Health tech, 8 trends for 2024 according to Philips

 Philips identified eight trends in the health technology sector that show how innovations in artificial intelligence, virtual care and sustainability can make a difference in supporting healthcare workers and patients, with benefits for society as a whole






Eight health technology trends according to Philips

1. Workflow optimization using AI

The automation and artificial intelligence they will be increasingly present in the daily life of doctors and nurses to speed up routine activities, with the aim of lightening the burden on nursing staff, also following the persistent shortage of staff. In diagnostic imaging, for example, the integration of AI can enable radiologists and sonographers to achieve better image quality, make more accurate diagnoses, and focus more on patient care. As highlighted in a recent Bain & Company surveyLeaders in the healthcare sector identify the greatest potential of these new technologies to reduce administrative burdens: thanks to the possibility of automating patient documentation , doctors will have more time to focus on higher value-added activities .

2. Virtual collaboration

Virtual collaboration will be increasingly crucial to mitigating the impact of staff and skills shortages, improving access to care in remote areas where the shortage of specialist doctors and nurses is greatest. These cloud-based hub-and-spoke models bring major benefits to radiology and ultrasound, expanding access to specialty care and maintaining the same standards across the healthcare system. More experienced doctors can support their less experienced colleagues remotely or in remote areas and communicate with patients, whether they are in a hospital, clinic or other location. Tele-ICU programs will also be key to improving patient care by easing the burden on doctors and nurses through AI-based monitoring.

3. Integrated diagnostics to support multidisciplinary collaboration

Advances in integrated diagnostics will make it easier for different healthcare specialists to exchange patient data obtained from increasingly diverse sources, such as imaging, digital pathology and genomics, allowing them to thus working together more effectively and efficiently. Multidisciplinary collaboration also allows doctors to achieve greater consistency in their results, creating continuous feedback that can help further optimize diagnostic processes.

4. Better interoperability to make monitoring and coordination of care more efficient

Interoperability is an ongoing challenge in healthcare, so much so that it was identified by healthcare executives in Philips' Future Health Index 2023 report as one of the top four drivers of success for integrating in-person and virtual care across settings. New interoperability capabilities can bring together different medical devices and systems into a single interface to create a comprehensive overview of a patient's condition. Recent innovations such as visual patient avatars can also provide additional information, translating complex patient data into an easy-to-understand summary view.

5. Early identification of risks through predictive analytics

The predictive analytics This is one of the most promising trends in health technology in recent years: 39% of health leaders surveyed for the Philips Future Health Index 2023 report plan to invest in AI to improve the prediction of results (+9% compared to 2021). Already today, predictive analytics helps healthcare professionals detect health risks in patients based on vital signs and other data, providing important support, especially in acute care, where the A person's life may depend on rapid intervention. Predictive analytics can also help treat patients at home through remote monitoring.

6. Combat health disparities with technology

The need for more equitable and sustainable health care has never been more urgent. Health technology can help fill many of the gaps in the health sector, while reducing its impact on the environment. Partnerships to promote equity in access to care will play an increasingly decisive role, particularly in marginalized and disadvantaged communities.

7. Smart technologies to establish and maintain healthy routines

Smartwatches and the wide variety of increasingly sophisticated smart health devices available on the market can even monitor the vital signs of the wearer., help people to be more aware of the importance of adopting a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. Pregnancy is an area where smartphone apps, such as Philips Pregnancy+, used by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in the United States, can provide convenient access to pregnancy information and services. health education provided by local providers and helpful to expectant mothers.

8. Reduce the impact of healthcare on the planet

Digitalization offers enormous opportunities to ensure care is delivered more effectively and efficiently, but all this comes at a price. In fact, healthcare generates about a third of the world's data and the estimated 36% growth in healthcare data between 2018 and 2025 is the fastest of any sector.. Building sustainable digital infrastructure, such as zero-carbon cloud solutions, using hardware from a circular economy perspective and developing sustainable software will be determined to reduce the carbon footprint of the healthcare sector.

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