Technological inundation, the internet revolution, and evolving contemporary consumer preferences are bringing about changes in every field of life. Education, communication, social relationships, business, and the way we travel all have changed. Human history has witnessed a change of a century just over the last two decades. Technological advancements are the biggest driver of this unprecedented pace of change. Consequently, the wave of transformations has engulfed healthcare as well since it extensively relies on technology.
According to Beckers Hospital Review, the technology adoption in the healthcare sector has reached up to 54%. Any industry with such a high level of technology acceptance will certainly undergo drastic changes. Technology is undoubtedly the primary reason behind the evolution of healthcare. However, there are other factors as well.
Now patients demand a different level of healthcare experience than before. Moreover, medical education played a role as well. If you are interested in understanding the contemporary trends of the healthcare sector, you are at the right place. This article discusses four trends reshaping the healthcare sector in the current era.
Transforming Contemporary Medical Education
The modern educational transformation has introduced innovations in medical education. The entire landscape of education delivery and knowledge transfer has changed. The technical and research characteristics have become immensely rich in med schools. Scholars are publishing thousands of research papers every year in the field of medical science. It is also evident from the rising scope of the clinical research management degree due to the vast scale of research in medical science. The inclination of research is providing innovations and advancements in the field, urging aspirants to pursue it.
Moreover, online education is playing a prominent role in this transformation. We could not even think of online medical education some years ago. However, the rise of online education amid the COVID pandemic has introduced eLearning for healthcare too. All the traditional educational institutions are now also offering online medical courses. It has created ease for students globally. They can learn from leading scholars while sitting at their homes.
Increasing Inclination toward Telehealth
Telehealth refers to a systematic distribution of healthcare services through online mediums. Patients interact with healthcare providers through virtual platforms like video conferencing tools and online meeting sources. Ironically, one of the biggest health crises of human history promoted one of the best healthcare innovations so far. The COVID pandemic became a great source of encouraging people to adopt this modern-day healthcare tool. Is VivaSlim really a scam? Read more on the reviews here.
People could not physically visit their doctors and consultants. So they opted for online sources to seek healthcare services. It established telehealth even further. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), over 76% of American hospitals are using some aspects of telehealth to provide healthcare services. It could never be possible without wide consumer acceptance. Changing market preferences and COVID lockdowns helped ensure that acceptance. It has also introduced hybrid healthcare services. Hospitals are utilizing mixed – traditional and online – ways to enhance healthcare services.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast expanding its role in almost every sphere of life. From finance to marketing and healthcare, AI is penetrating everywhere. AI has extensive applications in drug development. There are many complex biochemical procedures that AI can replicate on a virtual medium and generate feasibility reports. This data is providing a cost-effective and efficient source of developing new medicinal discoveries. The exact mechanism is repeated for other clinical researches as well.
AI is also aiding machine learning. Different gadgets and tools are increasingly becoming helpful for medical purposes in the contemporary era. Wearables like smartwatches and track bands are providing practical ways of monitoring health. Innovative software is helping medical professionals in the diagnosis process. It has significantly uplifted the entire healthcare sector. Now hospitals are providing better diagnosis and, as a result, better care to patients.
Virtual Reality
People have considered Virtual Reality (VR) predominantly a part of the gaming industry. However, the times are changing. Now, the healthcare sector is increasingly utilizing VR for different medical purposes. The most surprising use of VR is as a tech-based anesthetic. Various hospitals are using VR headsets to distract patients from medical treatment. It diverts their attention, and they feel less pain. Doctors are also explaining to patients their medical problems through virtual tours of the body parts. It is providing them a better understanding of their medical condition.
Another aspect is in medical education. VR is enabling healthcare education providers to teach students in an immersive way. Students can see the internal working of the human body through their VR headset on a virtual medium. It also provides a better understanding of drugs and their impacts on the body. Moreover, the very recent and advantageous implementation of VR came in the field of surgery. VR has made surgeons capable of performing remote surgeries through immersive replicas created on virtual media.
Final Thoughts
Healthcare will continue to evolve because it works in close coordination with technology. Anything close to technology will undergo a gradual change. However, there is still a massive window for further improvement. Most importantly, there is a need to create a cohesive healthcare system across the world. The developed world adopts these technological advancements way earlier than the underdeveloped countries. There is a need for equal distribution of technology to create a better healthcare system globally.