Benefits of digital transformation in healthcare
Digital transformation is changing the healthcare industry for the better, streamlining both internal and external processes. Some of the main benefits that digital transformation is bringing into healthcare include;
Improving patient outcomes
Digital health services, particularly telehealth are helping to build greater consistency across healthcare services, reducing variation in care and resulting in fewer errors. These services are also supporting faster coordination and delivery of appropriate care, particularly through the use of telehealth services and other remote care channels. Digital transformation also extends beyond clinic care, improving patient outcomes in emergency situations. Ambulances and emergency responses can utilize a digital triage system to ensure those who need urgent attention receive the care they need as quickly as possible.
Reduced risk of human error
Adopting digital and data analytics as a core part of patient assessment and care reduces the risks of human error from diagnosis to medical intervention and aftercare. This can also help to identify and prevent illnesses from evolving into more serious medical concerns in patients.
Greater efficiency
With the use of remote care services such as telehealth, more patients can receive the medical attention that they need, sooner. Remote monitoring services also allow medical practitioners to take care outside of the clinics, so those who require face-to-face care more urgently are able to receive it earlier and potentially be treated and discharged sooner too.
Easier access to medical records and information
Advancements in technology and cyber security have made safe digital record keeping and transferring possible. Patient files can be easily accessed by medical practitioners or patients themselves so better and more informed medical care can be provided.
Trends transforming healthcare
The digital transformation of healthcare is evolving at a rapid pace. The biggest impacts of this transformation is being felt as a result of the following emerging digital technologies.
Automation & machine learning
Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) offer multifaceted technology that rivals many traditional processes, and with the use of big data, it is set to revolutionize the way the healthcare industry operates.
AI in healthcare ranges from smart droids designed to assist with restocking supplies to chatbots and digital therapists to give more patients access to care sooner.
The potential of AI and machine learning is limitless, but some of the most exciting developments in this area lie within precision medicine, medical imaging and genomics. Using sophisticated pattern recognition technology, algorithms can be trained to offer personalized diagnosis that consider a patient’s lifestyle and genetics, with potentially game-changing applications for oncologists in detecting cancer.
Wearable medical devices
The evolution of wearable medical devices, such as heart rate sensors, sweat meters for diabetic patients, and oximeters for patients with respiratory illnesses, is transforming patient care and monitoring.
Through the use of these devices, medical practitioners can not only monitor their patients, but collect data that can be later analyzed and compared with data from other individuals to offer faster diagnosis, better care and greater understanding of certain illnesses.
Telehealth
Traditionally, to receive any form of medical advice or attention, patients would need to attend a face-to-face appointment with their doctor or nurse within a medical practice. Now, telehealth is promising to change how these 1-to-1 appointments are conducted.
Telemedicine essentially refers to medical advice given via virtual channels such as video calls, mobile apps or instant messages from a doctor or nurse.
Being able to conduct consultations remotely saves both time and money for patients and practitioners, and offers greater efficiency of care and easier access to medical advice.
Predictive healthcare & big data
Simply put, big data refers to large data sets that contain data from a wide variety of sources. Big data is also distinguishable from standard data sources by it’s complexity and most often it’s inclusion of new or more current data sources.
Big data offers a whole host of opportunities for improving and streamlining processes. Big data has recently been adopted by many healthcare organizations to predict the likelihood of certain illnesses and diseases to help manage staff and supply numbers in order to meet influxes in demand.
So every patient receives the right care for their needs.
Predictive healthcare also extends beyond the experiences of the individual and can be used to predict major illnesses or diseases that could present a significant problem to the wider population in the near future.
The future of healthcare
Digital transformation has touched many industries, and many of the latest technological innovations are making it easier and more appealing for many healthcare practitioners to also make the transition to digital.
Digital transformation is making processes easier, more efficient and accurate for customers and organizations alike, and businesses who remain too resistant to these innovations could be left behind.
At CFC our eHealth insurance offers cover for companies adapting to the technological innovations in healthcare practices. Covering organizations who are more readily adopting eHealth and telehealth into patient monitoring and care, offering cover in the event of medical device failure and cyber security breaches.
For more information on our eHealth products and policies, get in touch with our underwriters today.
