Like every other industry, healthcare is no stranger to the numerous ways in which technology changes the playing field. According to Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD, founder of Health Digital, physicians need to embrace the changes and learn to leverage technology to improve their practices.
Here are four key trends related to the use of technology in healthcare:
1. Spotlight on telemedicine. Telemedicine is staring to take center-stage, notes Dr. Bhanusali. However, while more people are becoming aware of it, the actual number of people using telemedicine is low. "That should change as the market matures," he says. For example, most chronic disease follow-ups will move to televisits to improve patient compliance and satisfaction in dermatology, Dr. Bhanusali's field.
2. Improved data collection with better patient experience. Data for clinical trials was collected via paper surveys before the widespread use of technology. But today, technology has become the norm and is routinely used to collect data. Medical practice models such as scheduling software — like One Medical Passport — which are focused on patient experience, will rise to the top, says Dr. Bhanusali.
3. Wider scope for data mining and research. The ability to create software and apps that collect data in real time will change the way research is conducted. "We may start seeing a paradigm shift on how research is both conducted and analyzed," says Dr. Bhanusali. "Instead of knowing a medication improves outcomes at six weeks, we can now potentially see if medication A has an onset of three hours versus medication B having [an onset] at three days and quantify results more accurately."
4. Transferring care management responsibilities to patients. Software such as cellscope and alivecor are becoming viable ways for patients to manage their own care. Dr. Bhanusali says that although it will take time for wearables to become a part of the patient chart, these types of technologies will prove particularly useful in rural areas.
"The biggest thing for physicians to understand is that while change is scary, embracing new technologies can lead to decreased overhead, lower no-show rates, and likely better margins. This allows the physicians to worry less about finances and concentrate on providing the best care possible," says Dr. Bhanusali.