Telehealth services have grown in the current pandemic, but the crisis has shed light on additional remote healthcare technologies that are now essential for patient care.
One of these sets of remote healthcare technologies focuses on interoperability, the ability of a system (computerized or not) to communicate transparently (or as close to it as possible) with another system (similar or not), which has been a slow process for healthcare organizations.
But the pandemic is demonstrating why it is necessary to communicate quickly and easily with other health systems, as well as the importance of an efficient technology infrastructure when it comes to managing a situation like COVID-19.
Impact of COVID-19 on technology applied to health
In an effort to keep patients at home as much as possible, federal health regulators eased regulations and increased reimbursement for telehealth services during the pandemic, contributing to increased use.
The increased use of telehealth services is opening the door to remote healthcare, getting providers used to technologies such as virtual rehabilitation, chatbots and other remote patient engagement platforms.
But according to a report by business consultancy Frost & Sullivan, the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare will be much broader than an increase in telehealth services.
Basically, COVID-19 has helped healthcare systems realize the importance of an interoperable healthcare IT infrastructure and a strong technological architecture that supports telehealth, advanced analytics and real-time planning, among other important areas, during this crisis.
Frost & Sullivan also predicts that there will be, for example, greater interest in teleradiology, which allows an external radiologist to analyze medical images. Teleradiology platforms are often deployed in small or rural hospitals, with limited radiologists on staff or when health systems need access to a specialist.
As normal operations resume and months of delays in procedures and operations are rescheduled, Frost & Sullivan predicts that new areas of healthcare, such as teleradiology, will play an important role in helping to deal with the number of medical imaging cases following the pandemic.
Health systems will have to rethink how they operate and manage their technological infrastructure
Health systems will have to rethink how they operate, including how they manage their technological capacity.
The pandemic will lead hospitals to adopt critical care spaces similar to hybrid operating rooms, which bring different technologies into the same space to enable better patient care.
In addition, data analysis will receive greater attention in light of COVID-19, as providers need to quickly access relevant patient data and assist in diagnosing and treating patients. For healthcare CIOs to enable this type of solution, they will have to focus on IT infrastructure and system interoperability.
The real challenge will be to think beyond the system's internal requirements and consider a technological architecture with interoperable systems and services that can be used via APIs.
Pandemic demonstrates need for interoperability
Interoperability has been a hot topic in healthcare for years, and COVID-19 has painted a picture of the critical need for healthcare systems to talk to each other and exchange data in an integrated way so that patients can receive the treatment they need quickly.
Companies that are at the forefront of making these healthcare systems interoperable will need to think holistically about the changes in hospital operations and consider how to incorporate processes and software that work in sync with other hospitals.
Interoperability has been a topic of conversation for some time for many healthcare institutions. However, the relatively slow pace of the concept, driven by regulation and vendor capabilities, has limited rapid movement. The role of an IT manager will change with healthcare systems realizing the potential that digital health holds.
Realizing a digital future in healthcare after the COVID-19 pandemic
As the health sector strengthens its scientific arsenal, it also needs to recognize the new normal and implement emerging and sustainable business models.
Although some predictions for 2020, made in December 2019, still exist, we must recognize the significant impact and changes driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This new vision for a digital future in healthcare for 2020 and beyond will not only focus on measuring the segment's resilience, identifying business continuity plans and highlighting the promise of digital technology, it will also explore the implementation framework and immediate opportunities for a smoother transition.
There is no doubt that the future of health lies in digital technologies. The next two decades will be the era of the bioeconomy, which will have a significant impact on the economy, society and human life.
The convergence of AI, analytics and computing will allow healthcare to become a more measurement-oriented business and foster innovations that will have a far-reaching impact on how companies are run in the long term.
About Conversys
Conversys IT Solutions is a provider of Information and Communication Technology services and solutions operating throughout Brazil.
With a highly qualified technical and commercial team and a network of partners that includes the main global technology manufacturers, Conversys IT Solutions is able to deliver customized IT and Telecom Infrastructure solutions to clients.
We invest in our employees and partners and strive for a long-lasting relationship with our clients, because we believe that this is how we gain the skills and knowledge we need to innovate and generate value for the businesses in which we operate.
About Aruba
ARUBA, a Hewlett Parkard Enterprise company, is redefining the smart grid with mobility and IoT solutions for organizations of all sizes globally.
Offering IT solutions that empower organizations to serve the Mobile Generation - mobile-savvy users who rely on cloud-based applications for all aspects of their work and personal lives - and to harness the power of insights to transform business processes. With infrastructure services offered as private or public cloud software, Aruba offers secure connectivity for mobility and IoT enabling IT professionals to create networks that keep pace with change.
