The pandemic has disrupted routines across the globe. COVID-19 and the increasing expectations from the healthcare industry have given rise to technology solutions. However, the impact of the coronavirus has diverted the course of technology-driven innovation.
The most significant drivers of change are Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other areas of the fourth industrial revolution. The impact of these technologies was felt in different ways than we may have anticipated at the start of 2020.
In a 2019 study, The Artificial Intelligence healthcare markets of 19 countries estimated a 41.7% CAGR, from $1.3 billion in 2018 to $13 billion in 2025.
This growth is in six significant areas: hospital workflow, medical imaging and diagnostics, therapy planning, wearables, virtual assistants, and drug discovery. From biotechnology and smart medicine to virtual and augmented reality, digital twinning, smart cities, robotics, and much more have had their part in improving healthcare.
Over the past few months, innovative technology has been used for prediction, screening, contact alerts, faster diagnosis, automated deliveries, and laboratory drug discovery. Autonomous vehicles in areas that were too dangerous for humans gained traction quickly. Delivering food, medicine, and goods to quarantined families and patients in hospitals has become the new normal, all because of the continuous revolutions in the field of healthcare and technology.
Virtual Care
The pandemic has clearly shown that the same level of care can be given at home rather than visiting a hospital or outpatient clinic. For minor and routine appointments, the number of virtual visits has skyrocketed during the pandemic. According to Forrester’s analysis, these virtual visits hit one billion by the end of 2020.
It is estimated that by the end of 2021, one-third of all virtual care appointments will be related to mental health issues. Remote care also allows medical professionals to take more patient consultations into their busy schedules. This is an incredibly important aspect for highly populated countries like China or India, where the doctors-to-patient ratio is incredibly low.
By 2021, more than one in three patient interactions will be virtual, and physicians will no longer be the automatic first touchpoint. Throughout the pandemic, remote monitoring, virtual visits, and patient-engagement tools have proved effective and have efficiently reduced foot traffic at clinics and hospitals.
Currently, 20% of patient interactions are digital, which is expected to increase to 35% by the end of 2021.
According to Frost and Sullivan’s research, a 20% to 25% increase in patient engagement management solutions will be noticed in 2021 alone. Healthcare providers are focusing on building the most effective “digital-first” strategies to stay ahead of the competition.
Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have unprecedented potential to transform healthcare processes and medical tasks, and the revolution has already started.
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Rapid Diagnosis and Treatment
AI has allowed healthcare professionals to diagnose a disease rapidly. More importantly, algorithms are being developed that can diagnose patients through their CT scans in 20 to 30 seconds. Such software and applications can also monitor a patient’s decline and progress.
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Workflow Automation
Artificial Intelligence has given rise to automated workflows, consequently allowing patients to make appointments, pay insurance bills, and get their medicines. Robotic process automation combined with AI has optimized processes and analyzed workflows to deliver more efficient medical systems, enhance hospital systems, and streamline insurance fulfillment.
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Health Benchmarks
A big reason Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing conventional healthcare operations is its ability to read and analyze large amounts of data. With sufficient data as a foundation, AI has the potential to establish health data benchmarks for different demographics and populations. From there, we can detect anomalies from the baselines and recognize potential pandemics early.
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Drug Discovery
With Artificial Intelligence in the picture, scientists are employing machine learning to model hundreds of variables to learn how their compounds can affect the human cell. These technologies are already being used to find a cure for COVID-19 and other diseases.
IoT and Smart Cities
Smart Cities, a concept rapidly gaining momentum in recent years, involve building digital connectivity and automated data-driven decision-making into urban life. This includes planning public transport networks, energy distribution, waste collection, and environmental health initiatives. AI and IoT are at the crux of many initiatives in this field. By 2025, the IoT industry will be worth $6.2 trillion.
In 2020, the healthcare industry will become so reliant on IoT technology trends that 30% of the market share for IoT devices will come from healthcare.
According to a UN prediction, 68% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050. This is a particular challenge for developing countries where urban populations continue to grow. The smart city innovation works towards planning and managing the way increasing numbers of people will live in ever-closer proximity to each other.
Every city planner and municipal authority will focus on healthcare throughout 2021. Smart city plans are just one way to manage the population. Other tech-driven initiatives aim to reduce pollution and build resilience to climate-driven change, such as temperature and sea-level rise.
Voice Search
Voice search is becoming incredibly popular, with 1 in 6 Americans now owning a smart speaker. Forty percent of adults employ voice search once a day, and it is a growing trend in healthcare to provide the fastest and most accessible health solutions to the audience.
Since most people look for healthcare options within the proximity of their place of employment or their residence, the healthcare industry should optimize its digital platforms for local searches. With the rise in voice search technology, people are looking at healthcare solutions that provide the most convenience.
Augmented and Virtual Reality
During the pandemic, virtual and augmented reality solutions have enhanced the quality of telehealth. From improving patient visits to helping educate medical students in procedure simulations, the technology is definitely implementing its importance.
The technology shows promise for helping stroke victims to overcome motor deficiencies. The patients are put in robust environments to help regain motor control. Through simulated environments, patients are given more flexibility that physical therapy may not be able to offer. The controlled simulations allow doctors and therapists to gather data to help curate plans for their patients.
VR headsets allow patients with concerns like dementia or cognitive impairments to access activities and experiences that are otherwise unavailable in their current environments. This will enable patients to unlock memories and improve their emotional well-being.
Augmented reality allows healthcare providers to have real-time access to information that can benefit health procedures. This will enable students to learn more about their procedures through overlays, allowing doctors to quickly compare data to make diagnoses.
The pandemic has clearly accelerated the adoption of digital transformation in the healthcare industry. Virtual care will take precedence, along with an immediate opportunity for growth aided by the integration of wearables and end-to-end solutions targeted for care at home.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the pandemic has significantly accelerated the adoption of technology in the healthcare industry, driving a digital transformation that is poised to continue into the future. Key technologies such as AI, IoT, and virtual care are revolutionizing healthcare delivery by enabling rapid diagnosis, automating workflows, and improving patient engagement. AI’s potential in drug discovery and health benchmarks, combined with IoT’s role in smart cities, is reshaping healthcare infrastructure and urban planning. The rise of virtual and augmented reality further enhances telehealth, providing innovative solutions for patient care and medical education. As these technologies evolve, they promise to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and the overall quality of healthcare.
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