Important Technology Trends to Watch for the Healthcare Industry

Updated on May 15, 2021

By Piyush Jain

Technological interventions in the healthcare industry have been beneficial to patients and caregivers in areas of diagnostics, prevention, treatment, and care for a long period of time. Technology can allow caregivers to provide efficient healthcare while reducing time consumption and can also help patients to avoid costly hospitalizations. From predictive medication with the help of machine learning to wearable devices that track and transmit patient data from a distance, there are several new and evolving technologies that are expected to influence healthcare services in 2021. Here are some of the most popular trending technologies in the healthcare industry:

Telehealth

The utilization of telehealth resources has accelerated with COVID-19. Telehealth reduces contact between patients and caregivers, as well as patient contact with other patients. Wearable devices help medical practitioners to have access to real-time information of a patient’s health data while they remain at home. The most robust telehealth services are provided through telehealth apps. WebRTC is an API-based open-source system that connects web browsers with mobile apps. It is one of the most important technologies behind telehealth apps.

According to an HSS report, 43.5% of medical primary care seekers utilized telehealth methods rather than in-person visits. Statistics show that 71% of patients considered telehealth at the beginning of pandemic telehealth is more likely to grow even after the pandemic. While the growth of telehealth is expected to grow over $186.5 billion by 2026. 

IoMT (Internet of Medical Things)

There are various devices and mobile apps that play a crucial role in tracking and preventing chronic illnesses. IoMT emerged with the combination of IoT, telemedicine, and telehealth technologies. It includes a number of wearable such as ECG and EKG monitors. With the help of wearables, other measurements can also be taken such as skin temperature, glucose level, and blood pressure reading. Nowadays, it is common for doctors to connect medical devices via a network to patients.

According to a Allied market research report, the IoMT, or the internet of medical things market is expected to exceed $332.672 billion by 2027..

Cloud Computing

Record keeping and data collection is a crucial part of healthcare. However, the management of clinical data has always been a challenge for the healthcare industry. Cloud computing technology has made it easier for the healthcare industry to manage electronic medical data. Cloud computing can support data-heavy IT technologies that are being utilize such as electronic medical records, patient portals, mobile apps, medical devices, and more.

These technologies can be scaled to the needs of the user, thus giving healthcare providers unlimited flexibility, high availability, and easier accessibility to data. It is the on-demand availability of computer system resources like data storage, software, and computing power that can be utilized without direct activity from the user. 

Cloud computing technology is highly beneficial in various fields of the healthcare system. This technology is extensively used to enhance healthcare services. According to Markets and Markets report, the healthcare cloud computing market is expected to grow by $64.7 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 18.1% during the forecast period. 

AR and VR

Lowering medical care cost is one of the most important concerns for caregivers and patients worldwide which derives the adoption of AR and VR in healthcare. Virtual Reality (VR) enables the user to immerse them in a simulated world. Augmented Reality (AR) technology enables you to add virtual elements to the real world. Lowering medical care cost is one of the most important concerns for caregivers and patients worldwide which derives the adoption of AR and VR in healthcare. 

AR and VR technology is being used in every sphere of healthcare services including education of medical students, diagnosis, treatment planning, and patient management. One of the best examples of AR and VR technology in healthcare is AR+ mobile app, the app allows caregivers to deploy medical content through video, audio, 3D imagery, and training. The healthcare industry is utilizing the potential of AR and VR in many different ways.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence technologies have brought a revolution upon the healthcare industry. AI can and has improved diagnostic precision through automatic assistance in the workforce, quantitative imaging, clinical operation optimization, and more. AI is transforming healthcare in many different ways. For example: IBM Watson’s ability to pinpoint treatments for cancer patients. Google cloud’s healthcare app can make it easier to collect, store, and access data for healthcare organizations. 

According to a Grand view Research report, the global AI in the healthcare market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 41.5% from 2019 to 2025. 

Conclusion

Technology in healthcare is being adopted rapidly. It is being used to not only reduce cost but also enhance the quality of care for patients.  According to a Referral MD report, 52% of Smartphone users gather healthcare data on their phones, making it more convenient for caregivers to take the right steps in treatment. It is essential for caregivers to use the aforementioned technologies in future patient care to bring accuracy, security, efficiency into the healthcare system. 

Piyush Jain is the founder and CEO of Simpalm, a Healthcare app development company in the USA. Piyush founded Simpalm in 2009 and has grown it to be a leading mobile and web Development Company in the DMV area. With a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins and a strong background in technology and entrepreneurship, he understands how to solve problems using technology. Under his leadership, Simpalm has delivered 300+ mobile apps and web solutions to clients in startups, enterprises and the federal sector.

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.