India’s patient care system can get a huge boost through these methods; check details here

The healthcare industry has long grappled with a persistent challenge: the technology gap. This gap has hindered growth and innovation, limiting the industry's ability to deliver exceptional experiences to patients. However, by embracing modernisation and system connectivity, healthcare organizations can revolutionise patient care and address this gap head-on. In this article, we explore the transformative power of upgrading legacy systems, integrating disparate technologies and harnessing advanced features to enhance healthcare outcomes and experiences. 

Closing the Technology Gap Through Modernisation and Connectivity 

To overcome the technology gap, healthcare systems must leverage the latest technologies, such as cloud computing, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). Modernizing legacy systems to incorporate these advancements significantly improves efficiency, productivity and overall performance. Additionally, connecting these systems ensures seamless communication and data exchange, enabling healthcare providers to access comprehensive patient records. 

Benefits of Closing the Technology Gap 

Although it requires collaboration between different stakeholders - patients, providers, payers - closing the technology gap in healthcare yields numerous benefits. Firstly, it leads to improved user experiences, empowering patients to take charge of their health. Secondly, it increases productivity among healthcare professionals by streamlining processes and reducing medical errors. Thirdly, it generates significant cost savings by optimizing resource utilization. By embracing modernization and connectivity, healthcare organizations can harness predictive analytics and AI to make more informed, highly personalized and innovative decisions about patient care. 

The Future of Technology in Healthcare

The future of healthcare technology holds tremendous potential for transforming patient care. Innovative features like brain-computer interfaces, wearables and biosensors will enable real-time monitoring of psychological, emotional and cognitive states. Moreover, advancements such as smart prosthetics, nano-robotics, and digital medicine will revolutionize post-surgery management and medication adherence. Interoperability between patient care devices and hospital information systems will further enhance the patient experience and reduce health issues. 

Enhancing Healthcare Professionals' Roles

Technology plays a crucial role in supporting healthcare professionals in various ways. It minimizes medical errors, enhances drug safety and enables remote patient monitoring, particularly for chronic illnesses. With electronic systems and cloud-based solutions, prescribers can access accurate information about medications, minimizing miscommunication. Remote patient monitoring systems empower healthcare providers to interpret patient data remotely and make informed treatment decisions. Furthermore, technology facilitates accessibility to virtual care, allowing patients to receive medical attention conveniently from their homes. 

Communication and Collaboration 

Technological advancements also improve communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals. Patient portals enable individuals to access medical records, communicate with doctors, and book appointments digitally, leading to increased patient engagement and better outcomes. Collaboration tools, such as virtual conferences, bridge the gap between physicians in different locations, improving patient care and compensating for shortages in healthcare personnel - for example, there is substantial evidence that indicates many countries are facing a nurse shortage. 

Addressing Data Security and Privacy 

As healthcare organizations embrace digital solutions - 90% of NHS Trusts are anticipated to have EPRs this year - ensuring data security and privacy becomes paramount. With data breaches affecting millions of patients - in 2021, over 22.6 million patients in the US were impacted by healthcare-related data breaches - safeguarding sensitive information is crucial. Strict measures such as data encryption, restricted access and logging all interactions are necessary to protect patient data and comply with local and international regulations. 

The Path to Scalability

PwC identifies three critical factors for achieving scalability in digital health. Firstly, a platform approach that focuses on the overall value across a portfolio of services rather than individual devices. Secondly, effective back-end processes that support these technologies at scale. Lastly, striking a balance between global development and local market needs to ensure technology adoption and user satisfaction. 

The Future of Healthcare

By closing the technology gap through modernization and connectivity, the future of healthcare will be marked by predictive, preventive and personalized care that leverages patient data and an understanding of genetic profiles, health risks and more. With personalized care available when and where patients need it, the burden of chronic diseases, which account for a significant portion of healthcare costs, can be effectively addressed. Most importantly, it will be easier to deliver highly targeted, bespoke, outcome-based therapies.  

Views are personal. The author is SVP and Global Head of Healthcare, Infosys