The future of the human race depends on the challenges that health care overcomes. At each stage of medical progress there is a need technology to assist in the development of new systems that benefit people.
The metaverse, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) or telemedicine are postulated as major players for the future. In addition, in February 2020, the World Health Organization presented the global strategy on digital health (2020-2025)a long-term strategic plan in which technology and digitization play a decisive role.
For example, and without going any further, the recent pandemic has changed healthcare. It saw clinic closures, overflowing emergency rooms, care problems, a shortage of doctors, and the entire industry on edge. This, combined with social distancing and lockdowns, fueled a sudden mass adoption of telemedicine and other technologies, while exposing weaknesses in the healthcare sector.
“Changes in the digital world over the past 18 months have made it clear that simply waiting and seeing is not an option as we will soon be overtaken by events. The pandemic has forced the health to evolve at great speed and accelerate its digitization”indicates Luisa Bautista, director of the Health sector at Accenture Spain, Portugal and Israel.
The future of telemedicine is the future of healthcare
Delving into this concept further, telemedicine, unlike recent innovations in health care, It has existed for more than forty years. The difference is that today it uses modern technologies in telecommunications and mobile technology to provide quality diagnostics and medical care to people around the world.
As the United Nations calls for universal healthcare by 2030, telemedicine is addressing most of the challenges related to access to healthcare.
A recent report from The Business Research Company shows that the global market for telemedicine technology, currently worth $131 billion, it is expected to reach nearly 300 billion by 2027.
“The advantages for patients center on access to quality medical care from anywhere, without the need to travel, which saves time and reduces transportation costs. In addition, patients can receive specialized care in remote areas where there is no specialists available locally”explains to Computer Hoy Marc Bara, a professor at OBS Business School.
This has allowed a standardization in the provision of medical care, both within countries and on all continents. In addition to remote access, telemedicine also allows doctors to consult with each other and communicate with specialists regardless of geographic location.
Despite its great advantages, Marc Bara adds a great related problem that must be solved. The wider adoption of the telemedicine It has been hampered by various barriers. Among them, the lack of adequate infrastructure and technology in remote and low-resource areas, as well as the lack of confidence in the security and privacy of patients’ medical data.
Added to this is the lack of a clear and consistent regulatory framework for telemedicine and the absence of a culture related to this concept and financial incentives for physicians and healthcare systems. health who adopt this novelty.
On the other hand, and according to M. Carmen Pérez Centellas, a family doctor specializing in Family and Community Medicine, many health professionals have not received adequate training in telehealth and this practice has not traditionally been included in care curricula. medical.
Add that it is essential that future doctors are trained in telemedicine from the start to build confidence and comfort in practical use. In addition, the literacy of patients and their educational level can also represent a barrier, so it is necessary to design simple and easy-to-use telehealth applications to take into account these limitations.
Is the metaverse and artificial intelligence the future of healthcare?
It is undeniable that global healthcare frameworks are constantly shifting towards a more digitized model. However, there is more to it than just digital health platforms or other tools. The biggest global disruptor on the horizon is the metaverse and it can have a huge impact in shaping the future of healthcare.
Whatever has happened so far on the VR, AR, or metaverse front is just a preview of things to come.
Globally, these digital health trends have become firmly planted as indicators of things to come. Simply put, the metaverse could enable more immersive solutions to optimize patient interactions through more patient-centric services.
“The metaverse has two basic functions in healthcare provision: creating the “internet of the place” and the “internet of property”. From this point of view, in healthcare, part of the operations may be transferred to virtual environments (internet of the place ) which will allow health professionals to work from anywhere and explore new forms of collaboration based on data verifiable by the professional and the patient (property internet): the data is associated with the person and not with the platform”adds Luisa Bautista.
Artificial intelligence, for its part, has arrived to break the rules of the game and collaborate with medical teams in diagnosis, as well as with medical decision-making, management, automation, administration, best evaluations and collaboration in workflows.
Coupled with improved internet speeds—4G, 5G, or even a future 6G—and the growth of disruptive technologies, the world is moving toward a more connected future that means faster, easier, and more personalized access to all services. Health care is no exception to this sea change.
The integration of virtual and augmented reality, the metaverse, 3D printing, robotics, and advanced IoT and artificial intelligence capabilities will lead to better value-based care for consumers and a more personalized user experience.
“97% of managers agree on the criticality that technologies will continue to play in their strategy. Preparing for the future implies having this strategy clearly defined, having the required internal and external talent and understanding that the speed of change has increased accelerated, blurring the indicators that we were used to driving”concludes Luisa Bautista,
Therefore, it is safe to say that in this hyper-connected world, the application of telemedicine and these related technologies will transform the way healthcare services are delivered and help bring about an enhanced integrated care experience for everyone.
