Technology at the service of medicine

Today, digital transformation in the healthcare sector is important more than ever. The coronavirus pandemic was an opportunity to accelerate this transformation at a time when other sectors, such as the economic and education sectors, successfully adopted this approach. The digital transformation in the health sector is the use of information technology, telehealth technologies and artificial intelligence.

Studies in this field indicate that telemedicine is one of the most cost-effective medical technologies in the global healthcare sector. Healthcare applications, video chats with doctors, and an electronic database are some examples of the innovations that patients can implement. It has become clear that the Covid-19 outbreak contributed to the acceleration of digital innovation at an unprecedented pace, with the aim of improving the healthcare level, as digital health depends on the use of artificial intelligence technologies, mobile computing and wearable devices, in order to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare.

The experience was comfortable for both the doctor and the patient at the level of digital healthcare. The diagnoses are more accurate and the treatments became more effective, as there is continuous monitoring of chronic diseases and their complications. Healthcare has improved and is now coordinated in real time. 

Digital healthcare services have played a vital role in increasing healthcare efficiency and quality, as well as improving patient experience.

Before the pandemic, the beginning was with the “digitization” of patient data through electronic health records, and the implementation of clinical workflow management systems. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic, hospitals and health centers expanded the application of their digital solutions, to include more comprehensive solutions such as providing remote medical consultations, and relying on digital healthcare technology has become essential. Artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics tools have made a significant impact in quickly managing massive volumes of healthcare data, which can allow healthcare teams to retrieve medical records faster than before. AI has increased interoperability in healthcare and given healthcare organizations more tools that help physicians spend more time on patient-centered tasks and less time on routine administrative work.

Benefits of digital transformation in the healthcare industry

• • It helps monitor chronic diseases and thus reduce complications and the cost of care for patients with diseases such as diabetes.
  • Electronic triaging can help reduce non-urgent emergency department visits. Such visits, which include conditions that could be managed at home or at a primary-care clinic.
  • Virtual consultations, which have an emerging adoption rate, may benefit both patients and providers. Patients enjoy the convenience and time savings of not having to travel to the secondary-care facility and wait to see a provider.
  • Clinical decision support in hospitals thanks to machine-learning algorithms to identify patterns in a patient’s clinical charts and then generate recommendations for management plans. The software can also reduce medical errors by warning physicians about potential drug interactions or contraindications.
  • Workflow automation that would enable professionals to focus on higher-order tasks and the empathetic, human side of care. Workflow automation could improve patient experience, the quality of data for clinical decision-making and organizational healthcare.

The relationship between companies and healthcare professionals

In fact, the success of companies specialized in adopting digital programs and solutions for hospitals is based on training doctors and healthcare providers to work on these programs, and listening to their problems in order to find the right solutions. In addition to knowing their feedback and evaluation of the program and the extent to which they benefit from it after implementing it.

Continuing medical education programs sharpen the skills of healthcare providers and professionals in digitization, including basic coding and tools such as electronic health records and patient applications. Companies that develop solutions can adopt a human-centered approach that supports patient data within a digital healthcare ecosystem, and they should provide training programs and educate healthcare providers on how to benefit from these digital programs and technologies as well as develop digital talent and skills in order to engage them in decision-making related to technology adoption. Companies can also provide a detailed explanation of their suggested support solutions for patient care services and how the new technology can seamlessly integrate with existing digital tools.

 A recent research review found a direct link between the doctor’s adoption of digital healthcare solutions such as telemedicine and the extent of engagement and perception of clarity in the process.

Recent years have been able to highlight the vital role of the e-health service, and its contribution to providing the highest quality possible in providing healthcare to all beneficiaries. Healthcare technology companies have provided technology choices that support evidence-based care and offer healthcare providers new systems to improve their experiences.

Today, these advanced programs are an essential part of the hospitals and clinics’ business system to work in an integrated manner for better cooperation across medical professions.