En bref : La transformation numérique dans le secteur de la santé améliore radicalement la capacité des médecins, des hôpitaux et des organisations à traiter les patients et à les aider à vivre plus longtemps et en meilleure santé. Ce guide couvre : L’évolution des attentes des patients, L’augmentation des frais pour les organismes de santé, La pénurie de personnel qualifié, Transformation numérique secteur santé – les tendances.
Digital transformation in the healthcare sector is radically improving the ability of doctors, hospitals, and organizations to treat patients and help them live longer, healthier lives.
However, as with any transformation, challenges are inevitable.
In this article, we will examine some of the key trends in this digital transformation, as well as the challenges the industry faces today.
Why is digital transformation particularly important in the healthcare sector?
Changing Patient Expectations
These days, patients expect more personalized healthcare experiences that match the level of service they find in just about every other aspect of their lives.
Rising Costs for Healthcare Organizations
Rising administrative and overhead costs have forced healthcare organizations to raise their rates for patient care services.
Digital transformation increases the overall efficiency of organizations in the healthcare sector and reduces costs, while improving service levels.
The shortage of skilled workers
Healthcare is one of the major industrial sectors facing a significant shortage of qualified professionals.
According to WHO estimates, there is a global shortage of 7.2 million health care professionals.
Digital transformation can help address some of the challenges associated with this shortage by:
- Automating the management of patient and staff data
- Facilitating remote care options
- Providing faster treatment
- Reducing the risk of human error
Digital Transformation in the Healthcare Sector – Trends
Agile Development
Agile software development, which is an iterative and incremental model, allows for additions or modifications at any stage of the development process to create high-performance software in this rapidly changing era.
When it comes to creating the software that drives digital transformation in the healthcare sector, it makes sense to consider Agile development or to partner with an external team that uses this methodology.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) refers to the use of Internet-connected devices to monitor patients’ health, collect real-time health data, and provide personalized healthcare.
These IoMT technologies are already here, and they are changing the lives of millions of people by giving them greater control over their health and improving communication with healthcare professionals.
IoMT devices (“wearables”) can be portable (such as smartwatches and fitness trackers) or implantable (such as pacemakers), and they are often equipped with sensors that measure data such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, and oxygen saturation, for example.
Artificial Intelligence
AI is increasingly being used to diagnose diseases, develop treatment plans, predict outcomes, and speed up decision-making.
For example, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the first medical device that uses artificial intelligence to screen for diabetic retinopathy based on photos of the retina in 2018, and has approved about 30 other medical devices since then.
AI software can also analyze millions of medical studies to identify an effective treatment plan based on the patient's condition, age, and other important factors.
According to a study by Accenture, by 2026, key AI applications could save the healthcare sector $150 billion a year.
Telemedicine
From finding a doctor to scheduling an appointment, new solutions are making it easier for people to access healthcare professionals.
Telemedicine is particularly useful for patients in rural or remote areas, where access to health care has traditionally been limited.
Similarly, patients with limited mobility can also use this technology to consult with healthcare professionals.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
Augmented reality and virtual reality are innovative solutions with a wide range of applications that benefit both patients and healthcare professionals.
For example, virtual reality helps healthcare professionals learn how to perform high-risk procedures without putting patients at risk, and AR technology is used to help surgeons reduce the risk of errors.
For patients, virtual reality is used as a therapeutic tool to help those recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Challenges of Digital Transformation in the Healthcare Sector
Collecting and processing large amounts of data across multiple channels
A major challenge in the healthcare sector is the processing and analysis of the large amount of data that hospitals, clinics, and healthcare professionals collect on a daily basis.
Without robust AI systems capable of analyzing this data, it is difficult for organizations to provide higher-quality, more personalized care to patients.
This challenge is compounded by the rise of telemedicine, as doctor visits now take place across multiple channels, making it more difficult for healthcare professionals to keep patients’ health records up to date.
Therefore, it is vital for healthcare professionals to develop ways to easily record and update health records, regardless of the type of care involved.
Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
Organizations of all kinds must remain extremely vigilant against cyber threats, but these vulnerabilities are particularly costly for healthcare professionals.
Although threats may come from those who seek to cause harm, others may stem from errors in a product or during software development.
Organizations that develop software, mobile apps, websites, and IoMT devices in the healthcare sector must ensure security before launching or updating products and systems in order to protect the confidentiality of information and maintain their reputation for trustworthiness.
Designing intuitive, bug-free user experiences
Designing products such as connected heart rate monitors, mobile apps, websites, or any other digital products or services that function flawlessly and are intuitive is a major challenge for healthcare companies.
User journeys are particularly complex in the healthcare sector, where products and software are used by both patients and healthcare professionals.
An uncomfortable or poorly designed IoMT device, for example, can negatively impact a patient’s experience and cause them to remove the device, thereby limiting the data it is able to collect.
On the other hand, if the software for an IoMT device is difficult to use, this will also limit healthcare professionals’ overall willingness to use the device or prescribe it to other patients.
Given the high stakes in the healthcare sector, QA testing is essential to the success of any organization or product.
Workforce Training
Implementing digital transformation in the healthcare market will require significant investments in both technology and the hiring and training of a digitally savvy workforce, which calls for a well-thought-out strategy for healthcare-focused companies.
Mr Suricate QA Testing for Organizations in the Healthcare Sector
Ultimately, the success of digital transformation in the healthcare sector depends on the overall quality of the technology that powers it—and that, in turn, depends on whether the technology has been rigorously tested.
The SaaS no-code Mr Suricate solution covers a wide range of automated tests, so you can control your acceptance testing and offer your users the best possible experience.
Take control of your applications and detect bugs in real time on your websites, mobile apps, and APIs by simulating user journeys at regular intervals.