4 Ways Technology is Changing the Healthcare Landscape
Technology continues to evolve and change the way we live every day. From smartphones and fitness-tracking devices, to electric vehicles and artificial intelligence, technology is rapidly advancing in every facet of life to offer a simpler way of doing things. The healthcare industry is no exception — in fact, these last two years have shown why technology is absolutely essential to a thriving healthcare industry. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact the world, healthcare providers and medical software developers alike have been hard at work to figure out best practices for patient care. There’s no telling where healthcare technology will go in the future, but if the present is any indication, it’s going to continue making a huge impact on the industry. We took a look at some of the biggest current technology trends in the healthcare landscape and how they’re making an impact.
Non-emergency medical transportation software
Non-emergency medical transportation remains an incredibly important government program for Medicaid recipients in the United States. The NEMT benefit allows qualified beneficiaries to request transportation to and from their healthcare visits, including doctor’s offices, dentist appointments, hospitals, pharmacies, and more. This transportation helps combat the millions of missed appointments every year by providing rides to those who need them. On average, no-shows cost the US healthcare system more than $150 billion a year. This is a staggering figure, but it’s one that can be reduced by NEMT and other similar programs. Since the NEMT trip planning process can be difficult to navigate manually, many providers have turned to NEMT software for a faster, more efficient process. Software has changed the way providers run their operations by automating every aspect of the trip process. Scheduling, dispatching, routing, billing, and more are all possible with modern NEMT software.
Get Yurii Martynov’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Wearable tech devices
Wearable technology has been a fad for years now. FitBit, Apple, Garmin, among other companies, have developed watches that allow users to track their fitness data, receive messages, and even make phone calls. These developers have merged fitness with socialization and created a product for the masses. Now, the healthcare industry has adapted this same technology to track real-time patient information remotely. Patients with chronic illnesses now have the ability to wear a device that records their health information and sends it back to their physicians in real time. This trend has been booming in the age of Covid-19, and there’s no reason to believe it will fizzle out any time soon. Whether it’s because of health concerns or simply due to convenience, having the ability to monitor a patient’s health remotely is a huge advancement in the healthtech world.
Telehealth appointments
When Covid-19 first emerged and the world shifted to remote work, many healthcare offices found a way to do the same. Rather than ask all patients to come for in-person visits and risk spreading germs, providers decided that telehealth appointments would be a viable option for various appointments that don’t require in-person care. Many providers have found that this isn’t only a great solution during a pandemic — it’s a convenient option in general. Telehealth is likely here to stay and will continue to offer more flexible care options for patients.
Cloud-based systems
Many medical practices have historically kept their data on premise. This used to be the gold standard of security, but the world has changed. These days, hackers are working around the clock to find new ways to breach security systems and steal valuable data. This is why many are making the switch to cloud-based software and servers. Cloud-based systems offer stronger protection than their counterparts, meet HIPAA compliance, and allow employees to work from anywhere that’s convenient for them. As the digital world expands more each day, cloud-based software is able to grow to meet ever changing needs.
Keep your eyes on the healthtech future
Technology is constantly evolving, and the healthcare industry has its sights set on the next big thing. As you look for ways to grow your business, stay on top of technology’s latest trends to make sure you don’t miss out on an emerging healthtech trend. In the meantime, figure out how you can apply the above trends to your current business model.
