Digital Health Trends 2021: Technologies That Will Define the Future of Healthcare

Healthcare and technology often go hand in hand. However, the big question that is on our minds is which direction are they going? Digital health trends such as virtual reality surgical training, IoT devices, and telehealth continue to pull in huge investment, assisting to improve health equity all across the globe.

The World Health Organization defines Health Equity as “the lack of unfair and remediable or avoidable differences in health among groups of people defined geographically, demographically, economically, or socially.”

Simply put, health equity involves making healthcare more affordable and accessible for everyone – and digital health trends are considered the main proponents of health equity.

Obviously, there are many obstacles on the journey to attaining this objective, with stakeholders at various government agencies involved and a plethora of social determinants that guide how we gather, analyze, and share health data.

Read on as we learn more about 5 crucial digital Health Trends in 2021 and discuss why they are crucial to health equity and the future of the entire global healthcare system.

The 5 Biggest Digital Health Trends of 2021

The pandemic caused a huge disruption in the healthcare industry and forced the sector to dedicate more resources to innovation and developments of new technologies. Some of the digital health trends listed below gained immense popularity during the pandemic and are likely to impact the future of medicine as we know it:

1. TELEMEDICINE

Telehealth or Telemedicine involves the use of digital communication technologies like smartphones and computers to facilitate the provision of healthcare services.

As social distancing measures resulted in fewer in-person visits, healthcare institutions had to adapt accordingly in order to stay in business. By April 2020, it is reported that over 43% of in-patient hospital visits were done via telemedicine channels.

Even as Covid-19 vaccines continue to be distributed all across the world, telemedicine seems like it’s here to stay. A study done by Fortune Business Insights indicates that the telemedicine market is expected to grow beyond $185 billion within the next 5 years. 

Why Does It Matter?

Telemedicine provides numerous benefits:

Broader access to healthcare: More patients can access healthcare services, including people with limited transport or those without a local healthcare provider as well as people with pre-existing conditions.

Reduced contact: There is reduced physical contact between patients and healthcare workers. This means there is a lower chance of illnesses spreading because of fewer people in healthcare facilities.

Care for urgent non-Covid-19 related conditions: Patients with chronic illnesses that require frequent checkups can schedule remote appointments, if no physical tests are needed.

Continuity of care: With uninterrupted communication, healthcare providers can foster stronger relationships with patients and potentially avoid any negative outcomes caused by missed or delayed in-person checkups.

What to Expect

People want a smooth digital experience that allows them to schedule checkups, get crucial medication, and receive important advice and communication regarding their health status. Telemedicine – instead of being a temporary fix – is expected to play a crucial role in comprehensive health care plans that enhance a patient’s overall experience.

40% of primary care health checkups could be done remotely, and health providers that offer telemedicine options are expected to get more patients meaning more business for them. The American Hospital Association reported that healthcare facilities lost over $161.4 billion between March and June 2020. Telemedicine has the potential to help these providers to recoup some of the losses incurred during this period.

Mckinsey estimates that over $250 billion of total money spent on healthcare in the U.S may go digital in the years to come. Rather than viewing virtual health trends as temporary solutions, the healthcare industry must fully embrace innovation to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of hospitals after the pandemic.

2. IOT and MEDICINE

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the ever expanding network of physical gadgets that have sensors, applications and other technologies that enable communication and data transfer with a wide variety of systems and devices across the internet.

Medical IoT is a rapidly growing field that relies on integrated applications, monitors, and wearable gadgets for healthcare needs. With machine learning and AI technology, medical IoT can provide improved versions of conventional medical devices, such as the smart inhaler (a gadget that syncs patient usage with a mobile application).

Why it matters

Medical IoT offers many benefits such as:

Remote monitoring: Patients can use wearable medical gadgets and continue with their lives as usual. Meanwhile, their doctors can remotely monitor their health status with the help real-time data thereby reducing the need for in-person doctors’ appointments.

Improved Convenience: With the introduction and incorporation of 5G wireless technology into the healthcare sector, patients have more options in regards to managing their conditions and medical needs. For instance, glucose monitoring devices and insulin pens help patients track their health needs with minimal interruptions and inconveniences.

Reduced costs for patients: As the technology get better; many IoT gadgets will become more affordable, bringing us closer to health equity which is what we are all aiming for.

Reduced costs for healthcare providers: Hospitals rely on sophisticated medical equipment like magnetic resonance imagers (MRIs), CAT scanners, and X-ray machines. The cost of replacing these machines is huge, and any equipment failure or inefficiency can be costly to a hospital. With IoT gadgets that monitor these machines and inform technicians about technical issues, healthcare providers can do better preventive maintenance and avoid costly equipment failures and downtime.

Moreover, healthcare providers can use sensors to track supply inventory, reducing their spending and usage of disposable items like syringes, gloves, masks, as well as lab chemicals and gases.

What to expect

IoT is one of the fastest growing digital health trends in 2021 with an estimated annual growth rate of about 29%. This rapid growth can be attributed to the worldwide adoption of mobile apps and cloud computing technologies.

When it comes to healthcare, information storage and security are crucial. Patients want to be sure that they can trust their healthcare providers with sensitive personal information. On top of safeguarding patient information, IoT gadgets must be reliable in regards to their performance, connections and real-time data transfer. If there are any delays or downtime, hospitals could miss crucial information about a patient’s health.

Cloud computing offers so many opportunities, however trust in prudent data storage and security is still not yet fully developed. With that said, we can anticipate more resource allocation towards information storage and IoT technology in the years to come.

3. APPS FOR EMPLOYEE WELLNESS

As the grim reality of life under lockdown sank in, 2020 brought unimaginable mental health challenges for people all over the world. Suddenly, wellness apps like Calm, Liberate, and Headspace weren’t just for a niche audience. The wellness app market experienced a huge surge in downloads during the lockdown period. 

The New York Times reported that Calm gained as many as 10 million new users during the lockdown. Venture capitalist got wind of this and they decide to take the company’s valuation from a modest $75 million to a massive $2 billion.

Companies are gradually accepting that wellness apps could be helpful for the mental health of their employees. Initiatives like team building events, workplace yoga, and corporate wellness retreats have been used for many years, but employer-offered wellness apps are a relatively new concept altogether.

Why it matters

Employee wellness pass offer numerous benefits such as:

Increased Job Satisfaction: A study done by SHRM established that 48% of employees in the U.S would prefer using digital health tools offered by their employer as opposed to third-party companies. Furthermore, 26% of employees said that if they had access to such apps, they would be more willing to stay in their current job.

Reduced costs: The increasing popularity of wellness apps will help reduce the cost of healthcare for both patients and hospitals. In 2018, reports estimated that wellness apps could save the healthcare industry at least $7 billion every year. As increased smart phone usage continues to drive more people to health apps, employers should observe a decrease in employee “sick days” which would in turn result in improved productivity.

Personalized healthcare: Many wellness and health apps allow users to create personal profiles that will help keep track of crucial parameters such as blood sugar levels, calorie count, and weight. With personalized healthcare within reach, people can have better control of their wellbeing. Also, users can share their data with their doctors for better service delivery.

What to expect

Some of the wellness apps that are specifically designed for the formal workplace include Limeade. This app allows companies to promote a culture of inclusion and well-being. Another app called Vantage Fit allows employers to create simple wellness challenges and programs to help their employees stay healthy and fit.

The Future of Health report prepared by Deloitte predicts wellness will continue to be one of the most crucial digital health trends in the coming decades. By 2040, we can expect a major shift away from curative medicine, with 60% of healthcare spending going towards preventive care and enhancing health and well-being.

Going along with this trend, employers are expected to focus more on marketing to consumers who are interested in wellness practices and apps. Companies will also have digital wellness strategies that will help them improve job satisfaction and workplace morale.

4. CONTINUED INNOVATIONS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL

Not long after Covid-19 was declared a pandemic did it become clear just how exposed and unprepared the healthcare industry was to manage the situation. Within a matter of weeks, the only digital health trends you could hear of were those employed to stop the spread of the virus.

Many countries rushed to develop apps that would assist local authorities and hospitals with virus testing, tracking and monitoring. Initially, many apps were launched with limited capabilities only for more functional apps to be launched soon after to facilitate better tracking and shorter testing times.

Sadly, it took a devastating pandemic for the healthcare industry to think to use innovative technique to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. While we cannot go back in time to fix our mistakes, we can learn from them and take the necessary steps going forward.

Why it matters

There have been significant improvements in sequencing and genomics technologies in recent years. This progress has provided a good foundation for the research and development of Covid-19 vaccines.

Messenger RNA is the foundation of the first vaccines. However, its use is not limited to development of Covid-19 vaccines because it allows scientists to develop many other treatments and vaccines at in less time and at much lower costs than conventional methods. mRNA vaccines can be altered with a unique protein code that activates immune response to a particular pathogen.

We may soon discover new treatments and vaccines for other conditions like cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and malaria. Moreover, scientists are currently looking into how mRNA medicines could be used in the treatment of various cancers.

What to expect

The rapid growth of innovation throughout the healthcare industry within the last one year made it possible to make remote Covid-19 testing possible. Soon, we should be in a position to test for other infectious illnesses outside traditional healthcare facilities, allowing doctors to test people in workplaces, learning institutions and homes.

In February 2021, Moderna announced plans to increase investment on manufacturing capacity with the aim of producing 1.4 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by 2022. It is not unreasonable to assume that digital health trends will play an important role in controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

In the past, vaccine development has always been a time-intensive process – taking up over 10 years in some cases. However, making mRNA vaccines can take as short as 3 – 4 months.

In the coming years, predictive analytics and AI will be key to assisting research develop a better scientific understanding of the incubation and spread of infectious illnesses. But, at a more basic level, the entire global healthcare sector needs an overhaul of logistic and supply chains so that it’s possible to deliver affordable and effective medicines and vaccines to the people that need them.

5. VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY

Many people associate virtual and augmented reality with movies and video games. However, this technology has many practical applications beyond entertainment and gaming.

In healthcare, virtual reality helps with surgical planning and training, allowing both patients and surgeons to feel more comfortable with procedures. There are also many reports that suggest virtual reality is good for mental health as well as chronic pain management.

Both virtual and augmented reality technologies are expected to experience an annual growth of about 31% up to the year 2025.

Why it matters

Medical practitioners already use virtual reality to treat numerous health conditions like PTSD, phobias, anxiety and other mental health conditions. Companies that specialize in these technologies create real-life simulations where patients feel mentally challenged in order to help them overcome their fears and dealing with conditions like social anxiety, fear of heights, eating disorders and many others.

Although people understand that what they are seeing virtual or augmented reality is not real, the simulation offers them an opportunity to face their fears and overcome them with practice. It is reported that this form of immersive therapy can help reduce phobias and fears by up to 68% after a simple treatment session that lasts 2 hours.

On the doctors’ side, virtual reality helps medical professionals improve their skills. Medical students who undergo VR training have been reported to perform medical procedures 20% faster and 38% more accurately than those who undergo conventional training. 

What to expect

The healthcare virtual reality market was valued at $2 billion in 2018. This valuation is expected to reach $34 billion by 2027 according to a report by Verified Market.

In the coming years, we’ll see many applications of virtual and augmented reality technologies in the healthcare industry. These technologies offer long-term benefits for both patients and doctors meaning they are here to stay.

Companies like Karuna Labs and Oxford VR are already using these technologies to help people with mental illnesses or chronic pain. Virtual reality still has a long way to go and its potential in areas like cancer therapy, rehabilitation, and preventive healthcare is still untapped.

The technology that underlies telemedicine, IoT gadgets, and wellness apps didn’t appear in 2020. It’s been around for some time but it took the pandemic for the healthcare industry to truly and genuinely embrace these digital health trends and technologies.

With remote service, IoT gadgets, and improved research and development methods being currently used, patients and healthcare providers now know the true value of digital health services. Increased investment in digital health services is also another indicator that digital health trends are gaining momentum.

Funding for digital health startups hit an all-time high of $26.5 billion in 2020. Again in the same year, 6 digital health companies raised over $6 billion from their Initial Public Offerings. With that in mid, we can expect more digital health companies to come into the industry in the coming years.

There is a lot of room for improvement. The most important thing is that the healthcare industry is finally taking technology and innovation seriously and this is good for all stakeholders.