Healthcare technology is rapidly changing thanks to the AI boom. But it’s not just AI driving this change. The US baby boomer demographic will significantly impact the healthcare market in the coming years.
Furthermore, there are steady gains in genomic medicine, unlocking what was thought impossible. How do all these converge? How will healthcare change in the future? And how does online HIPAA training fit into the mix? Read on to find out.
Outline
- AI in Healthcare
- Cybersecurity in Healthcare
- Personalized Medicine
- Longevity and Geriatric Health
- Value-Based Care Models
- How to Prepare for Future Healthcare Trends
Key Takeaways
- AI in healthcare can work both ways, serving healthcare providers and patients.
- On the patient end, AI can provide patient-centered and customizable care.
- On the provider end, AI can augment healthcare workers so that they do more with less time.
- Anticipated possibilities include predictive analytics, AI surgical assistants, AI admin assistants, virtual clinical assistants, virtual home assistants/chatbots, remote learning, and virtual reality.
- Apart from AI, other anticipated trends include cybersecurity, personalized medicine, longevity and geriatrics, and value-based models of health care delivery.
AI in Healthcare
The Artificial Intelligence boom is here and a lot of companies have jumped on the train by integrating their value offers with AI. The health market is no different. In what ways can we expect to see more AI integrations in healthcare?
Overall, we predict AI will take over systems that require rapid, repetitive, but precise functions. AI in healthcare can work both ways, serving healthcare providers and patients.
On the patient end, AI can provide patient-centered and customizable care. One example of such healthcare technology is wearable technology like smartwatches that track and monitor health data and alert users to abnormal patterns.
Apart from monitoring, wearable technology can send reminders for important actions like taking prescription medicines, monitoring blood pressure, blood glucose, and so on.
How can AI address looming healthcare workforce trends and challenges? The WHO predicts that by 2030 the world will have a shortfall of at least 11 million healthcare workers. Ironically, in 2030, the US is expected to experience an increased demand for healthcare as the baby boomers age and require long-term medical care. Researchers call this The 2030 Problem.
Can AI bridge this shortfall of health workers? We are optimistic that AI can augment healthcare workers so that they do more with less time. Here are a few possibilities:
Predictive Analytics
AI will refine the diagnostic process by making it faster. Advanced algorithms can process large batches of patients’ laboratory/radiological reports. This can expedite care by removing bottlenecks that slow down care i.e. human staffing challenges, human errors, etc. how AI is transforming healthcare,
AI surgical Assistants
Surgeons currently use robots to perform minimally invasive surgeries. In the future, these robots may be operated by AI. Surgeons in this case may then act as supervisors. A long shot? Maybe not. The AI boom is also driving rapid innovations in robotic dexterity, as researchers explore ways to make robotic hardware more nimble and flexible, just like a human body.
AI Admin Assistants
AI’s precision and speed make it a strong candidate for rapid automotive tasks in accounting, claims processing, supply chain logistics, invoicing, and other administrative duties. By taking over these duties, healthcare workers have more time to provide clinical care to their patients. On the flip side, there is considerable concern that AI will take over entry-level administrative and accounting jobs, much like in the software engineering market, but we guess time will tell. While we don't think AI will replace accountants, we are somewhat confident that AI will transform how these roles are performed in the healthcare space.
Virtual Clinical Assistants
Virtual clinical assistants are one of the upcoming healthcare trends to watch for. They can quickly interview patients, and collect routine health data while patients wait to see the healthcare provider. They can also make rapid clinical decisions in high-pressure environments like the A/E. This gives it a potential for use in rural/remote areas with resource constraints.
Virtual Home Assistants/Chatbots
Virtual home assistants and chatbots can provide 24/7 tailor-made care to patients with chronic illnesses. This function is of prime importance to patients in remote areas. Furthermore, by providing round-the-clock care, it can reduce the need for in-patient care.
Remote Learning and Virtual Reality
These tools can rapidly scale up the training of health workers. For example, VR classrooms provide a rich and immersive experience in case management scenarios. Coupled with remote learning, medical education can become borderless, removing barriers to entry and participation. For example, hindrances due to distance, location, and time zones are removed. At present, although VR is used in anatomical and surgical topics, we believe it can be extended to other branches of medicine.
Cybersecurity in Healthcare
As AI continues to shape the future of telemedicine and digital health, we anticipate steep rises in cybersecurity threats for obvious reasons. One reason is that AI is trained on large volumes of data that unfortunately may not contain de-identified information. Furthermore, AI, which acts like a central storehouse for large data sources makes it a hotspot for cybercrime. Another concern is that the numerous middlemen/third-party agents in the AI training landscape exponentially increase the points of entry for cyberterrorism and malicious attacks. Lastly, artificial intelligence is rapidly blurring the line between real and fake, making it easier for malicious attackers to carry out their nefarious intentions.
Personalized Medicine
Genomics, which is the mapping of genetic material, is driving the development of personalized medicine. With personalized medicine, there is a possibility of providing tailor-made care with more treatment efficacy and fewer adverse effects. The possibilities are endless. For example, genomic medicine can make it faster and easier to identify the risk factors that contribute to specific diseases i.e. Alzheimer's.
Longevity and Geriatric Health
As the US population ages, there is an increasing interest in geriatric health. Policymakers and healthcare providers, their patients, and caregivers are interested in measures that improve financing and access to community-based health. They are also interested in measures that can advance behavioral health modifications and improve quality of life.
Value-Based Care Models
Overall, as the shift towards patient-centered care continues, more value and emphasis will be placed on value-based care models that prioritize the quality of provider input over quantity. As such, we expect to see more policies that incentivize providers to improve the quality and not just quantity of provider input.
How to Prepare for Future Healthcare Trends
No doubt, the healthcare market is changing, and while you can't stem the tide of change, you can prepare for it. How do you prepare? First, we encourage healthcare workers and businesses to stay updated on the HIPAA’s latest requirements for maintaining patients’ security and privacy. For example, certification courses are great tools for doing just that. We currently provide healthcare workers, medical staff, business associates, and dental offices certification and recertification courses on HIPAA compliance. Our courses are affordable and tailored to the unique needs of professionals in the healthcare market. You can also browse our range of HIPAA courses here.
