With more people working irregular schedules and seeking on-demand healthcare at convenient times, digital technology has opened up new opportunities in the industry. Mobile devices have become valuable tools that help doctors provide better care while working smarter. And perhaps most importantly, this new technology allows them to offer personalised patient services that improve lives.

A recent study found that 73 per cent of consumers are expecting better experiences with their healthcare providers. They're also demanding more convenient and accessible care: 59 per cent want to be able to communicate with their doctor on-demand in any way they choose.

Improve healthcare outcomes with predictive analytics

Healthcare organisations are trying to enhance patient outcomes through predictive analytics. The advancements in technology have given the healthcare industry a strong impetus towards data-driven innovation and informed decision-making. By using Big data and predictive analytics, and informatics, healthcare companies can predict what illnesses and diseases will become major problems in the future. By combining large volumes of patient data with complex algorithms and predictive models, physicians can now make more accurate predictions about a patient’s future needs.

Furthermore, they can develop healthy lifestyle recommendations for their patients based on this information.

AI-powered healthcare: A new way of treating patients 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is turning out to be the next big thing in the healthcare industry. 

AI technology is being applied to a range of healthcare industry verticals, including medical imaging, healthcare monitoring, and wellness. For example, AI-powered visual recognition algorithms are helping radiologists detect cancerous tissues in medical images more efficiently than ever before.

From applications that can identify rare diseases to chatbots and virtual health assistants, AI-powered technology is transforming how we approach medicine. Chatbots, a virtual health assistant, is a computer programme designed to automate the conversations between patients and healthcare professionals through instant messaging (IM). AI-enabled chatbots can interact with patients in a more natural and personal way than computers can. The use of chatbots will not only reduce costs but also eliminate paperwork and unnecessary hospital visits.

5G-offering a new way of delivering medicine

5G will enable new exciting possibilities in healthcare, including remote surgery, tele-monitoring of patients, and the use of drones to deliver life-saving devices or medicine. With the help of 5G, future medicine will be more precise and personalised. Treatments could be tailored to an individual's genetics and lifestyle, or even implanted with a device that automatically dispenses medication.

Blockchain and healthcare - How big is the potential?

Blockchain is one of the groundbreaking technologies, which has gained its foothold in the healthcare industry owing to its ability to store data, maintain security, and control access. It is currently being used to improve and streamline medical record management, which can easily be done through a single patient profile. Blockchain is also being used by medical researchers to collect data on patients anonymously - without risking any breach of privacy or security. 

However, data security is a big issue in today’s scenario, as technological advancements make blockchain data more vulnerable for alteration and misuse.

In the end, blockchain technology brings to the table many healthcare opportunities that are beneficial for patients, researchers, and pharma companies, however, it is not yet fully developed for the healthcare industry. Several technical, organisational, and ethical challenges must be addressed before healthcare organisations consider adapting to blockchain technology in the healthcare industry.

Vinay K Mayer, Director- Marketing Research & Consulting @ Asia Research Partners LLP