If you are in the healthcare industry, then I am going to tell you about The Digital Transformation in Healthcare, so if you want to get complete information about it, then keep reading this article. Because I am going to give you complete information about it, so let’s start.
There isn’t any question that technological innovation has had a massive impact on the healthcare industry, and there is still much potential to unveil. Today, we have access to tools to facilitate a patient-centered approach, improve administrative operations, and streamline service delivery.
Wellness is no longer a trend. It is the standard. Yet, as our societies age, demand for digitized healthcare will also rise. By 2028, the U.S. is expected to spend $6.2 trillion on healthcare, which will outpace the annual GDP. Therefore, healthcare digital transformation should be a priority to stay on top of current trends and optimize resources.
So let’s get complete information about The Digital Transformation in Healthcare without wasting any time.
Table of Contents
What Is Digital Transformation in Healthcare?
When we talk about digital transformation in healthcare, we’re referring to maximizing new and existing digital resources to enable movement into new business channels such as B2C and B2B eCommerce. It is about using innovative technologies to revamp legacy IT infrastructures and offer value to patients, caregivers, and shareholders.
However, technology is only one slice of the digital transformation pie. It also requires strategic coordination and change management around people and processes. Streamlining processes reduces clinician reaction time and enhances care quality. Continue reading to learn more about digital transformation healthcare trends you can’t afford to miss.
Let’s Discuss Digital Transformation Trends in Healthcare
Technology facilitates the development, approval, and distribution of vaccines at unprecedented rates. Mckinsey believes that the global biological revolution – biomolecules, biosystems, and bio machines “could address 45% of the global disease burden today.” In addition, we see nine areas primed for the digital healthcare revolution:
1. Customer Experience
In healthcare, timing and data quality are crucial. Inaccurate data sharing can lead to adverse consequences. Yet, Healthcare crm systems integrations and data integrity management allow doctors and patients to collaborate more closely and effectively.
2. Wearable Devices
A decade ago, diagnosis of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes relied on pressure monitors, glucose test strips, and much guesswork. Today, wearable devices are changing the dynamics with mobile apps connected to eCommerce APIs for rapid reordering of much-needed insulin and other medications. Fitness trackers also help individuals monitor their activity levels and guide health-conscious lifestyle choices.
3. Telehealth
While not a new service, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption. It’s a convenient choice for patients with mobility issues and safety concerns. In addition, patients can use self-service eCommerce portals to make purchases from their local pharmacies.
3. Connected Devices
In particular, the Internet of Things, particularly the IoMT (Internet of Connected Medical Devices), is a growing healthcare trend. It connects device data to provide the following benefits and more:
- Instantaneous data streaming
- Real-time patient monitoring
- More accurate diagnoses
- Instant access to medical history and imaging
4. AI and Automation
AI applications can range from simple algorithms for delivering test results to retrieving high-quality CAT scans in seconds. Further, AI-driven data analysis and machine learning can identify pathogens and predict future outcomes based on human behavior. Accenture identifies to top three AI healthcare applications as:
- Robot-assisted surgery
- Virtual nursing assistance
- Workflow automation (It’s vital to know what to automate to improve patient care and business success).
5. Cloud Technology
Long gone are the days when patients waited on X-rays sealed inside manila envelopes. In the digital era, it’s all about big data–and healthcare is experiencing a deluge of patient records, partner information, billing records, and procurement data through online procurement system. Cloud-native technologies help to improve productivity while reducing wait times and offering in-depth data analysis.
6. Medical Supplies and Devices R&D
Patients are now able to immediately improve R&D and medical supply innovation with their feedback through connected device data sharing. Combining AI, big data, and 3D printing can positively impact R&D for many healthcare organizations.
7. Manufacturing
Digital transformation in healthcare manufacturing can result in back-office optimization to help foster new relationships around B2B and B2C ecosystems linked to a medical eCommerce platform.
8. Supply Chains
It’s time to de-risk healthcare supply chains to ensure resiliency against unforeseen delivery disruptors, such as what we experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fulfillment systems must adapt to evolving patient expectations. Supply chains can also use digital transformation to facilitate self-service while connecting medical retailers with physicians and patients on demand.
Examples of Successful Digital Transformation Deployments in Healthcare
Disruption and change continue at a rapid clip. In the healthcare industry, the impact of digital transformation spans verticals and national boundaries. Take a look at these examples of expanding ecosystems with non-traditional entrants:
- Amazon produced and distributed at-home COVID-19 testing kits.
- Distilleries retrofitted their equipment and processes to produce hand sanitizer.
- Fashion brands such as H&M and Zara converted production lines to mask making.
- Dyson used their knowledge of cleaners and hand dryers to create ventilators.
- Tesla leveraged open-source designs by Medtronics to scale ventilator production.
Also, on-demand, AI-enabled, predictive, and personalized treatment enabled the following:
- Researchers used AI algorithms to predict the diagnosis of mental health and diabetes from Facebook status updates.
- Knee and hip replacement specialist Conformis utilized 3D imaging for patient-specific joints.
- Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian used AI to identify 13,000 different cancers with near 100% accuracy.
- Chinese startup Infervision created a deep learning and image recognition algorithm that identifies early signs of lung cancer.
Challenges to Healthcare Digital Transformation
As with any innovative deployment, there are challenges to surmount. Think of these as opportunities to improve processes and outcomes. Successful digital transformation starts with incentives, education, and change management around organizational culture. Below, you’ll find four of the most significant challenges to healthcare digital transformation:
- Regulations: Healthcare is the most highly regulated industry. Digital transformation execution should incorporate a compliance framework for HIPAA and other regulatory mandates. FYI, make sure your software is HL7 compliant and you incorporated FHIR server for data management and storage
- Culture: Resistance to change is expected. Incentives and ongoing education are the keys to success.
- User adoption: For effective digital transformation, industry-wide adoption among end-users is necessary. Invest in employee training and upskilling to ensure rapid adoption.
- Expertise: Many healthcare organizations do not have data scientists and digital experts to understand the trends or convey the ROI. In these types of scenarios, it’s vital to partner with digital transformation experts.
Remember to deploy your digital transformation strategy one step at a time and scale with each success. Continue to partner with a digital transformation consultant to keep your execution on track and manage challenges effectively.
Accelerate Healthcare Digital Transformation with Five Steps
When rolling out your digital transformation strategy, stay mindful of customer expectations, employee adoption, and technological capabilities, and determine where to drive continuous improvements. Also, start with these five steps:
- Audit your current state.
- Identify your objectives.
- Invest in the right digital assets.
- Analyze your plan.
- Build ecosystems. (It’s critical for B2C and B2B pharmacies, biotechs, medical suppliers, and device manufacturers to expand their ecosystems and meet customer demand using B2B eCommerce channels).
How Oro, Inc Transforms Healthcare Organizations
Your digital transformation and digital footprint are inextricably linked. Oro, Inc offers a wide range of secure and digitized systems, including:
- OroCommerce (a B2B-focused eCommerce platform)
- OroCRM, a client relationship management (CRM) system with options for full integrations into OroCommerce
Oro solutions accommodate the needs of healthcare organizations. With Oro, you can expect:
- More significant insights into digital interactions and purchases
- Flexibility and ease of personalizing the purchasing experience
- Growth in average order value and lifetime customer value
- Streamlined RFQ, CPQ, and QTC workflows.
Healthcare companies like Midway Dental transformed their business by digitizing their sales process using digital commerce. Linking tens of thousands of SKUs and prices with customers and their loyalty programs was too time-consuming and prone to excessive errors. Fortunately, OroCommerce provided a platform and a solution that integrated seamlessly with their Epicor P21 ERP system to improve customer adoption and quickly expand their product catalog. As a result, Midway boosted user engagement and sales.
Start Your Healthcare Digital Transformation Journey Today
As the healthcare industry is poised for massive expansion, it’s time to explore what’s possible with digital transformation. This is your path towards retaining future market relevance.
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