It's no secret that the healthcare industry is in the midst of a digital transformation. From patient portals to the use of virtual reality, there's no shortage of new technologies that are changing the way healthcare is delivered.
In a recent report, McKinsey & Company predicted that digital health would account for a $305 billion opportunity by 2025, and there are many reasons for this.
First, healthcare costs are rising around the world, and digital health has the potential to help contain costs. Secondly, patients are increasingly taking a more active role in their own health and wellness, and digital health tools can empower patients to manage their health more effectively. Thirdly, the digital revolution is enabling the development of more sophisticated health technologies, such as wearables, that can collect data about our health in real-time.
As we move into the next decade, it's important to stay ahead of the curve and understand the digital trends that will shape healthcare in 2023. Here are five trends to watch out for:
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The Rise of Telemedicine:
With the increasing demand for healthcare services and the ever-growing technological advances, telemedicine is becoming a more viable option for healthcare providers and patients alike.
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications and information technologies to provide medical care from a distance. This can include consultations, diagnosis, and treatments. It is a growing field that is being used more and more to provide access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
There are many benefits to telemedicine. For patients, it can provide access to care that they would not otherwise have. It can also be more convenient and less expensive than in-person visits. For healthcare providers, it can help to increase patient satisfaction and reduce costs.
As the demand for healthcare services continues to grow, telemedicine is likely to become an increasingly popular option. It is a trend to watch out for in 2023.
2. The Growth of AI in Healthcare:
Another trend that is expected to gain significant traction is the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Healthcare organisations are already beginning to adopt AI technologies in a variety of ways, such as using chatbots to communicate with patients and using machine learning to process and analyse data.
AI offers a number of advantages for healthcare organisations. For example, it can help to improve patient outcomes by providing personalised care, reducing errors and providing recommendations based on data. Additionally, AI can help to improve efficiency by automating tasks such as appointment scheduling and record keeping.
As AI technologies continue to advance, it is likely that we will see even more healthcare organisations adopting AI in the coming years. This trend is one that is definitely worth watching out for in 2023.
3. The Rise of Wearable Tech:
In 2023, the digital world will be increasingly defined by what we wear. The rise of wearable technology will allow us to interact with our devices in new and intimate ways, and healthcare will be one of the most important applications of this trend.
Wearable tech will allow us to track our fitness and health data in real-time, giving us unprecedented insight into our own bodies. This data will be used to help us make better decisions about our health, and to automate the delivery of care. For example, our devices will be able to detect early signs of illness and alert us to seek medical attention.
This trend will also have a major impact on the way we interact with our surroundings. With the advent of Augmented Reality (AR), we will be able to see digital information superimposed on the real world. This will change the way we shop, learn, and even socialise .
4. The Growth of 3D Printing:
There is no doubt that 3D printing is a digital trend to watch out for in 2023. The technology has already revolutionised the healthcare industry, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, the global 3D printing market is expected to grow from $6.28 billion in 2018 to $32.78 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 35.5% during the forecast period (2018-2023).
One of the main reasons why 3D printing is such a big deal is because it has the potential to greatly reduce the cost of healthcare. For example, 3D-printed implants are often much cheaper than traditional ones, and they can be customised to fit each patient perfectly. In addition, 3D-printed prosthetics are becoming more and more realistic, and they are much more affordable than their traditional counterparts.
Another reason to be excited about 3D printing is that it is becoming more and more accessible. Mainstream 3D printers are becoming more affordable, and there are now even 3D printers that can be used at home. In addition, the technology is becoming more user-friendly, making it easier for people of all skill levels to use.
So, if you're looking for a digital trend to watch out for in 2023, 3D printing is definitely one to keep an eye on. Healthcare is just one of the many industries that is being transformed by this amazing technology, and it is only going to become more popular in the years to come.
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The rise of digital health records:
Digital health records are one of the most important digital trends to watch out for in 2023. This is because they have the potential to revolutionise healthcare and make it more efficient and effective.
Digital health records are electronic health records that are stored on a computer. They can be accessed by authorised healthcare providers, which makes them more secure and confidential than paper records.
