3 opportunities for the healthcare sector in the wake of COVID-19
Posted in: Tip's and Tricks 23rd June 2020.jpg)
COVID-19 is an unprecedented public health emergency which has put exponential strain on the healthcare system; not only on its infrastructure and personnel. The socioeconomic impact has been severe and there is no telling how or when the sector will fully recover.
While it is hard to build conviction on when or how the emergency will subside, COVID-19 is already in the process of materially changing our healthcare sector; presenting not only challenges of epic proportions – but also opening up windows of opportunity.
Here are 3 areas of forecasted growth for the sector, according to market analysts:
1.Telemedicine
An estimated 30% of healthcare interactions now take place over the telephone, compared to close to 0% prior to lockdown in the UK. Predicted growth of 80% for this sector may come from the implementation of apps on patients’ mobile phones or smart tablets.
A presentation detailing the benefits of implementing Telemedicine in UK Care Homes, published on the NHS’ website, sights the following advantages of telephony patient consultations:
An estimated 30% of healthcare interactions now take place over the telephone, compared to close to 0% prior to lockdown in the UK. Predicted growth of 80% for this sector may come from the implementation of apps on patients’ mobile phones or smart tablets.
A presentation detailing the benefits of implementing Telemedicine in UK Care Homes, published on the NHS’ website, sights the following advantages of telephony patient consultations:
- Providing patients with a 24/7 clinical hub
- Improving patient experience and flow
- Reducing costs
The ability to provide care at the right time in the right place – at anytime and from anywhere – has been no more vital than throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Particularly during the strictest lockdown conditions, first enforced on 23rd March, that saw family doctors in the U.K. having their day-to-day work routines radically altered by the coronavirus pandemic. As patients were told not to visit their local surgery unless absolutely necessary, many physicians found that conducting their consultations online or via telephone, meant their burden was reduced and patient flow vastly improved. This radically different primary care model is unlikely to go away once the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
2. Remote monitoring devices
Alleviating some of the pressure felt by an already overstretched health service and to help ensure the safety of patients throughout the Coronavirus crisis has been paramount.
One tactic clinics have employed to enable this is to start to increase remote monitoring services, in the form of connected home-based and wearable monitoring equipment, used in conjunction with apps, software and data. Thus keeping patients suffering from underlying health conditions safely managed from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
The NHS has rapidly stepped up its digital capabilities since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with thousands of patients being given devices and apps so that medics can monitor their condition remotely. This comes as part of the NHS’ drive to give more people connected, supported, personalised care in their own homes.
Experts believe that innovations like wearable monitoring devices have the potential to enable people to better manage their conditions in their own home. In turn they help NHS clinicians to predict and prevent the requirement for hospital admissions and, in some cases, surgical intervention.
One tactic clinics have employed to enable this is to start to increase remote monitoring services, in the form of connected home-based and wearable monitoring equipment, used in conjunction with apps, software and data. Thus keeping patients suffering from underlying health conditions safely managed from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
The NHS has rapidly stepped up its digital capabilities since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with thousands of patients being given devices and apps so that medics can monitor their condition remotely. This comes as part of the NHS’ drive to give more people connected, supported, personalised care in their own homes.
Experts believe that innovations like wearable monitoring devices have the potential to enable people to better manage their conditions in their own home. In turn they help NHS clinicians to predict and prevent the requirement for hospital admissions and, in some cases, surgical intervention.
3. Cyber Security
In the midst of moving towards a digitally enabled healthcare service, anxiety over protecting the sensitive information of billions of patients has been rife.
The government’s contact-tracing app, currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight and expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks, has sparked a fear that such Orwellian tactics being implemented in the interest of public safety may be open to abuse once made available to the masses. Some organisations have called for the introduction of legislation to regulate the development of apps and data processing in order to avoid a loss of public trust.
Adding to the overwhelming situation posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare sector has also become a direct target or collateral victim of cybersecurity attacks; with a series of phishing campaigns and ransomware attacks being launched. Hospitals, and the healthcare sector as a whole, now have to be prepared in their new, vulnerable position and there is plenty of scope for the advancement of the cybersecurity sector in this field.
In the midst of moving towards a digitally enabled healthcare service, anxiety over protecting the sensitive information of billions of patients has been rife.
The government’s contact-tracing app, currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight and expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks, has sparked a fear that such Orwellian tactics being implemented in the interest of public safety may be open to abuse once made available to the masses. Some organisations have called for the introduction of legislation to regulate the development of apps and data processing in order to avoid a loss of public trust.
Adding to the overwhelming situation posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare sector has also become a direct target or collateral victim of cybersecurity attacks; with a series of phishing campaigns and ransomware attacks being launched. Hospitals, and the healthcare sector as a whole, now have to be prepared in their new, vulnerable position and there is plenty of scope for the advancement of the cybersecurity sector in this field.
The NHS’ long term plans always sighted an increase in the adoption of advancing technology in everyday practices. However it is arguable that the Coronavirus outbreak accelerated plans to implement certain strategies out of necessity to protect the health system from collapse. Now more than ever there seems to be far greater willingness to accept a more digital experience when accessing healthcare –and it may prove somewhat difficult to go back to the ‘pre-COVID’ methods that once were the industry standard. The reliance on digital may just become the new normal in healthcare – whether we are ready for it or not.
