Introduction
The pandemic has transformed healthcare for the future. In 2022 we are in front of big challenges in the healthcare industry [1]. The recent pandemic has accelerated the use of new technologies including telemedicine and telehealth [2], but there is a lack of skilled workforce to drive the digital health revolution. Telehealth uptake also requires a significant change in management efforts as well as redesigning existing models in healthcare [3].
Implementing new technology is not an easy process. There are many competing solutions and options on the market, and it can be difficult to assess which option will best suit an organization’s specific needs. Many executives and chief-level executives not only find it hard to choose the optimal solution but also find the practical matters of implementing new technology (software and hardware) challenging.
These challenges are possibly due to both not having adequate basic IT infrastructure and not being compatible with existing technologies that run in their organization.
Some of the main trends that emerged during this pandemic are here to remain.
-
Virtual diagnostic [4]
Accessible via voice or text, mobile smart devices or computers and virtual diagnostic aids have been key clinical tools in hospitals facing COVID-19 peaks. These technologies have helped doctors extract patient health data, bypassing the time-consuming process of searching electronic health records.
-
Intelligent scheduling [5]
The application of predictive algorithms can also help optimize programming to reduce “no-shows”, i.e., cases in which patients do not show up for a visit.
-
Ready to use solutions [6]
Another positive experience was the use of mobile and ready-to-use solutions for carrying out CT scans in emergency situations, a life-saving tool during the pandemic. With the urgency, the lack of time to build ad-hoc rooms and the primary need to contain the infection, hospitals needed a portable solution that could be placed close – in parking lots or open spaces – and that could be activated quickly. In the various disciplines, the adoption of technologies with Artificial Intelligence applications is growing exponentially: in triage, diagnostics and patient management, right up to the time of treatment. Today there are several powerful AI algorithms incorporated in medical devices such as magnetic resonances, CT, X-rays, and ultrasound, as well as applications that significantly reduce bureaucratic tasks such as paperwork, folders and patient data acquisition, helping to make the daily work of doctors more manageable.
-
AI can reduce manual work and burnout [7, 8]
Technology can also be a useful ally for drastically reducing burnout. In a study conducted with 1563 healthcare workers, more than half of the workers (50.7%) reported depression symptoms, 44.7% anxiety and 36.1% sleep disorder [9]. Digitalizing processes using Artificial Intelligence and deep learning allows you to reduce manual work, limiting repetitive activities and decreasing the likelihood of error: technology, therefore, makes the process more efficient so that professionals can focus on patient care.
-
Telemedicine and virtual care [7, 10]
In general, the pandemic has helped boost the adoption of telemedicine around the world. In March 2020, during the first days of the pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported a 154% increase in the number of telemedicine visits. In Asia, where health systems have been dealing with SARS outbreaks for some time, hospitals have rapidly implemented telemedicine and remote monitoring technologies for Covid-19 infections. Remote monitoring solutions are rapidly emerging as a reliable and cost-effective technology, both to connect hospitals in remote areas to those in cities, and to allow monitoring of intensive care beds across different floors of a hospital.
The evolution of virtual care has then highlighted a trend: the decentralization of care [10]. Patient data are protected on the device rather than in the cloud, so an internet connection is not necessary, which is essential in emergency situations or in areas with underserved populations that may not have access to the internet.
-
Remote clinical learning [11]
Remote clinical training was a crucial virtual solution during the pandemic. It was essential when clinical support staff could not go to hospitals.
-
Data protection and data management [12, 13]
There is a stronger need to improve data management to strengthen clinical decisions. The amount of data produced and potentially useful in the clinical setting is constantly increasing. Healthcare systems around the world are overwhelmed by the amount of data they collect, but many do not have the means to transform all this information into valuable insights. Data integration strengthens clinical decision-making and patient outcomes, providing insights to healthcare professionals when they need them. To facilitate the real-time exchange, analysis and interpretation of data, advanced infrastructures are needed, capable of guaranteeing processing capacity, speed of transmission, security, and privacy of information, to allow interoperability between information systems.
-
Collaboration between the public and private sectors
The need of strengthening public-private partnerships and collaboration between all elements of the health ecosystem is clear. Healthcare facilities, professionals, technological partners, and academia need to maximize synergies and exploit the acceleration towards digitalization impressed by the pandemic period.
Conclusion
Artificial Intelligence (AI), telehealth and robotics – are all examples of digital technologies that promise to alleviate the amount of work in the health sector while maintaining a high quality of care for patients.
Innovation, collaboration, and the patient experience must remain at the heart of transformation strategies and decision-making. Those elements together can pave the path to more effective use of resources and better healthcare worldwide.
References:
[1] Petersson L, Larsson I, Nygren JM, Nilsen P, Neher M, Reed JE, Tyskbo D, Svedberg P. Challenges to implementing artificial intelligence in healthcare: a qualitative interview study with healthcare leaders in Sweden. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Jul 1;22(1):850. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08215-8. PMID: 35778736; PMCID: PMC9250210.
[2] Wosik J, Fudim M, Cameron B, Gellad ZF, Cho A, Phinney D, Curtis S, Roman M, Poon EG, Ferranti J, Katz JN, Tcheng J. Telehealth transformation: COVID-19 and the rise of virtual care. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2020 Jun 1;27(6):957-962. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa067. PMID: 32311034; PMCID: PMC7188147.
[3] Smith AC, Thomas E, Snoswell CL, Haydon H, Mehrotra A, Clemensen J, Caffery LJ. Telehealth for global emergencies: Implications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). J Telemed Telecare. 2020 Jun;26(5):309-313. doi: 10.1177/1357633X20916567. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32196391; PMCID: PMC7140977.
[4] Webster P. Virtual health care in the era of COVID-19. Lancet. 2020 Apr 11;395(10231):1180-1181. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30818-7. PMID: 32278374; PMCID: PMC7146660.
[5] Knevel R, Hügle T. E-health as a sine qua non for modern healthcare. RMD Open. 2022 Sep;8(2):e002401. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002401. PMID: 36123014; PMCID: PMC9486378.
[6] Chavda E, Guedon-Moreau L, Williatte L, Cordova E. Post-emergency teleconsultations during COVID crisis: TELE-SCOPE tool’s feedback and epidemiological analysis. Digit Health. 2022 Mar 2;8:20552076221081689. doi: 10.1177/20552076221081689. PMID: 35251680; PMCID: PMC8894957.
[7] Temesgen ZM, DeSimone DC, Mahmood M, Libertin CR, Varatharaj Palraj BR, Berbari EF. Health Care After the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Influence of Telemedicine. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 Sep;95(9S):S66-S68. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.06.052. Epub 2020 Jul 27. PMID: 32948262; PMCID: PMC7383140.
[8] Awan S, Diwan MN, Aamir A, Allahuddin Z, Irfan M, Carano A, Vellante F, Ventriglio A, Fornaro M, Valchera A, Pettorruso M, Martinotti G, Di Giannantonio M, Ullah I, De Berardis D. Suicide in Healthcare Workers: Determinants, Challenges, and the Impact of COVID-19. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Feb 3;12:792925. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.792925. PMID: 35185638; PMCID: PMC8850721.
[9] Liu S., Yang L., Zhang C., Xiang Y. T., Liu Z., Hu S., Zhang B. (2020). Online mental health services in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Lancet. Psychiatry, 7(4), e17.
[10] Kollman S, Braegger D, Head B. COVID-19’s Disruptive Innovation: Accelerating the Academic Preparation of Professional Nurses’ Ambulatory and Telehealth Roles. Nurse Lead. 2022 Feb;20(1):60-62. doi: 10.1016/j.mnl.2021.10.003. Epub 2021 Oct 22. PMID: 34744526; PMCID: PMC8564688.
[11] Zugasti Murillo A, Aguilar Sugrañes L, Álvarez Hernández J. Transformación digital en la relación entre industria y colectivo sanitario [Digital transformation of the relationship between industry and healthcare professionals]. Nutr Hosp. 2022 Mar 29;38(Spec No1):14-18. Spanish. doi: 10.20960/nh.04064. PMID: 35137592.
[12] Akay M, Subramaniam S, Brennan C, Bonato P, Waits CMK, Wheeler BC, Fotiadis DI. Healthcare Innovations to Address the Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform. 2022 Jul;26(7):3294-3302. doi: 10.1109/JBHI.2022.3144941. Epub 2022 Jul 1. PMID: 35077374.
[13] https://www.turing.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-06/data-science-and-ai-in-the-age-of-covid_full-report_2.pdf
Disclaimer
The information contained herein is not and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before making any changes to your diet, exercise or treatment, always consult your doctor or a qualified health professional.
The guidance provided may not be appropriate for your specific situation. Never make any decisions about your health based solely on the information provided in this article.
The author and creator of this article are not responsible for any damage or loss resulting from the improper use of the information presented here. Remember that each person is unique and therefore needs a personalized approach to health.
If you have any concerns about your health, please consult a qualified medical professional.