The future of healthcare: Digital models of care
In recent years - and particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic - the healthcare industry has evolved rapidly, and the integration of technology has been a significant driving force behind this transformation. Digital healthcare, in particular, has revolutionised the way healthcare services are delivered; providing patients with new ways to access care and enabling healthcare providers to improve the quality of care they deliver while reducing costs.
Digital models of care are already being adopted - to a greater or lesser extent- by many authorities. The automation of patient records is becoming increasingly widespread, and the innovation and development of digital solutions which can be integrated into legacy systems is a thriving field. This “digitally forward” approach has brought about nothing short of a revolution in healthcare delivery and has the potential to transform the sector further by improving access to healthcare services, enhancing efficiency and increasing sustainability whilst simultaneously reducing costs, improving workflows and - perhaps most significantly of all - contributing to better health outcomes for all.
Within the healthcare sector, the automation of administrative processes alone - such as appointment scheduling and prescription renewals and refills - is already substantially reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers, whilst facilitating cost savings and minimising waste. The automation of healthcare data also significantly reduces human error, resulting in improved patient safety and better quality of care, which in turn contributes to higher levels of satisfaction and better health outcomes for patients, who are able to take more active roles in the management of their own conditions. Furthermore, automating some of the administrative processes which doctors have historically been responsible for actually frees up time for more meaningful patient interactions.
Environmental benefits
As a response to environmental concerns, every industry in the commercial sector is working towards reducing its carbon footprint and improving its sustainability credentials, but nowhere is this more important than the healthcare sector. One of the primary drivers of the move towards digital models of care is the need for the healthcare sector to reduce its carbon emissions, and as the world pivots away from high carbon activity, it has become increasingly clear that digital technologies have a crucial role to play in reducing our carbon footprint. The McKinsey Report on Sustainability and Health emphasises the need for the healthcare sector to take urgent steps to reduce its carbon footprint; traditional models of care create a significant carbon footprint, with transportation accounting for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions for the sector. However, digital models of care - which incorporate “virtual” solutions such as telemedicine and remote consultations - can significantly reduce emissions associated with transportation (for both patients and clinicians), not only reducing the need for in-person appointments but also changing the long-established culture of face-to-face consultations in favour of a more progressive, more efficient and cheaper alternative which is not only more sustainable in environmental terms, but also in terms of the future of public healthcare services such as the UK’s NHS.
Furthermore, digital models of care, by definition, are slowly replacing paper usage throughout healthcare systems - a trend which has already been witnessed in the corporate world - limiting waste and contributing to broader sustainability goals.
Improving patient engagement and reducing health inequalities
The way in which people access healthcare is changing. Today, patients are increasingly looking - and have come to expect - more convenient and accessible ways to receive care, and digital models have been shown to effectively meet this growing demand. Through virtual consultations and remote monitoring, patients can receive the care they need from the comfort of their own homes, limiting unnecessary hospital admissions and enabling them to manage their conditions more effectively.
Engaging patients as fully as possible in their own care journey is critical to achieving better health outcomes and higher levels of satisfaction, and digital models of care can facilitate this by enhancing engagement and improving an individual’s experience of their own care journey. Digital models enable patients to access their health information at any time and from any location, communicate with healthcare providers easily (and vice versa), and access resources and tools that support their health goals.
Furthermore, digital models of care are already having a significant impact on the reduction of health inequalities in remote or underserved communities, by improving healthcare access; supporting early detection and intervention; increasing health literacy (for example through the provision of easily accessible health education resources) and eliminating geographical barriers to better healthcare.
The benefits for healthcare data and research
One of the most important developments that has arisen as a result of the increasing prevalence of digital models of care is access to “big data” from potentially billions of healthcare records. The collection, processing and analysis of this data is now easier than ever before, facilitating extensive clinical research and enabling us to derive meaningful insights which can be used to inform decision-making and improve healthcare outcomes. From radiology to cardiology, oncology and disease prevention, clinical decision making is increasingly being informed by the data extracted from digital models, resulting in better patient care, more efficient resource management and reduced healthcare costs.
Why providers should proceed with caution when it comes to digital models of healthcare
Although digital is undeniably the future of healthcare - the advantages are too many and too significant to argue against - the digital model is not without drawbacks. Moving forward, there will always be a need for face-to-face healthcare consultations, and the loss of “humanness” in physician-patient interaction carries its own risks in terms of the wealth of experience, knowledge and observational skills that healthcare professionals bring to their roles; whilst the average patient might appreciate increased control over appointment times and the availability of online test results, there is likely to be a “sweet spot” at the intersection between patient autonomy and an ongoing need for meaningful human interaction and assessment by a qualified physician.
The future of digital models of care
The widespread adoption of digital models of care isn’t just inevitable - it’s already happening, and bringing with it important advantages to both patients and healthcare providers. Healthcare providers are already leveraging the benefits of digital models to substantially reduce the carbon footprint of the sector; improve access to care and limit health inequalities; support administrators in the management of complex logistical issues such as patient flow by creating accurate demand forecasts; alleviate stress among clinical staff by improving communication and interoperability between departments, whilst reducing the administrative burden; reduce costs and - perhaps most significantly of all - improve the patient experience and outcomes.
The extent to which this groundshift in healthcare delivery is successful, moving forward, will depend upon a variety of factors, not least of which is substantial, purposeful alignment between healthcare providers regarding the delivery of services and a high degree of compatibility and interoperability between emerging digital innovations, platforms and solutions. Digital models of care are the future. Our ability to adapt to - and harness the benefits of - that future remains to be seen.
