So far, 2018 has been a dynamic year of change for the healthcare industry. Here are some of the biggest changes we’ve seen so far in healthcare over the course of this year.

Rise of data-driven care

The rising cost of healthcare has been a significant issue over the last several years, and to combat it, the healthcare industry has shifted towards value-based care over cost-based care. In general patients have come to expect more value out of there healthcare providers, with some healthcare providers, like Sharp Healthcare, leading the charge in making extreme increases in customer service and satisfaction, which in turn, sets the bar higher for other providers.

In the face of these rising costs and shift towards value-based care, providers have increasingly been employing data collection to deliver personalized care and improve patient experience. Patients have been using digital data as well, as healthcare apps and other digital enhancements have really taken a front seat so far in 2018.

And the increased prevalence of wearable technology is only supporting this trend – consumers have more information than ever about their own health and wellness, which is helping them make more informed health decisions and provide their own doctors with more detailed information.

Rise of virtual appointments

Virtual reality is on the rise, and that trend has spread into healthcare in the past year as well. Patients are seeking ease and timeliness with being able to make appointments, so it’s no wonder that several healthcare providers have started offering virtual appointments in lieu of traditional face-to-face appointments. While many providers have innovated on the process of making appointments, such as EMU health – Medical Clinic , some providers, such as Kaiser, offer video appointments, and even the option for patients to send a text or image to their doctor for digital diagnosis and advice. This especially comes in handy for patients who are traveling abroad and do not have the option to set up a traditional appointment for a new health issue that has developed, like a rash or abrasion.

We can only expect virtual appointments and other digital medical transactions to rise in the future.

The need for more technologically savvy workforce

As the expectation and advancements around technology has increased, so has the need for an informed, technologically-savvy healthcare workforce. Healthcare professions need to be able to deploy, implement, and maintain health information technologies and systems, and also have the knowledge to operate and advise on increasingly complex medical devices.

This rise in data in the healthcare space has also produced a need for data analysis skillset in healthcare employees and staff. These skills are crucial for gathering, analyzing, and interpreting the increasingly complex data sets that today’s healthcare landscape is producing.

More prescription options

Another side effect of rising healthcare costs is the spillover into drug prices. Rising drug prices have plagued healthcare leaders over the last several years. Because of these rising prices, pharmaceutical developers have been working on developing more plentiful and cost-effective options for consumers to choose from. This increase in competition has helped to moderate drug price trends.

Want to learn more about healthcare trends of 2018? Contact Emu Health-Medical Clinic:

83-40 Woodhaven Blvd, Glendale, NY 11385 (718) 850-4368.