Digital transformation in healthcare is radically improving the ability of doctors, hospitals and organizations to treat patients and help them live longer, healthier lives.
However, as with any transformation, challenges are inevitable.
In this article, we will examine some of the key trends in this digital transformation, as well as the challenges facing the industry today.
Why is digital transformation particularly important in the healthcare sector?
The evolution of patient expectations
Today, patients expect more personalized health care experiences that match the level of service found in just about every other aspect of their lives.
Increased costs for health care organizations
Rising administrative and overhead costs have forced health care organizations to increase rates for patient care services.
Digital transformation increases the overall efficiency of healthcare organizations and reduces expenses, while improving service levels.
Shortage of qualified personnel
Healthcare is one of the major industry sectors facing a significant shortage of qualified professionals.
According to WHO estimates, there is a shortage of 7.2 million health professionals worldwide.
Digital transformation can help fill some of the gaps related to this shortage by:
- Automating the management of patient and personnel data
- Facilitating remote care options
- Providing faster processing
- Reducing the risk of human error
Digital transformation in the health sector - trends
Agile development
Agile software development, which is an iterative and incremental model, allows for additions or changes at any stage of the development path to create software that performs well in this rapidly changing era.
When it comes to creating the software that powers digital transformation in healthcare, it will make sense to consider Agile development or partner with an external team that implements this methodology.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) refers to the use of Internet-connected devices to monitor patients' health, collect real-time health data, and provide personalized healthcare.
These IoMT technologies are already here, changing the lives of millions of people by giving them better control over their health and improving communications with healthcare professionals.
IoMT devices ("wearables") can be wearable (such as smartwatches and fitness bands) or implantable (such as pacemakers), and they are often equipped with sensors that measure data such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose and oxygen saturation, for example.
Artificial intelligence
AI is increasingly being used to diagnose diseases, establish treatment plans, predict outcomes, and speed up decision making.
For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the first medical device using artificial intelligence to screen for diabetic retinopathy based on retinal photos in 2018 and about 30 other medical devices since.
AI software can also review millions of medical studies to find an effective treatment plan based on the patient's condition, age and other important factors.
According to a study by Accenture, by 2026, leading AI applications could save the healthcare industry $150 billion annually.
Telemedicine
From finding a doctor to making an appointment, new solutions are making it easier for people to access healthcare professionals.
Telemedicine is particularly relevant for patients located in rural or remote areas, where access to health care has traditionally been limited.
Similarly, patients with limited mobility can also use this technology to consult with health care professionals.
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
Augmented reality and virtual reality are innovative solutions that have a large number of applications that help both patients and health professionals.
For example, virtual reality helps healthcare professionals learn to perform high-risk procedures without putting patients at risk, and AR technology is used to help surgeons reduce the risk of errors.
For patients, virtual reality is used as a therapeutic tool to help those recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The challenges of digital transformation in the health sector
Collection and processing of a vast amount of data on several channels
A major challenge in the healthcare industry is processing and analyzing the vast amount of data that hospitals, clinics and healthcare professionals collect on a daily basis.
Without robust AI systems that can analyze this data, it is difficult for organizations to provide better and more personalized care to patients.
This challenge is amplified with the rise of telemedicine, as physician visits occur over multiple channels, making it more difficult for healthcare professionals to update patient health records.
Therefore, it is vital for healthcare professionals to create ways to easily record and update health records, regardless of the form of care in question.
Cybersecurity and data privacy
Organizations of all kinds must remain extremely vigilant against cyber threats, but these vulnerabilities are particularly costly for healthcare professionals.
While threats can come from those who seek to do harm, others can come from errors in a product or during software development.
Organizations producing software, mobile apps, websites and IoMT devices in the healthcare industry must ensure security prior to launching or updating products and systems to protect the privacy of information and maintain their trusted image.
Intuitive and bug-free user experience design
Designing products such as connected heart monitors, mobile applications, websites, or any other digital product or service that work perfectly and are intuitive is a major challenge for healthcare companies.
User journeys are particularly complex in the healthcare sector, where products and software are used by both patients and healthcare professionals.
An uncomfortable or poorly designed IoMT device, for example, can taint a patient's experience and cause them to remove the device, limiting the data it is able to collect.
On the other hand, if an IoMT device's software is difficult to use, it will also limit the overall willingness of healthcare professionals to use or prescribe the device to other patients.
Given the high stakes in the healthcare sector, QA testing is mandatory for the success of any organization or product.
Workforce training
Implementing digital transformation in the healthcare market will require significant investments in both technology and the hiring and training of the digitally savvy workforce, requiring a thoughtful strategy for healthcare-focused companies.
Mr Suricate - QA testing for healthcare organizations
Ultimately, the success of digital transformation in healthcare is based on the overall quality of the technology that powers it, and that depends on the technology having been rigorously tested.
The no-code SaaS solution Mr Suricate solution covers a wide range of automated tests in order to control your testing and provide your users with the best possible experience.
Take control of your applications and detect bugs in real time on your websites, mobile apps and APIs by reproducing your user paths at regular intervals.
