Harvard Business Review says that healthcare has the lowest worker productivity growth in the US. It grows three times slower than other industries. One cause of subpar workplace productivity is the slow pace of technology adoption.

The healthcare industry quickly uses new technology to improve efficiency, patient care, and error reduction. Let’s examine the upcoming trends in healthcare information and how technical developments will affect the healthcare world in 2024 and beyond.

More Involvement of AI

In 2024, AI and ML are expected to be widely adopted in the healthcare industry. These tools envision a future where analysts can analyze massive patient datasets to gain insights.

The most promising uses of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the medical field include:

• Medical image analysis for the diagnosis of illness
• Analytics for Prediction
• Use of NLP

When using AI and ML, we must focus on innovation while remembering our goals and ethics. Rapidly advancing technologies can quickly derail years of proper planning and execution if not handled with care.

IoMT Will Rise

The “Internet of Medical Things” (IoMT) includes medical devices that connect to the Internet. These devices are used for remote patient monitoring and other purposes. Statistics show that by 2028, the market for IoMT, one of the leading healthcare trends in 2024, will have reached the $187.6 billion mark.

Insider Intelligence predicts that by 2025, a quarter of all Americans will be using devices to monitor their health in this way. Moreover, Deloitte estimates that over 500 million medical equipment are in use worldwide now. The report also breaks down the expansion of the markets for IoMT devices during the past five years by kind.

• Growth of 300% in non-moving medical equipment
• Increase of 370% in implantation of medical technology
• Increase of 400% in externally worn medical equipment

Use of AR and VR

Healthcare’s integration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will transform patient treatment and medical training in 2024. Doctors use these technologies in surgical training, patient education, and therapy.

Surgeons can practice complex surgeries in a safe virtual reality environment, which helps them improve their skills and reduces the chances of making mistakes during real operations.

AR also enhances accuracy and results by offering real-time data overlays during operations. Healthcare professionals use AR and VR to enhance patient experiences and improve medical training. These technologies provide personalized and interactive treatment options, making medical training more accessible and effective.

TeleHealth Will Be More Common

The trend towards telehealth is expected to continue its upward trajectory in 2024, becoming an even more integral part of healthcare delivery. As patients increasingly seek convenient and accessible care options, telehealth platforms are expanding their offerings to include a broader range of services, from virtual consultations to remote monitoring.

This shift helps reduce the burden on traditional healthcare facilities and enables patients in remote or underserved areas to access quality care. Technological advances are making telehealth more efficient and user-friendly, with improvements in video conferencing, AI-driven diagnostics, and secure data sharing.

As telehealth becomes more commonplace, it is poised to transform healthcare delivery, making it more patient-centric and adaptable to modern lifestyles.

E-Prescribing

E-prescribing is becoming common in healthcare. It provides a more accurate way to manage prescriptions, which is why this method is preferred. 

E-prescription guarantees that drugs are prescribed precisely and sent straight to pharmacies by removing the need for handwritten prescriptions, which could be prone to mistakes and misinterpretations. By lowering prescription mistakes and possible drug interactions, this technology simplifies the procedures for healthcare providers and improves patient safety.

E-prescribing will expand even more in 2024 due to improved electronic health record (EHR) systems and more governmental support. As healthcare systems continue to digitize, e-prescriptions will be very important in enhancing the safety and efficiency of medication management.

Transparency In Healthcare Information

Transparency in healthcare information will become increasingly important in 2024 for enhancing patient care and building system confidence. Leading this shift is interoperability, the capacity of many healthcare systems and providers to effortlessly exchange and access patient data.

Patients are better able to access their health data as healthcare companies work to break down data silos, so arming them to make more educated decisions about their treatment. A thorough awareness of a patient’s medical history also helps healthcare professionals improve coordination of treatment and lower repetitions. All of this and more is critical when we begin truly understand the upcoming trends in healthcare information technology.

Healthcare systems are investing in technologies enabling data sharing while guaranteeing patient privacy as transparency takes the front stage, producing better results and more patient happiness.