Health tech must find ways to include old workflows in new digitally-aided processes, so that implementation is an evolution and the human touch is not lost.
Use health tech solutions to inform and enhance decision-making Data gathered by health tech solutions has the power to drive productivity and efficiency in healthcare processes to new heights. At the same time, healthcare systems are constantly adapting to new practice standards, scientific findings, and service and reimbursement models.
As changes in technology and healthcare continue, there are growing opportunities to usher in technologies to support clinical decision-making. However, health tech is not a solve-all black box that you should just blindly trust. Different medical situations require different ways to leverage the technology available. Companies are looking at how AI can help diagnose reading X-rays -- for example, AI is helping doctors find breast cancer on mammograms correctly-- but these systems have not yet been widely tested.
There is a need to understand what an organization and, more specifically, the physicians are trying to accomplish with healthcare technology. Clinical and health IT leaders of health organizations like CIOs (Chief Information Officers) and CMIOs (Chief Medical Information Officers) need to ensure that the technology deployed is highly optimized for ideal performance. At the same time, it must also be optimized to meet the specific needs of the organization.
For example, does the physician need technology that regularly captures details of the case at hand? Or do they want clinical decision support tools that allow physicians to access the data of a particular patient with a particular problem, so that they can better analyze a patient's present condition and prescribe the most relevant treatment? Or do they want algorithms to double check their work, i.e. to make sure they didn't forget something? Technology can potentially augment all of these processes and make healthcare more efficient and safe.
Telehealth - A way to build patient trust The use of telehealth, through which patients can have remote consultations with their physicians, is on the rise. This includes video chat, remote-monitoring tools, and health mobile apps. Telehealth allows doctors to build trust while leveraging technology, as they still provide patients with human interaction through the use of video.
Moreover, with wearables and remote tracking to support their expectations and behaviors, patients are taking more ownership of their health. This way, they are more involved in the process of healthcare and understand physician instructions better.
