Digitization in Healthcare Industry

The healthcare industry is growing at a rapid pace, and new technological advancements that reduce burden, save money, and improve care delivery efficiency are in high demand. Disruptive innovation has transformed the healthcare sector in recent years. Healthcare is on the cusp of massive digital transformation, with growth predicted to reach 10X in the next five years.

The worldwide pandemic has emphasized the fragility of our healthcare ecosystem and the critical need for technology solutions to be included at a large scale. This acts as a catalyst for accelerating the process of trend-setting around the world in terms of technological advancements.

Telehealth is becoming more digital; it facilitates health access and patient-provider communication that can be deployed and utilized on any device. Every year, more and more health care centers are adopting telemedicine. In 2022, 10 telemedicine specializations are expected to be on the upswing.  Telemedicine applications have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare market and bring cost-effective healthcare options drastically.

The Surge in Telehealth Adoption and Usage

In 2021, wide ongoing adoption, excellent consumer perception, and tangible investment in this sector will all contribute to telehealth’s sustained expansion. According to a new study, telehealth use has surged 38 times since the pre-COVID-19 baseline. Telehealth adoption skyrocketed early in the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers and providers explored safer ways to access and deliver healthcare.

According to a new analysis from The Business Research Company, the global market for telemedicine technology, which is currently valued around $31.8 billion, will increase to $77.2 billion by 2022.

Why Telehealth Industry Experiences Sudden Surge

Telemedicine is a game-changer in the healthcare industry since it delivers healthcare to the doorsteps of the patients’. The below-listed factors necessitated this step-change:

• Rising customer willingness to adopt and utilize telehealth
• Higher provider willingness to use telehealth
• Regulatory modifications that enable greater access and reimbursement

Telehealth provided a bridge to care during the pandemic’s catastrophe, and it now provides an opportunity to rethink virtual and hybrid virtual/in-person care models with the objective of improving healthcare access, effectiveness, and affordability.

As of July 2021, McKinsey assessed telehealth progress since the initial COVID-19 surge to determine implications for telehealth and virtual health1 more extensively in the future.

• Telehealth usage is now 38 times more than it was before the pandemic.
• Following an initial spike in April 2020, when telehealth accounted for more than 32 percent of all office and outpatient visits, utilization levels have primarily stabilized, ranging from 13 to 17 percent across all specialties.
• Similarly, since the pre-COVID-19 era, consumer and provider perceptions regarding telehealth have evolved.
• Some regulatory reforms that make telehealth more accessible have been made permanent.
• Virtual healthcare and business models are emerging and expanding.

The Swiftly Emerging Telemedicine Specialties to Watch Out in 2022

Teledentistry

Teledentistry is a relatively new form of specialized preventative care that is gaining prominence and effectiveness.

• According to a study by American Dental Association, 42 percent of people don’t go to the dentist often.
• On the contrary, 85 percent of people understand the significance of dental health.

It’s one of the telemedicine specialties that can help you enhance communication and your patient’s general oral health, especially if they don’t have access to a dentist.

Teleradiology

Teleradiology is one of the most prominent telemedicine specializations, with a competitive and segmented industry. This is one of the top telemedicine specialties, with the power of AI, customized 3D imaging, improved mobility, and cloud solutions, saving many people’s lives through early diagnosis with sophisticated healthcare solutions.

Telemental Health/ Psychiatry Telemedicine

Telemedicine in psychiatry strives to deliver mental health therapies that are reliable, simple, and accessible. The American Psychiatric Association helped psychiatrists in establishing a telepsychiatry program for better patient outcomes and assistance. During the COVID-19 epidemic, when mental illnesses became more prevalent, usage of psychiatry telemedicine increased.

Teledermatology

Teledermatology holds the considerable potential of transforming dermatological care delivery to inaccessible and remote places via teleconferencing and information technologies. Even when the specialists are in separate locations, telemedicine greatly decreases time and enhances the likelihood of a consultation with one or more specialists.

Telepathology

Telepathology contributes in evaluating electronically transferred digitized images instead of specimen slides from microscopes. Adopting sophisticated telehealth solutions in pathology would not only save money and time, but will also significantly speed up the early diagnosis of multiple diseases. It facilitates speedy pathological examination and intervention.

Telecardiology

Telecardiology allows for virtual specialist examination through the transmission of electrocardiographic information through telecommunications. It has the ability to strengthen the delivery of cardiac treatment in primary care settings. The COVID pandemic has expanded the market for cardiac patient telemonitoring in order to give improved healthcare outcomes in a shorter amount of time.

Pediatric Telemedicine

The lives of numerous children are being improved through telehealthcare in the pediatrics specialty worldwide. Telemedicine in pediatric practice mitigates the stress and absenteeism costs, and minimizes the time children miss courses or school.

Urology Telemedicine

According to a recent study published in European Urology, most of urological patients are at high risk for unfavorable COVID-19 results,  and most patients choose telehealth consultations. Doctors and urologists can leverage AI-enabled telemedicine diagnostic technology to better comprehend and diagnose early indications and symptoms of various urological disorders.

Family Medicine Telemedicine

Family telemedicine is a specialty of telemedicine that is on-demand. Family telemedicine is a part of a sophisticated concept known as virtual health. It uses digital technology to improve the quality of healthcare delivery and make medication more accessible and personalized.

Ophthalmology Telemedicine and Optometry Telemedicine

You can help mitigate patient exposure with ophthalmology and optometry telemedicine, which uses on-demand digital treatments to engage with patients wherever they are. A virtual ophthalmology care system will connect the appropriate patient to the right provider at the right moment.

Wrapping Up

The current crisis has emphasized the significance of telemedicine and presented an opportunity to reform the healthcare system. This can be accomplished by integrating telehealth into the care continuum at a large scale. Digital technology is making progress in the telehealth and telemedicine fields today. In current pandemic times, telehealth is a much-needed mechanism for developing various telemedicine specialties in order to enhance and streamline healthcare delivery.