Top 6 Healthcare Trends to Watch in 2024 and Beyond

This article highlights critical trends healthcare businesses should consider, including those already in progress and those anticipated shortly.

The healthcare industry is evolving, and it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. The year 2024 brings forth an array of transformative healthcare trends that shape the future of medical practices and patient care.

We are observing a surge in personalized medicine, online pharmacy, virtual care, and many others, transforming the healthcare industry. These trends have paved the way for precision medicine, where treatments are tailored to individual patients based on their genetic makeup and specific health needs.

Also, AI-powered healthcare tools are empowering healthcare providers with advanced diagnostic capabilities and improved patient outcomes. While it is still in its early stages, it has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. 

Online pharmacies are a recent and popular example, which shows the growing influence of technology in the healthcare sector. The online pharmacy market emerged a few years ago and is projected to surpass $261.684 billion by 2030.

Due to the emergence of AI(artificial intelligence), the industry is poised to undergo further changes in the upcoming years. 

These trends include a range of advancements, such as remote and virtual care, the integration of artificial intelligence, patient engagement solutions, EHR software, and the utilization of healthcare data intelligence. These developments have the potential to reshape the way the healthcare industry operates. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most innovative healthcare technologies that are being developed right now.

1. Telehealth

The COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in accelerating the adoption of telehealth, which led to improved patient care. And the advancement of mobile /laptop devices has propelled telehealth’s rapid growth and adoption further.

Telehealth involves communication technology to engage with patients virtually. Furthermore, it allows patients to connect with healthcare professionals without leaving their premises, providing a convenient option for patients and doctors.

Furthermore, it significantly lower costs as healthcare institutions no longer need to invest in setting up physical resources, and healthcare professionals can enjoy increased flexibility and enhanced communication experiences. This mutually beneficial arrangement contributes to telehealth’s rising adoption and continued growth.

Benefits

• Improved patient care through virtual engagement
• Convenient access to healthcare from the comfort of home
• Rapid growth and adoption due to advancements in mobile devices
• Cost-effective alternative for healthcare institutions
• Increased flexibility and enhanced communication for healthcare professionals

2. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

IoMT is a network of smartphones, wearables, and sensors that allows remote patient monitoring. These intelligent devices enable machine-to-machine communication that reduces the burden on healthcare providers. They can send your health and fitness data as per given instructions to make informed decisions. 

As a result, many corporations are investing significant resources and capital into developing healthcare solutions, leading to the proliferation of wearable devices and integrated health applications within smartphones. 

IoMT has the potential to replace the traditional way of monitoring healthcare as it dramatically enhances the monitoring experience. 

Benefits

• Real-time monitoring 
• Automated health report
• Reduced costs
• Remote assistance 

3. Patient Engagement Market Solution

According to Accenture’s report, a majority of people have shown keen interest in technology-based digital solutions. This interest is particularly evident in the increasing popularity of technology-driven patient engagement solutions.

The market for digital patient engagement solutions is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.3% between 2021 and 2030. This signifies the widespread acceptance and adoption of these tools in the market.

Patient engagement solutions encompass various aspects of patients’ information management, including schedules and appointments. And, these tools can go the extra mile by delivering personalized content to educate patients. Not only do they serve as marketing tools, but they also play a crucial role in maintaining patients’ data and information.

Benefits

• Automated appointment scheduling 
• Personalized content marketing
• Effective communication with patients
• Efficient data management of patients

4. Artificial Intelligence

AI appears to be the dominant and highly influential technology in the upcoming years when discussing technological advancements. In the year 2024 we witnessed the tremendous potential of AI and its significant capabilities with the emergence of conversational tools. 

Moreover, AI has the remarkable ability to accomplish tasks that would typically require significant human resources. Its extraordinary power lies in its capacity to handle such tasks efficiently. It can potentially transform various aspects of the healthcare industry system, including diagnosing health conditions and automating tasks with accuracy. 

AI’s capacity to leverage data can lead to a substantial reduction in effort and significantly improve accuracy levels, even though many experts speculate that it has the potential to replace humans for various tasks, including basic to complex ones. And healthcare industry is no exception.

Benefits

• Healthcare data analytics
• Medical diagnosis with more accuracy 
• Medical robots
• Automated report 
• Clinical trials

5. Electronic Health Record Software

With the advancements in EHR software, electronic health records have emerged as a more favorable choice for healthcare institutes. In contrast to paper-based methods, they enable the storage of medical information in digital format, storing a patient’s medical history, medications, treatment plans, allergies, and laboratory results. Also, these records can be accessed remotely.

Moreover, the EHR market is expected to experience steady growth, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% from 2023 to 2030. By 2030, it is estimated that the market will reach a value of $28.1 billion.

EHR systems contribute to increased productivity and efficiency by reducing the reliance on paperwork. Additionally, healthcare providers often seek solutions that eliminate the need for repetitive data entry. EHRs consolidate patient data, allowing for a comprehensive overview of their visits and records in one centralized location.

According to the CDC/NCHS National Electronic Health Records Survey conducted in 2014, physicians were surveyed on their opinions on EHR systems. 

Physicians were asked the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with statements about EHR-related impacts. All questions about EHR-related impacts were recorded into agree or disagree.  Optimization was similarly defined by agreeing with the statement, “overall, my practice has optimized the use of its EHR system.”

Benefits

• Improved access to patient information
• Enhanced patient safety
• Streamlined workflow and increased efficiency
• Improved communication and collaboration
• Remote access and telehealth integration
• Data analysis and population health management
• Cost savings and resource efficiency

6. Data Intelligence

Developing a robust big data strategy is imperative for improving patient care, reducing medication errors, facilitating preventative care, and overcoming persistent challenges caused by fragmented patient data. Additionally, research and clinical trial companies must stay at the forefront of cutting-edge techniques and testing processes to analyze large datasets effectively.

Blockchain technology has emerged as an effective solution for improving the accuracy of medical records and preventing healthcare data breaches. Also, blockchain-based healthcare systems address data interoperability, integrity, security, and portability challenges. Moreover, Utilizing blockchain makes medical records and information about transactions between patients and healthcare professionals more accessible to all parties involved, including insurance providers. Simultaneously, security is enhanced thanks to blockchain technology’s decentralized and tamper-resistant nature.

Benefits

• Improved patient care through data analysis
• Reduced medication errors and enhanced preventative care
• Overcoming Challenges of fragmented patient data
• Enhanced accuracy and security of medical records
• Facilitated data interoperability and accessibility through blockchain technology

Conclusion

By adopting trends such as remote and virtual care, patient engagement solutions, AI and ML, EHR software, and healthcare data intelligence, healthcare organizations can bring innovative solutions.

Are you looking for healthcare software solutions and profitable business opportunities? Connect with us today! Our cutting-edge technical offerings align with the latest healthcare trends, ensuring tailored solutions to meet your needs.