One of the many directions in which digital technology has been implemented to add value to society is through its use within the medical field. Whether initially intended or not, a broad collection of new software and devices has been given purpose to aid the service of patients across almost all specialisms.
These developments continue to provide better care by lightening the workload of experts and medical professionals, giving them more time to focus on improving health within their communities.
Read on to find out how digital advances are predicted to impact patients and practitioners in the coming year.
Electronic Medical Records
To use paper-based record keeping methods as a practitioner would be behind the times—and potentially irresponsible. Digitized records or electronic medical records are easier to protect and share, as well as cheaper to store. Patient information is hugely sensitive and important; therefore, mismanaging it can lead to serious negative consequences.
Hospitals seeking records for outpatients need to access information from other medical practices. In the past, the lack of compatibility between sending and receiving software has caused delays in care; however, developers continue to enhance compatibility to make accessing records simpler. New technologies make it more affordable for healthcare providers to use the necessary software for greater ease.
Wearable Devices for Health Tracking
The exponential growth as a result of initial wearable technology research has led to a point where more people use small, simple devices to keep track of their health and chronic conditions. For example, people living with diabetes have a range of wearable options when it comes to managing their blood sugar.
Wearables can also transmit essential data to a patient’s specialist for expert monitoring. This means that patients are receiving the care they need with greater efficiency than ever before.
Wearables have also been designed for plenty of other medical conditions, each tailored to track and assist depending on the patient’s needs.
Online Appointments
Although the technology was there previously, the sudden necessity of online appointments during the pandemic has drastically improved the technology in this area. The number of platforms available to host seamless digital interactions has grown, allowing practitioners to choose the right software for their practice and patients’ needs. For example, patients looking for professional hypnotherapy in London will have more choices if online appointments are used compared to offline.
This is especially important for patients who have either mental or physical barriers that prevent them from readily attending in-person appointments. Specifically, people searching for hypnotherapy and other forms of mental health treatment may have been forced to extend their boundaries prematurely, whereas online appointments offer a practical cushion.
In many cases, online appointments allow for patients to be treated sooner. Of course, this technology is not brand new, but 2024 will see it further refined and optimized for all users.
Personalization
Before technological advancement allowed for such detailed data collection and health tracking, practitioners had to expend much more energy and time to offer personalized service to their patients. In 2024, the medical world can expect to see increases in highly specific and individual-centered care, thanks to digital technology and artificial intelligence speeding up essential processes.
Data Analytics
Patient data is essential for timely treatment, nd the digital storage of this data makes it easier to access and analyze. Analysis can also predict likely incompatibility across different providers’ software, therefore allowing more time for solving the issues and accessing important data when needed.
Developers are working on improving these systems all the time, making it a priority to serve healthcare providers with straightforward and reliable solutions.
Increased Security
Since patient information is highly sensitive and requires layers of confidentiality for protection, it makes sense that there is continuing focus on how to secure this data. Of course, healthcare providers will need to access patient information regularly, but this doesn’t mean it should be readily available.
While malicious hackers might be able to hone their skills for obtaining sensitive data, there are plenty of developers addressing all weak points in order to protect the security of patient information.
What Are the Potential Obstacles?
Although there will be many exciting developments in medically focused digital technology coming up in 2024 (as well as refinements to existing software and devices), not everyone is necessarily prepared to embrace them. This applies to both practitioners and patients.
Like any form of change, people can be reluctant to abandon the methods they are most familiar with—even if it means improvements are made. Here are a few reasons that implementing new digital technology within the medical field may meet some resistance:
Lack of Familiarity
Some healthcare professionals have been working in the industry for many years. When their focus is on providing care to patients, it is understandable that trying to adopt new methods based on adapted software or technology becomes frustrating.
People tend to prefer whatever they are familiar with—even if the new method or system is likely to prove more effective. Familiarity is often the first barrier to practitioners making the change to better digital solutions.
Few Regulations
Whenever there are new systems designed for the medical industry, it takes time for laws and regulations to catch up. Not all loopholes should be exploited, and sometimes legislators need to assess the possible risks of a given development before signing off on it for healthcare providers to use.
Over time, rules are put in place to protect practitioners and patients alike, but it doesn’t happen as soon as a new technology appears. Providers are rightfully wary of adopting new systems that haven’t yet been approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
Lack of Trust
Even if a new system or technology has been signed off by a relevant regulator, some healthcare providers remain unwilling to adopt it due to a lack of trust. This is usually because they haven’t found enough research to demonstrate that the technology is necessary, reliable, or worth the upheaval.
Trust comes from seeing the new technology in action and having the opportunity to use it firsthand. Seeing it in action at another practice or being used by another medical professional will help to build a practitioner’s trust and encourage them to invest in the new technology themselves.
Steep Learning Curve
A practitioner may trust a new software or device, but that doesn’t mean they will be able to learn how to use it quickly. Some systems being developed ahead of 2024 are necessary but are difficult to grasp straight away.
This can discourage practitioners from refining the skills they need to embed the new technology into their practice. However, the steep learning curve can be overcome with the right mindset or when the need to adopt new technology becomes unavoidable.
High Costs
Although technological developments lead to affordability in the future, high initial costs can dissuade healthcare providers from taking on new systems. Lower prices come with time, but this isn’t possible if practitioners don’t invest in the technology. Providers should set aside a budget for training staff in new digital solutions as they become pertinent to their service.
No one can predict with absolute conviction the precise nature of the technological changes that will come in 2024. However, based on existing demands and the direction of current trends, it appears likely that increased personalization will influence the decisions of medical managers and decision-makers. This will lead to better data use, higher demand for digital security, and improved storage and sharing of electronic medical records.
Practitioners will be able to save valuable time and put it towards patient care. Meanwhile, patients will have greater control over their treatment and more information regarding the details of their health. In terms of superior digital functions and clarity for the medical field, 2024 is a year to look forward to.
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.
