By Eduardo Cordioli*
In recent years, digital health has established itself as an efficient and accessible solution to face the challenges that have long plagued the healthcare system, bringing about significant transformations in 2023.
One of the main barriers to the in-person service delivery model is the huge discrepancy in global health conditions, resulting from regional inequalities in access to services. These inequalities are also present at the national level, when we analyze the disparities between different regions. However, digital health overcomes this obstacle, as its main pillar is equity, from access to the results obtained.
In this context, several important and impactful trends in digital health are gaining prominence. One of them is the use of data and big data. It is essential to collect patient data and transform it into valuable and applicable information, generating useful insights for the operation. This is crucial to reduce friction in the healthcare journey, that is, the problems faced by patients during their journey. This makes it possible to provide a more positive and pleasant experience for the patient, in addition to ensuring the reduction of waste, greater equity in access to healthcare and better clinical results.
Another relevant aspect is the advancement of 5G and computing power, which allows patient data to be transferred in different scenarios without the need for rework, making the healthcare market more resilient. There will be more and more computers capable of performing advanced calculations at lower costs and in less time, enabling alternative care models, such as preventive and participatory medicine, where self-care is facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking of AI, its presence will become increasingly common in doctors’ daily lives to assist in decision-making. We will soon witness an explosion in the use and development of AI support tools. Large institutions will invest resources in specialized departments to develop these solutions, which are fully compliant and integrated with their context. After all, the healthcare process in each location is quite specific and must be understood so that the technology can be effectively applied in routine practice.
There are job and business opportunities to make healthcare smarter, automating repetitive tasks and allowing more time for developing interpersonal skills. There will undoubtedly be an increasing use of electronic devices in healthcare, not only in remote surgeries or care, but also to enhance human capacity in face-to-face care, such as smart stethoscopes, imaging devices that aid in more accurate diagnosis and teleultrasound.
In addition to all this innovation, sustainability is emerging as an important trend. By consuming less carbon, digital health is more sustainable. Just think that if a person can carry out part of their health journey at home, without having to travel, they reduce the emission of polluting gases into the environment, causing less impact on the system. In this sense, it is also possible to transform the service lines of large operators and health companies into carbon credits, in order to guarantee a return on this investment.
When thinking about the next steps and what we expect to see throughout 2023, it is crucial to highlight the importance of developing tools that support remote medicine. Hyperconnection enables more accessible, agile medicine that promotes better experiences, capable of reducing the burden on the ecosystem and even the environment. After all, the more care the patient receives, the lower the incidence of disease will be. In the end, this becomes a virtuous cycle.
In short, digital health represents a revolution in the way we approach and deliver healthcare, offering innovative and sustainable solutions to address historic challenges. With the growing use of AI, the advancement of 5G and computing power, and the emphasis on sustainability, digital health promises to transform the healthcare landscape, providing a better experience for patients and helping to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare. The year 2023 will be marked by a series of innovations and trends that reinforce the importance of digital health and its potential to shape a more equitable and healthy future for all.
* Eduardo Cordioli is an advisor to Saúde Digital Brasil, a doctor and head of Innovation at Docway
