The digital era has made it easier for healthcare practitioners to deliver patient-centric care since it empowers both patients and physicians with relevant knowledge. At the outset, it is imperative to note what patient-centric care is all about. 

Partners in Care

Also termed patient-centred care, the concept denotes the practice of treating patients with empathy, dignity and respect while simultaneously involving them in all decisions regarding their health. In other words, patients participate actively in their medical treatment in close cooperation with clinicians. In the case of minors or, sometimes, even adults, close relatives could also form part of the decision-making team to help in creating a suitable healthcare plan.

Due to ubiquitous digital devices, patients can access almost limitless information about any medical issue on their mobile phones. This knowledge has a big benefit as it helps clinicians partner with patients rather than simply treating them as individuals who lack awareness about their condition.

As patients become ‘partners’ in their own care, greater engagement automatically alleviates anxiety – and that of the families – in the ongoing treatment protocols. A collaborative approach then leads to better patient experiences and healthier outcomes. Clinicians and care providers need to be aware and receptive to this change because the importance of vibrant care outcomes is critical in an age when patients and their families are more aware of healthcare issues.

Benefits of Wearables

From telemedicine to wearables, digital devices have helped in making healthcare more accessible, affordable and available 24×7 while also ensuring it is more efficient and patient-centric. Thanks to tech tools, clinicians can now diagnose, counsel, treat and monitor patients in real time, irrespective of geographic distances. Most of this becomes possible because technology allows greater and more seamless sharing of information between clinical teams and the patient or his/her attendants. 

Consequently, patients can access medical care from the safe confines of their homes. Similarly, care providers can monitor their patients remotely, eliminating or minimising the need for in-person visits. For example, wearables can monitor the vital signs of patients in real time while AI algorithms analyse huge datasets to pinpoint patterns and trends not apparent to human caregivers.

To elaborate, wearables are electronic devices worn by people that monitor several health metrics in real time, including their blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels. Wearable devices then transmit this data to healthcare providers periodically, who then make informed decisions about their patient’s care, depending on the need. Wearables are particularly beneficial for those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular diseases. 

Doctors can also use the data sent by wearables to track their patient’s progress every day and make any necessary changes to the treatment plans. Wearables are also used during clinical trials to oversee a patient’s adherence to treatment plans and decode data on the efficacy of the new drugs under trial. 

Influence of AI

Another digital technology that has been transforming healthcare is AI (artificial intelligence). Through AI reading X-rays, predictive models are being developed that assist healthcare providers in identifying patients who are at high risk of developing life-threatening conditions. The insights generated by AI algorithms can then be used in developing more personalised care plans and discovering the most effective therapies for patients with specific conditions.

The integration of AI technology into smart devices can greatly enhance collaboration between healthcare professionals and patients, yielding numerous benefits. One such benefit is the facilitation of shared decision-making among patients, their family members, caregivers, and clinicians, leading to increased trust in the potential outcomes of medical treatments.

AI technology is playing a crucial role in supporting clinicians with medication prescriptions. Virtual assistants and chatbots that are powered by AI offer a high level of personalization to patients, helping them manage chronic conditions more safely. These AI-enabled tools can remind patients to take their medication on time, provide tailored advice, and even monitor their vital signs.

Despite the benefits, however, one of the challenges that remain is in informing clinicians and patients about how to work together as associates and partners in supporting each other to achieve great health outcomes. 

This goal can be achieved by bringing together stakeholders from both sides and discussing about the potential benefits of collaborative, patient-centric care. In a nutshell, patient-centric care can create a virtuous cycle of higher patient and physician engagement, generating greater goodwill among both sides and leading to more beneficial healthcare outcomes.

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Views expressed above are the author's own.

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