Digital Healthcare 101: Everything You Need to Know

The term “health tech” refers to the use of technologies developed to improve any aspect of the healthcare system. Whether telehealth or robotic surgery, our guide explains what each is and how it’s used.

There is a digital transformation occurring everywhere, and it is no different in the healthcare sector. The healthcare industry has benefited greatly from technology, transforming how we connect with doctors, track our health, and acquire medical information or clinical records. It has led to the discovery of several cures and the development of beneficial changes in treatment and care.

Grand View Research has predicted that the global digital health market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.1% between 2021 and 2028, reaching USD 295.4 billion by 2028.

Digital health applies a digital transformation to the healthcare field, incorporating software, hardware, and services. Stakeholders in the digital health field include patients, practitioners, researchers, developers, medical device manufacturers, and distributors. It is essential to consider where we are today regarding valuable healthcare technology, given the constant state of improvement and upgrading.

This guide will cover everything you should know about digital healthcare, its importance, and how the industry is leveraging technology. Keep reading…

What is Digital Healthcare? An Overview

Digital health platforms, health systems, and related technology continue to grow in importance and evolve. The application of information and communications technology to provide digital health interventions to prevent disease and improve quality of life isn’t new. However, they are increasingly important in the face of global aging, child illness, and mortality concerns.

Digital health includes mobile health apps, wearable devices, electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and telehealth.

Not only does digital healthcare assist in the detection and treatment of chronic and acute ailments, but it also helps individuals improve their physical and emotional health. The expensive cost of healthcare might be greatly reduced by encouraging good health and detecting issues early.

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Insights into the Benefits of Digital Healthcare

What are some of the unique selling features that distinguish digital health from traditional healthcare systems?

Well, digital healthcare provides a fresh perspective on and approaches to patient involvement, management of chronic diseases, mental health, and cost containment.

A few critical benefits of launching a digital health business are:

Visibility

Patients can now communicate with their doctors using mobile apps & sensor arrays, providing a new level of communication for both parties. Furthermore, digital health increases patient awareness by giving data on treatment options via remote monitoring technology or e-diagnosis. This helps individuals or kids understand the treatment they are undergoing.

Collaboration in Coordination

Digital health is about eliminating healthcare dispersion by leveraging technology to enable specialists, doctors, nurses, & medical centers to collaborate effortlessly. The COVID-19 pandemic this year demonstrated how effective telemedicine could be.

Reducing Costs

By lowering hospital readmissions and giving patients personalized care in their homes, digital technologies can help cut expenses. Digital health can also provide patients with an alternative to costly office visits. This can help those suffering from a chronic illness or recuperating from a trauma improve their quality of life.

• The Tech that Saves Time

Doctors & nurses can serve a greater patient population because digital healthcare allows them to handle more patients. Remote tracking devices & digital treatments which provide customers with real-time data on their glucose or blood pressure readings are available. Digital healthcare also helps to avoid unnecessary clinic visits.

• A Lower Entry Barrier

To get started in digital, you can create a hospital or clinic without creating a clinic or hospital. It could be considerably more manageable, especially if you come across a virtual healthcare solution that allows you to use existing facilities. As there are different ways to get involved in the digital health business, now is the time for people with expertise to get started.

Healthcare Technology Stack

Based on estimates for 2017 and a forecast for 2025, this graph depicts the size of the global mobile medical applications market. Globally, the market was valued at more than 2.4 billion USD in 2017. It is expected to reach more than 11 billion dollars by 2025.

Medical apps developed in Silicon Valley in recent years are examples of digital healthcare technologies. The entry of businesses such as Apple, Google, and Samsung into this field unquestionably indicates that digital healthcare is the way of the future.

7 Ways the Healthcare Industry Leverages Technology

Easy-to-access medical information

People suffering from suspicious symptoms have increasingly turned to the internet for solutions in recent years. You can use this when your doctor is unavailable to alleviate concerns or suggest solutions. You can save money by avoiding unneeded doctor appointments.

On the other hand, looking up your symptoms online might cause anxiety and stress over a trivial disease, as your symptoms may be present for multiple other illnesses. In these cases, it is critical to get expert advice from your doctor.

Infrastructure for Healthcare Delivery

Physical clinics and hospitals are no longer the only modes of healthcare delivery. Health professionals can now collaborate remotely thanks to technological advances, such as remote physicians guiding others during surgery.

Furthermore, physicians can assess and treat patients remotely—many hospitals offer remote patient counseling and video-based therapy services. The American Hospital Association reports that 76% of hospitals use computer telemedicine systems.

More equipment, medicine, and treatments

Many advantages are arising as we enter the technological age. Technology’s greatest significant impact has been improved healthcare. Doctors can now deliver more thorough care because of improved equipment. Better treatments have improved the quality of life for many people suffering from chronic illnesses. It has also aided in the acceleration of research and the global connectivity of medical researchers.

This allows the focus to be refined and the workforce to expand to find solutions to specific medical problems. Procedures have also been enhanced. For example, a medical spa in San Mateo County uses cutting-edge plastic surgery equipment. The number of qualified technicians and physicians has grown, providing additional options with safe outcomes. All of this is attributable to advancements in technology.

Interoperability and APIs

Data sharing must be secure and efficient to digitize medical treatment. APIs must ensure that data is sent correctly across electronic health record (EHR) systems, medical devices, and other integrated services. This can eventually lead to more precise and prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Security must be considered when designing APIs. The more companies involved in reliable, compliant system linkages, the better they will be positioned to provide advanced digital healthcare services.

Improved patient relationships

Doctors have easy access to patients’ records, giving them better, more in-depth care and understanding of their medical history. Previously, the practice hallways were clogged with patient files, resulting in massive paperwork and making it impossible to retrieve medical data dating back many years.

Medical records can now be transcribed online and made available to doctors and patients. Patients may feel more at ease with their doctor if he understands their healthcare status.

Helps in Predicting Outbreaks

Many people have been seen to search online for solutions after feeling ill, which contributes to a more wonderful picture of that query. For example, flu epidemics every year are a prime concern on this. Online searches can pinpoint locations, and a database can be built to track the increase in potential cases and sickness transmission. This can be useful in predicting future flu seasons and preparing for outbreaks.

Quick Results

Earlier, receiving medical testing results could take weeks or even months. Because of technological advancements, you can now acquire results as soon as the lab completes its study of your sample. Web portals, which allow you to see your results within a few days or hours, are becoming more frequent in hospitals and clinics.

This is beneficial in relieving tension and delivering the solutions you need. These web portals also provide access to your previous medical records, allowing you to keep track of appointments, medical conditions, and billing. It’s a great method to make things easier for the patient.

The Future of the Digital Health Industry

According to some predictions, the digital health market will be worth more than $550 billion by 2027, with an annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 16.5%. Our research supports this as well.

Jabil polled 210 persons with decision-making responsibilities at key healthcare organizations in 2021. More than half of businesses are working on a digital health solution. More than a third of providers say their organization can execute digital healthcare plans.

So, what reasons prevent businesses from profiting from opportunities in the digital health industry?

The topic is worth exploring from various organizational views and responsibilities. Developers and product designers are most likely thinking about how to incorporate and use the latest digital technology completely. Teams focused on quality and regulations work to ensure compliance and conformity with industry standards and practices.

Regardless of the euphoria generated by a digitally transformed industry, healthcare will always be highly regulated, with exceptions and variations between areas, markets, and even economic models. Healthcare has become a very complex sector for original equipment manufacturers to keep up with (OEMs).

Digital Tools Offering a Healthy Lifestyle

Rather than focusing solely on disease, individuals can enhance their living standards by eating correctly, walking, avoiding cigarettes, limiting alcohol consumption, and exercising. Most health applications available today are primarily concerned with exercise & weight control.

How about keeping track of your health symptoms, emotions, and sleep? There are applications developed for this purpose as well. All you have to do is dig a bit deeper. These apps can help you organize your prescriptions and medical records and retain your mental activity with puzzles & games.

Smartphone Applications for Better Digital Health

Developers incorporate health tracking & disease control into an overall navigation system. This navigation system can provide a more accurate assessment of chronic illnesses such as diabetes & epilepsy. Patients currently rely on occasional medical visits, with healthcare decisions based on rare measures.

Patients and clinicians can use digital equipment to monitor vital indicators such as heart rate, oxygen saturation, weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar, making therapy more precise & prompt. In an emergency, digital tools are even more helpful. Doctors can be notified of shifts in their patients’ conditions.

Wearables & Mobile Devices Transforming Healthcare

Online healthcare revolutionizes monitoring and maintaining health, disease diagnosis, and managing chronic disorders. Telemedicine, such as video doctor appointments, can be offered remotely through monitoring systems or sensors. Wearables and mobile devices can assist customers in maintaining excellent health while also providing researchers with vast amounts of health data.

Digital tools prevent patients from unsafe drug exchanges, monitor pharmaceutical effects, and allow doctors to amend the prescription or vary the dose entirely.

AI contributes to Good health, but integration is Still an Issue

Artificial intelligence-based health analytics are excellent for large data sets such as medical imaging & pathology lab samples. They even offer a more precise diagnosis & knowledge of individual or community health. To build an electronic health record system with a single identity, digital health standards have been developed.

Similarly, wearables & mHealth are a severely fragmented market, with each product or service operating in its silo, limiting interoperability or connectivity to more extensive networks. However, although digital health pioneers have a long way to go in more integration, advanced technology is thriving.

Digital Healthcare Innovations are All Over

Digital healthcare holds out the prospect of absolutely amazing advancements. Specialists are already using 3D printing for bone replacement & skin grafts.. To relieve pain, virtual reality is being used instead of drugs. Robots are utilized to aid surgeons in swift and accurate procedures.

Many developers and experts are working on innovative technology in digital healthcare. If these advancements are fully recognized & integrated, then there’s no predicting how many of our current healthcare issues we can reduce or eliminate.

To Wrap

The advancement of technology has made healthcare more efficient and patient-friendly than ever before.
It is exciting to monitor and profit from technological advancements, particularly in healthcare. Improvements and upgrades will occur in the coming weeks, months, or years, rendering today’s technology obsolete.

There has been a significant change in the face of healthcare as a result of digital technology. In the years to come, this transition is expected to continue. Blockchain, AI, machine learning, deep learning, mobile healthcare apps, wearable devices, and other innovations will shape healthcare’s future.

There is no limit to how far digital technology may go in healthcare as long as healthcare organizations and experts keep their minds open and build the necessary infrastructure and processes.