What technological trends in medicine will we see in 2024?

In the dynamic digital health landscape, the adoption of innovative technologies becomes imperative for the success of institutions in this sector. In 2024, the artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies are playing a fundamental role in driving the healthcare sector, what are they?

Below, a look at nine trends that could not only improve the patient and staff experience in 2024, but also play a crucial role in operational efficiency and economics, according to doctor Diego Pereyra, Global Director of Softtek Health.

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“These issues are essential to guarantee that no health institution is left behind in the digital era of medical care,” says Pereyra.

1. Medical records. Data and medical record interoperability is expected to be a major trend in digital health. This will allow patient data to be shared between different health systems, improving the quality of care and reducing medical errors.

2. AI assistants. The use of AI assistants and language learning models will also be a major trend in digital health. These assistants can help doctors and collaborators make more informed and accurate decisions, and also improve the efficiency of healthcare processes. Likewise, it will save time in bureaucratic steps for organizations.

“These assistants will be a co-pilot for health personnel when making precise decisions about patients, reducing medical error,” explains Pereyra.

3. Process automation. Robotic process automation (RPA) solutions will also be a major trend in digital health. These help automate healthcare processes without the need for large upfront investments, improving efficiency and reducing medical errors.

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Additionally, RPA solutions help doctors focus on more important tasks and improve the quality of healthcare. “For example, when discharging a patient from a hospital, many repetitive administrative steps are required. With RPA we could automate them, saving a lot of time, which would allow us to meet patient demand,” says the specialist.

4. ‘Wearables’. These wearable devices can help patients monitor their health and provide valuable information to doctors to improve medical care. Additionally, they can help patients make more informed decisions about their health and improve their quality of life.

5. Digital therapies. Medical apps are another major trend in digital health, as they have been developed exclusively to help treat a variety of medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and addictions. These apps can also help patients make more informed decisions about their health and improve their quality of life.

“Doctors not only prescribe medications, but now we also prescribe applications to prevent and improve the quality of life of patients.”

6. AI in diagnostic imaging. These systems can help doctors detect diseases and conditions in medical images, which can improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce medical errors. One of its great uses is to quickly recognize anomalies that the human eye cannot see with the naked eye, reaching a diagnosis and, therefore, a treatment faster.

7. Optimization of operating room schedules. This will be an important trend in digital health, as these systems can help hospitals schedule surgeries more efficiently, reducing wait times and surgery cancellations for non-medical reasons. Likewise, it will allow doctors to focus on more important tasks and reduce the risks and complications of surgery, which is, without a doubt, a pain point in large health institutions.

8. Traceability of medicines and fraud prevention. New technologies will help hospitals track medications, prevent stock shortages and prevent fraud, which at the end of the day impacts patient safety and the economy of a health institution.

9. Regulations. These are a great point where each country must work to have control and governance of all the points mentioned above. “This point is mentioned at the end of the trends because new technologies arrive first and regulations come running behind. Each country will be responsible for its own regulations and policies,” Pereyra emphasizes.

By adopting these technologies, healthcare institutions will be able to not only stay relevant in the changing landscape, but also provide more efficient, patient-centered, and sustainable care.

Source: Elcomercio

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