telehealth is being demanded by hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and even doctors in private practice. Though it sounds easy, keeping an internal team might be too time-consuming to help its adoption effectively. More companies are offering this service, so there is a better opportunity to hire providers. To start, you can try out this resource if you’re a doctor who is curious about outsourcing.
It also plays an essential role in helping to decongest hospitals. In that way, hospital equipment and care will only be available to those patients who require it. Online consultations are an option for those with lighter problems that can be handled online. Patients suffering from COVID-19 can even manage their symptoms at home with regular online consultations. Therefore, not every COVID-19 patient will have to travel to a hospital. Hospital beds can be reserved instead for those with severe symptoms or existing morbidities.
2. Cybersecurity
Healthcare providers increasingly rely on soft data thanks to rapidly improving technology. Data on patients and customers will be stored in a database online and offline.
The pandemic has exacerbated the prevalence of telehealth. Doctors increasingly view patients on screens first before meeting with them in person. Patient information, scans, results, software, platforms, and a trusted email address are also transmitted online.
Despite the increased efficiency offered by these technological developments, they also increase cybersecurity risks. Data breaches are a possibility in the healthcare industry due to the presence of many expert hackers. Leaking of sensitive information is one thing, but compromising privacy and stealing patient identities are another. Identity theft and insurance fraud are two examples.
There are now many healthcare providers who must develop ways to deal with these threats. Systematic development is needed to ensure that they are less vulnerable to attacks and protected patient data.
3. Increasing patient numbers
Increasing patient volume in healthcare is due to current health and social issues. The global health crisis has affected almost every nation. A substantial portion of this volume of patients are children, the elderly, pregnant women, and cancer patients. As hospitals become more crowded, no end appears in sight. The cycle is moving in the same direction as when the pandemic was first revealed at the end of 2019.
Healthcare faces a huge challenge in this area. As of this writing, hospital capacity is always full, there is not enough medicine, vaccines are in short supply, and health workers are overwhelmed and at risk.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
