The future of healthcare technology reached new heights as the recent pandemic highlighted some issues that needed to be addressed. Technological breakthroughs that seemed like mere science fiction before became the norm in today’s healthcare industry. And these latest innovations are not just about saving lives and improving a patient’s health.

Now, healthcare technology comprises systems and models that improve the way people experience healthcare. From delivering services beyond the hospital’s walls to offering new business models for payers, the healthcare industry is finding new ways to be more accessible, efficient, effective, and affordable. And this promising future is within arms reach, thanks to digital innovators and researchers.

Challenges in Healthcare Systems During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the world in ways that no one could imagine. It overwhelmed many businesses, including the healthcare industry. Companies had to step up to avoid being overcome by the negative impact of the pandemic. The healthcare industry, particularly, faced the most challenges among all. Here are some of the challenges that the healthcare system faced.

Challenge 1: Delivery System

Because of the pandemic, the surge of sick people overwhelmed many hospitals and healthcare systems such as AdventHealth. Non-essential employees were stuck at home and had limited means for collaboration. This meant that they couldn’t scale up their organization and system fast enough to meet the demands of patients. In AdventHealth’s case, they partnered and collaborated with Concepta to build a development team that could scale their system.

Challenge 2: Accessible Points of Care

After cities imposed movement restrictions, people couldn’t just go out as they please. Some were also too scared to leave their home in case they caught the virus. This left sick people with no means to visit the hospital. Healthcare technology companies had to develop accessible points of care. Thus, telehealth and virtual hospital visits became the new normal.

Challenge 3: Big Data

With people opting more for virtual hospital visits and telehealth, healthcare systems started receiving heavy traffic. AdventHealth was one of those who wasn’t ready for this surge. Their app couldn’t handle the massive data entering their system. Thus, they had to increase their bandwidth and capacity.

Challenge 4: Security

Although data breaches, ransomware, and other cybersecurity issues are not new, the pandemic highlighted how vulnerable a patient’s health information is. As more people move to telehealth and other online services, the healthcare industry needs to ensure that all these sensitive data are secure.

How Is Technology Changing the Healthcare Sector?

Advancements in healthcare technology are considered the driving force behind improvements in the healthcare sector. But how exactly is technology changing the industry?

• More Accessible Treatment. Thanks to telehealth and other online services, patients can now receive consultation and treatment wherever they are. The Health IT opened up new doors that allowed physicians and other healthcare experts to offer services beyond the hospital walls.
• Better Care and Efficiency. Health IT transformed patient care and made it safer and more reliable in apps. Patients can now see their lab results, medical history, and other records in one centralized area.
• Improved Healthcare and Disease Control. The development of software programs allowed healthcare experts to track, retrieve, and use valuable data to control diseases. During the pandemic, people could input their symptoms in an app that allowed doctors and nurses to safely and quickly screen a patient’s health.

There is no doubt that healthcare technology companies will continue to bring fresh perspectives and innovation in the coming years. As the world’s situation changes every day, new problems in the healthcare industry that require a solution will arise. Healthcare stakeholders will need to step up to deliver quality care that benefits everyone. But to do so, they will need to improve and digitalize their systems.

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