
The healthcare industry has experienced serious changes in the last couple of years. The effects of the pandemic were felt in almost every sector, and both medical experts and economists work intensely to improve the system and cover all of the gaps. Digital solutions have risen to the occasion and proven to be a trusted partner in the battle for providing better healthcare services. The majority of new trends work towards achieving faster, more accurate diagnostics, more effective and cheaper drugs and automated procedures that will reduce the heavy burden falling on the medical staff.
Telehealth or Remote Medicine
Telehealth, or Telemedicine, is one of the fastest-growing healthcare trends worldwide. It refers to the usage of the internet, video chats, phone calls and other remote ways of communication between patients and medical professionals. As you can guess, since 2020, this is what many healthcare facilities are trying to establish, to limit the spread of potentially deadly pathogens.
In 2021 almost all major countries have adopted Telehealth as a primary tool for communication and online diagnostics. According to recent statistics, the value of the telemedicine market is expected to reach 460 billion US dollars by 2030. For reference, in 2021, it was estimated to be around 50 billion US dollars. With that said, you can imagine the rise in the number of startups trying to develop the most accurate and easy-to-use doctor-patient apps.
The future is clearly in online diagnostics and treatment, and it comes with no surprise that this trend is included in every aspect of the largest international trade show on the globe - Medica 2021. Amongst the key topics of this year's edition are telemedicine and VR&AR technologies. The latter asserts itself to be one of the most important diagnostics and treatments means and our next huge medical trend for 2021.
VR, AR, and MR in Healthcare
Computer-generated realities like VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), and MR (mixed reality) can substantially benefit the way modern medicine is implemented. By placing a patient in a computer simulation, medical experts can plan surgeries and treatments and examine the possible outcomes of different procedures. But that is not all, AR can be successfully applied in training new healthcare workers and educational or lab testing processes. MR is extremely useful in cases when specialists need to perform procedures with remotely managed medical equipment. As you can see, the three types of “realities” are essential for the future of modern medicine. They can be applied in all industry sectors - from rehabilitation and different surgeries to therapy and treating mental health problems.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Healthcare System
AI is rapidly entering the medical industry, making processes less time-consuming and more automated. The technology is primarily used for diagnostics and disease detection, but recently many startups have begun developing new software products and APIs benefiting from it. AI can be of great help for the healthcare sector in a couple of different ways:
- Machine learning and invention of new cures . Artificial intelligence can be implemented in researching and discovering new drugs and potential disease cures. The technology minimises the costs for physical experiments and instead performs different simulations to find the right solution.
- Robotic healthcare workers . At the start of the COVID pandemic, many medical facilities turned out to be understaffed and lacking qualified manpower. AI can resolve this problem by offering support in different fields, like administration, hygiene, remote diagnostics, etc. The goal is not to replace the existing staff but to support it and ensure its safety when dealing with potentially dangerous situations.
- Chatbots and online helpers . The AI technology can be successfully implemented in communication software making remote diagnostics fast and accurate. With 24/7 access to a qualified medical advisor, patients can receive on-the-clock assistance and be encouraged to seek qualified help.
- Autonomous patient monitoring . By combining a few room sensors and an elaborate AI, healthcare facilities can monitor their patients’ conditions. This trend will significantly improve the quality of the provided services and save time for the medical staff.
- Computed tomography scans . The need for this one is rising due to the ongoing pandemic. AIs can help perform an unlimited number of patient scans detecting the signs of pneumonia or other respiratory anomalies caused by COVID.
The benefits of AI technology do not limit only to the above-mentioned trends. Major companies and innovative startups develop more and more applications and software products each year. That is why a big segment of the upcoming healthcare trade show Medica 2021 is dedicated to the new AI applications. During the expo, the specialist from the medical industry alongside engineers, programmers, and businessmen will present the latest findings and product solutions enhancing the AI trend.
Internet of Medical Things
The Internet of Medical Things or IoMT is a combination of applications, communication software, and physical devices that connect to the healthcare IT systems using the online networks or the medical “internet,” if you will. This is not a new concept, however, it got a lot of attention in the past few years due to its unlimited possibilities, when it comes to virtual communication and diagnostics. But the innovation doesn’t stop here. Many companies aim to develop self-moving smart devices that can handle the sanitisation on supply management of the healthcare facilities relieving the medical staff from the more mundane tasks. IoMT is one of the ten focus topics discussed in detail during the Medica Connected Healthcare Forum, part of Medica 2021.
Big Data and Analytics
You can imagine the tremendous amounts of information the mentioned software products collect and work with. Every piece of data from diagnostic methods and treatment planning to patient charts and medical procedures needs to be digitalised and stored somewhere. Here is where big data and analytics come. They can provide the means to assess and structure large amounts of reports compiling them into well-organised blocks of information. Then an algorithm is implemented to analyse and interpret the data to provide valuable medical insights. Big data solutions can speed and improve the offered healthcare services as well as enhance the quality of work in medical facilities.
Data Security
Data breach prevention is essential when we start to digitalise the medical industry. Delicate patient information, like social security numbers or bank accounts, is amongst the most desired and targeted pieces of data. So naturally, companies all over the world are trying to find a working solution for this problem. Some of the latest innovations connect to this trend include:
- Implementing powerful firewalls that help conceal the gathered data.
- Conducting regular cybersecurity checks that can be done by AI or other automated software.
- Developing an effective face recognition with masks. This is one of the primary security goals, as the majority of the world population wears masks indoors.
Data security will continue to be one of the fastest-growing trends due to necessity. The development of a working data breach prevention method is closely related to the rise of AI tech and the growth of IoMT.
3D Printing
3D printing is rapidly making its way to the medical industry. It allows the creation of relatively low-cost but high-quality casts, prosthetics, surgical tools, and much more. The technology allows personalisation according to the needs of both patients and professionals. Some of the newest innovations in this sector will be discussed during Medica 2021 - both in its primary segments and as a part of the WT (Wearable Technologies) show.
Genomics
This topic may sound like taken straight from a sci-fi novel, but in reality, it is a legit science that focuses on developing new tools and drugs that can fight various diseases and conditions. Just think about the practice of collecting stem cells to be used in future gene therapies. The possibilities are endless if we manage to develop the right technologies. And that is precisely what many businesses and science organisations try to achieve. This is an ongoing trend that is expected to hit major milestones in the near future.
Healthcare innovations are some of the most, if not the most important fields, as they directly influence global health and well-being. The COVID pandemic gave a rough push to the medical industry, forcing it to come up with new ideas in a very short period. We mentioned Medica several times as it is the largest international hub for sharing and exchanging both ideas and technologies. The future of medicine depends on how fast we can develop new smart solutions and implement them across multiple healthcare systems. So we are excited to see what the latest innovations presented during Medica are and what the 2022 trends will look like.
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