Electronic Health Reporter

By Shawn Mike, content creator, Dynamologic Solutions.

In the age of internet and online shopping, striving to make it into the future by relying on traditional or outdated practices will get you nowhere! Thanks to the younger generations, various private and public departments are favoring online presence more now and we think, healthcare department should follow suit!

According to a survey by Accenture, the younger generations (millennials and Generation Z) will likely prefer new care models like retail clinics and virtual visits over the traditional methods. This spells trouble for the healthcare department since they still lack the tools to embrace the digital culture.

Digital Transformation in the Healthcare Sector

There is nothing wrong with the traditional health IT sector. It is just that many of the younger generations are outgrowing the traditional methods and now expect a different standard of service.

In the age of self-diagnosis from Google and WebMD, the young individuals constantly express dissatisfaction with the existing healthcare models. They are more comfortable with researching healthcare options online and are more likely to utilize non-traditional methods of engaging with the health department. Because of the reliance on the latest cutting-edge options, healthcare must understand that there is a need to adopt advanced techniques.

Currently, we are living in the digital age and the consumers are always on the lookout for a digital front-end experience. Since the internet has blurred boundaries, the younger generation is more aware of what they want and how they want it. At this point, the healthcare department seriously lacks the necessary digital tool to provide a better experience.

In a way, it is not just about the adoption of certain tools. Instead, we are talking about a complete transformation that will provide the healthcare department with the boost it needs to make things easier for the upcoming generations. The redesign will mean that high-quality, accessible, affordable, and effective healthcare can be provided through digital tools.

Digital Tools to bring about the IT Revolution in Health

People are preferring health providers that offer digital capabilities over those that do not. So, providing online access to crucial health information to people is a good step. In a McKinsey report, it is estimated that the technology market in the healthcare sphere will have a dominant presence where the total investment will increase from $35 billion to $50 billion by 2021!

So, the digital tools should be reshaping the entire healthcare landscape in a way that goes beyond just reducing costs and wait time. Internet technologies such as the Internet of Things, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence have paved way for digital tools to perform accurate diagnosis, provide consultation, offer drug testing and more.

The technological possibilities for healthcare are endless. As of now, various software and tools allow the healthcare sector to provide the younger generation with exactly what they need. Ultromics is just one of the many tools that could provide the youngster with a better chance at healthcare. Just like the above mentioned tool, the healthcare providers can provide digital services in the following ways:

• Financial Transparency Tools

With the help of this tool, the consumers will get access to several financial options relating to the healthcare department. For instance, they will be able to browse through various insurance options. In addition, they will be able to see which healthcare providers are charging more and likewise. With the help of this information, they can compare the offered benefits and prices and will be in a better position to make informed decisions.

• Self-Service Tools

Such tools give more control to the consumers where they can manage their health without bringing any administrative personnel onboard. With the help of such tools, the patients can schedule their appointments with the doctors, have their prescription renewed automatically, and go over the payment process through the internet.

• Remote Monitoring Tools

These tools will make monitoring a breeze! In a traditional setting, the patients are required to make in-person visits to the doctors to have their progress thoroughly analyzed. Well, not anymore! Through these tools, doctors can effectively monitor and provide useful care tips from remote locations through the internet. Further, doctors can assign reminders and patients can reach their doctors from anywhere and anytime for professional medical advice.

• Clinical Transparency Tools

These tools target information asymmetry and provide individuals with crucial data, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding healthcare. By providing the individuals with insights regarding the performance of various healthcare providers, these tools will aid them in making clinical decisions.

• Wellness Tools

These tools are built upon such technology that will allow patients to monitor and maintain their health through real-time consultation, fitness coaching, and more. These types of tools will heavily depend on wearable technology that will be able to detect anything through sensitive sensors. In case you find yourself diverting from your health plan, these sensors will be there to remind you!

Additionally, applications and other wearable technology built around this concept will help users calculate fitness levels, schedule consultation, set medical sessions, generate exercises, set goals, and record performance.

On the Road to Embracing Telehealth

More and more people are accepting the concept of telehealth or healthcare through digital tools and strong web applications. According to the Accenture report (which we talked about earlier) 53% of consumers are willing to utilize healthcare options that offer remote services or telemonitoring medical devices.

Judging from the above information, we can only assume that the younger generations are not the only ones willing to see a digital transformation in the health IT sector. Instead, every single patient wants virtual care in one way or another. So, to achieve a digital transformation at all the levels, the health organizations must remodel their IT infrastructure to pave way for helpful tools and web applications.

All in all, the coming generations represent an unprecedented and tremendous amount of challenges. The only way of satisfying this tech-savvy, skeptical, and demanding audience is through digital tools and web applications. The road ahead is not an easy journey; however, with the right PHP and MySQL web development, health professionals can get their hands on useful applications that could help them provide a transformative experience.