Grab a pen and take notes, here are the top digital health trends of 2017
Digital technology is rapidly expanding the parameters for the future of health care. Emerging opportunities for interdisciplinary research of digital devices has spearheaded a convergence of the healthcare sector with non-medical industries. The outcome is a wave of innovative health care tools designed to help consumers to better manage their health as well as limit the amount of time spent in doctor’s offices and hospitals. The biggest shift going forward however, is that consumer demands rather than industry moguls are the dictators of today’s health care technology trends. Consumer interest provide direction into new interaction paradigms and notable digital health trends such as mobile health (mHealth), health information technology (IT), wearable devices and telemedicine.
These innovative devices will leverage mobile technology, geo-located data and digital crowdsourcing to create real time health care data streams and context-aware systems that address infectious and chronic diseases on a level never before seen in public health history.
Top Digital Health Trends for 2017
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a web-based repository of medical information and insights. This health trend is fast becoming an invaluable clinical support tool that is mitigating medical decision inaccuracies for healthcare professionals. It also reduces stress and saves time for patients by expediting disease diagnosis and improving treatment protocols. Data access and recommendations is one of the AI’s greatest advantage. Physician’s claim it taps into a collective data base of thousands of healthcare providers, millions of patient’s medical profiles and care outcomes then offer treatment recommendations. Using the patient’s personal medical records, AI also provide alerts to the doctor about the patient’s genetic traits and when a particular medication will not work for them.
This year, doctors will also be able to double check information and recommendations made by AI against current clinical research via an IBM artificial intelligent supercomputer.
- Blockchain is a health IT system derived from technology that has been around since 2008. Blockchain’s health systems has the capacity to provide technological solutions to challenges of portable user-owned data and other areas including health data interoperability. It is a digital system whose fundamental strengths lie in its data integrity and networked immutability with the scope to enable additional functionalities.
The trending presence of Blockchain in the healthcare industry for 2017 is providing hospitals, doctors, and health insurance companies with a secure data sharing system. Going forward the most promising use for Blockchain technology in the healthcare industry according to medical authorities, governments and the healthcare provider community is the establishment of a blockchain consortia to create standards or frameworks for health care use cases on a global scale.
- Genomics is a diagnostic or therapeutic decision-making tool. This emerging health trend provides an opportunity to better understand illness at the molecular level. It uses information from the patient’s DNA sequencing to determine their health risks and guide treatment modalities as part of their clinical care. Genomic testing is also expanding our medical care options and raise new questions that influence clinical research.
- Internet of Things (IoT) has numerous digital devices currently trending in healthcare. From tracking activity devices to medical device integration and healthcare workflow optimization they not only enhance back of the house medical management opportunities but improve patient safety and enhance how physicians deliver care. Another advantage of the IoT Healthcare trend is that it helps to boost patient engagement by expanding interactions between the patient and their doctor.
- Telemedicine has become a key component in the health care industry driven by social, demographic, political shifts and economic need. Telemedicine technology provide digital tools that link patients and clinicians and make access to healthcare possible for inbound patients and people living in rural or remote areas. The technology that makes telemedicine trendy utilize home-based digital devices that connect via the Web. These clinical systems generate alerts and prompt interventions to mitigate complications and emergencies from remote patient readings.
Digital health technology and healthcare technology trends represent a wave of simple wellness devices and applications that is influencing the way healthcare is delivered and experienced today. And, as more non-medical companies such as Fitbit, Apple and Samsung align themselves with the healthcare industry it’s inevitable that competition will drive even greater innovation.
