The Top Healthcare Trends In 2023
The world is a vastly different place than it was 15 years ago, and nowhere is this better reflected than in healthcare. The pandemic led to a significant change in how people and practitioners interact with healthcare, and recent financial uncertainty has further resulted in a shift toward digitization.
With all of this in mind, here are the top healthcare trends in 2023.
Artificial Intelligence
In 2023, the healthcare market for machine learning tools is expected to reach over $20 million. Several AI-based technologies, such as natural language processing, pattern recognition, and computer vision, are already being widely used in the healthcare ecosystem.
Some of the areas where AI is being widely used include drug discovery and analysis of medical imagery. This technology can help predict the side effects of new drugs and provide early warning of diseases in MRI scans and x-rays. Additionally, it has been used to treat various neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.
Aside from being used in clinical work, AI is also being used in various other areas, such as managing insurance claims and analyzing medical records. This technology can be used to analyze the data collected from wearable devices and in-home sensors. These are all expected to continue to be a major trend in the healthcare industry throughout the next year.
Remote Healthcare
During the pandemic, the number of healthcare facilities that were able to provide remote services increased significantly. Even though it’s now generally safe to resume face-to-face appointments, many people still believe that care can be provided more effectively and efficiently by a remote provider.
There are various categories of remote healthcare. Home-based care is growing due to the increasing number of studies showing that it can improve the quality of care and lower costs.
Telemedicine is a type of healthcare that involves video calls and other forms of communication with a doctor or other healthcare providers in a remote location. Another type of remote healthcare is a virtual hospital ward. This type of facility allows practitioners to provide care for patients who are located in a central location.
One of the other initiatives that involve remote healthcare is allowing patients to complete their treatment procedures at home.
Online communities are also becoming more prevalent, and these can be patient-led or run by charitable organizations that focus on specific health conditions. Some of these include Care Opinion and Patients Like Me. These allow users to connect with other patients and receive advice and support related to their conditions.
Due to the increasing cost of providing in-person healthcare and the shortage of medical practitioners in various countries, it’s safe to assume that the number of remote healthcare services will continue to grow in 2023.
Wearables
In addition to being used to monitor patients, wearable technology will also be used by individuals to track their health and exercise activities.
In recent years, the Internet of Medical Things has greatly expanded from simple devices that monitor vital signs, such as blood oxygen levels, to smartwatches that can perform sophisticated scans, including those capable of detecting blood pressure and predicting heart attacks.
Aside from being used to monitor physical conditions, wearable technology is also being developed to detect mental illnesses. A study published this year revealed that certain physical indicators, such as sleep patterns and activity levels, can be used to identify individuals who are at risk of developing depression.
Originally published on Jawad Salim’s website.
