The Rise of Healthcare Technology: 5 Key Trends in 2023

Intelligent medical devices (AI), telemedicine, SRG xenograft models, and telehealth are standard terms to describe the ever-changing face of technology within the medical community. Technology solutions automate tasks to provide personalized healthcare and streamlined solutions while reducing burnout for doctors, nurses, and medical professionals, all while complying with the requirements for a Clinical Evaluation Report.

Convenience has become the standard with telemedicine, and additional technological advances are on the horizon. Medical technology, patient portals, wearable devices like heart monitors, and artificial intelligence tools are key trends that are expanding as we head into 2023.

How Does Health Tech Impact Patients’ Lives?

Informational technology in healthcare (HIT), also known as telemedicine, is a broad term that references computers, telecommunication, and other electronic systems used to store, retrieve, and share health information using secure technology.

E-subscriptions, electronic health records (EHR), and tech tools used to help patients quit smoking and manage blood sugar levels are just a few of the healthcare technology tools available in today’s market. Proactive medical facilities embrace technology to remain competitive and offer the best care.

Healthcare information technology provides patients with quick and easy access to the records at several healthcare facilities from one access point. HIT provides medical professionals with various tools for improving patient care and communication. Some popular technology solutions include the following:

• Electronic Medical Records Software (EMR)
• Electronic Health Records Solutions/Billing (EHR)
• Personal Health Records (PHR)
• Remote Care (health diagnosis and monitoring from home)
• Patient Engagement Technology (patient portals, messaging, social media)
• Patient Apps (patient portal access on mobile phone or tablet)
• Medical Apps for Physicians (pharma database, academic partnerships, clinical communication)
• Wearable Technology in Healthcare (diagnostic tech: pulse, heart, blood pressure, sleep, oximeter, glucometer, etc.)
• Telehealth (virtual-based medical care)
• Computerized Disease Registries
• Electronic Prescriptions
• Imaging Data (MRIs, X-Rays, Mammograms)

Top Benefits of Information Technology in Healthcare

Information technology in healthcare utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to perform administrative tasks, drug research, remote diagnostic testing and handling vast quantities of data.

Healthcare artificial intelligence spending is projected to grow to over three billion dollars between 2019 and 2024. The global healthcare intelligence market is expected to grow exponentially to nearly $16 billion by 2026. The top benefits of information technology in healthcare include the following:

1. Easy access to patient medical history
2. Improves patient safety
3. Reduces human error
4. Offers remote patient monitoring (RPM)
5. Provides better patient care
6. Reduces costs
7. Improves patient knowledge
8. Increases patient satisfaction with engagement solutions and patient portal platforms
9. Provides care to patients in their home
10. Streamlines clinical, financial, and administrative workflow for efficient performance

What are the Challenges Faced by Healthcare Technology Innovation?

Healthcare intelligence tools help to gather and organize medical information, including doctor visits, diagnoses, payments and billing, prescriptions, analyzing the effectiveness of care, financial activities, and more. AI is helping practices and hospitals better evaluate daily operations, identify new medical opportunities, and make improved data-based decisions.

Personal health records (PHRs) must be available to patients. PHRs ensure access to medical information, encourage doctor-patient healthcare decision-making, and allow for error correction in medical records.

Healthcare technology innovations are transforming the medical field as we know it, But there are challenges, including:

• Medical Data Cybersecurity Breaches
  Cybersecurity breaches are a concern as an increasingly large amount of personal medical data is stored online. Pharmacies, laboratory facilities, and medical practices often have older versions of Windows, which leaves patients open to hackers and the risk of identity fraud in the sale of medical records to the black market.

• Defective Intelligent Medical Devices
  Implanted medical devices, such as heart valves, pacemakers, insulin pumps, and defibrillators, may require additional surgery to remove and replace a faulty device. False or misleading device information may encourage patients to use poorly regulated intelligent medical devices.

• Medical Device Cybersecurity Breaches
  Intelligent medical devices connect to wireless networks for troubleshooting and software updates. The Internet of medical things (IoMT) Allows access to life-saving devices that may be vulnerable to hackers. Medical devices can increase a patient’s heart rate or change the flow of insulin.

Healthcare data includes the patient’s demographic information, address, medical history, testing, diagnoses, and more. This information is of critical importance and must be kept private. Cybersecurity standards were developed and established in the medical device security act of 2017. Still, medical device medical data cybersecurity breaches are a big concern.

Blockchain technology utilizes cryptography to secure data and protect patient information. Block chain technology gives healthcare providers and researchers access to massive amounts of data which has the potential to lead to better patient outcomes, improved AI accuracy, and potentially faster drug development, while protecting patient information.

How Healthcare Data Can Improve Healthcare Outcomes

Healthcare data is improving healthcare outcomes in multiple ways. Technology provides patients and providers with improved convenience and choice, including easy referrals, access to insurance information, scheduling reminders, at-home mobile visits, and remote observation with digital devices testing blood sugar or heart palpitations.

Healthcare data improves healthcare outcomes in the following areas:

• Builds Community Partnerships
  Healthcare database platforms build strong community partnerships by optimizing patient access to records and providing digital patient engagement, including referrals, insurance authorizations, scheduling, digital office sign-ins, and appointment reminders.

• Reduces Missed Appointments
  Missed appointments cost the healthcare industry billions of dollars each year. Healthcare data creates information about patients, including those who might miss appointments. Collective healthcare data saves money and improves patient outcomes.

• Improves Follow-up Care
  Patients receive improved healthcare outcomes when they complete follow-up visits, get reminders concerning bloodwork and testing results, and physicians can follow up on patient aftercare utilizing IT platforms.

• Reduces Medical Errors
  Artificial intelligence improves effectiveness in reducing or eliminating poor outcomes, including diagnosis errors, hospital-acquired infections, pressure ulcers, and more.

• Improved Medical Diagnoses
  Artificial intelligence medical databases enhance patient outcomes by improving the doctor’s ability to diagnose a medical condition. The doctor still creates the diagnosis, but they have research data, clinical decisions, and population medical information at their fingertips.

Emerging Healthcare Trends to Watch for in 2023

Technology integrates data so multiple providers can access needed patient information and test results. Patients can schedule appointments online, access records and test results, or send questions to their providers through email or text. Read on to learn the five key healthcare technology trends going forward. 

Telemedicine Home Visits

Telemedicine software enabled medical providers to expand their care to include at-home telehealth visits during COVID-19. Experts predict that this trend will increase in 2023 and beyond. Patients with chronic autoimmune conditions or other health concerns will increasingly rely on telehealth sessions with specialists and general practitioners.

Outsourcing Medical Billing

During COVID-19, Medical practices began to experience staff shortages. Experts predict that healthcare labor will drop by 500,000 personnel by 2026. Unfortunately, this will result in more staff shortages.

The global health market anticipates medical practices will address short staffing by outsourcing medical billing to third-party companies that offer highly qualified nurses, doctors, and medical office staff.

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

During 2023, AI technology will continue to transform the healthcare system as we know it. Software solutions will provide physicians with the skills needed to diagnose patients more effectively, automate administrative tasks, preauthorize insurance, connect patients with specialists, order e-prescriptions and effectively examine large amounts of patient data.

Streamlined Patient Portal Platforms

Many more patients will have access to portal platforms in 2023, using enhanced software systems to schedule appointments, view lab results, schedule procedures, pay bills online, and contact physicians online.

Med Apps for Physicians

Another healthcare technology trend for 2023 is medical knowledge platforms (med apps). Skyscape is a medical app that provides trusted medical information on a mobile device covering 30 medical specialties and over 400 trusted resources to save physicians time, reduce medical errors, and improve patient care. The LexiComp app gives physicians medication information using 20 different databases.

Rise of Healthcare Technology

Healthcare technology plays a prominent role in diagnosing and treating patients. Digital solutions and healthcare tech offers high-quality patient care and is the future of medicine. Health tech is positively impacting the lives of patients and clinicians worldwide.

Emerging healthcare trends will help healthcare organizations save money and improve patient outcomes. Healthcare technology plays a vital role in the medical system and will continue to revolutionize the healthcare sector in many ways during 2023 and beyond.