2020 Healthcare Trends
The start of a new year brings the promise of new and exciting things. Many people start out their year by making resolutions and goals they want to meet, but with industries like healthcare that are rapidly changing it can sometimes be difficult just to keep up with the healthcare trends and new technology. There have been many predictions for what will consume the healthcare industry in 2020 and we have a couple of trends to keep an eye on this year.
Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning
The first healthcare trend to keep an eye on in 2020 is artificial intelligence and machine learning. A growing population and a growing industry means that we need evolving technology to identify new diseases, diagnose existing conditions, develop new and more efficient treatment plans, monitor epidemics and make operations more efficient. As the healthcare industry continues to increase demands for more efficient processes and systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning can assist in resolving many problems.
Wearable Tech
Many people have taken to wearing technology like smart watches and fitness trackers to monitor their steps and other health-related data. Over 80 percent of people have said that they are willing to wear wearable tech, which means that there is a large opportunity for this to make a difference in everyday lives. This type of technology could begin to track more than just steps or calories burned, but could have valuable information about an individual’s habits and health.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is already being used in many different industries like gaming or construction, but it could really be beneficial in the healthcare industry. The biggest place that this could make positive changes is in training. A virtual reality training session would allow for healthcare students to experience scenarios, operations or processes in a real situation without worrying about making mistakes or fatalities.
Connected Care
Connected care means that there will be more communication between the patient and the provider. Usually this means communication through technology and electronics. A healthcare trend for 2020 is the increase in cloud connectedness, which allows for better and more efficient communication.
Process Improvement
In order to get the most out of budgets and to make things overall more efficient, healthcare will likely be striving to improve most processes. The biggest reason for this is because it reduces variation and drives out waste. This can save money for organizations and create more stable results. Improved processes can also improve productivity, accuracy and organization.
Increased Specialization
In 2020 it is likely that nurses and hospitals will have a growing interest in increased specialization. This means that the need for nurses who are experts in certain areas will continue to increase. Not only can it help an organization by having specialized nurses, but it can help the nurse as well by opening up new career opportunities. Specialized nurses can help patients by being able to diagnose quicker and more efficiently in their area of expertise.
2020 brings the promise of a new year full of new healthcare trends and new innovations. Technology is always changing, and so is the healthcare industry, which is why they work so well together. A lot of yesterday’s problems can be solved by tomorrow’s innovations and we have a lot to look forward to this year when it comes to problem solving, new tech and improved processes.
