Suppose the Covid-19 pandemic possessed any kind of silver lining. In that case, it could be that telehealth and many related tools and technologies appear to have passed the performance audition under stressful conditions, notes a white paper from Rubix, “Hospitals Adapting to Health Techniques for Patient Monitoring for Disease Care.”
Digital technology, including Mobile health, health information technology, wearable devices, telehealth and telemedicine, and personalized medicine, have “been driving a revolution in health care, from mobile medical apps and software that support clinical decisions made every day to artificial intelligence and machine learning,” the Rubix report says. “Digital health tools have enormous potential to improve our ability to accurately diagnose and treat disease and improve individual health care delivery.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the use of telehealth has increased dramatically, with virtual doctor visits expected to far outnumber previous years,” the report adds.
Data access allows digital tools to provide providers with a more comprehensive view of patient health while giving patients more control over their wellbeing. Using digital health can improve medical outcomes while also increasing the efficiency of workflow processes. These technologies can empower consumers to make more informed health decisions while providing new options for disease prevention, early detection of life-threatening diseases, and chronic management outside of traditional health care settings.
The Rubix report notes that telemedicine is increasingly becoming an essential part of health care. According to the American Hospital Association, “76% of U.S. hospitals connect with patients and consulting practitioners at a distance through video and other technology.”
This expansion in telemedicine increases providers’ opportunities in rural and urban areas where a shortage of healthcare currently exists. “It’s a fascinating and promising development to help widen the net of quality care,” says Reginald Swift, Ph. D, founder/CEO at Rubix Life Sciences.
Health care will become more decentralized due to apps that provide health tracking and coaching, virtual consultations, and customized treatment plans. As telemedicine becomes more widely used, patients rely less on nearby hospitals and provider groups to receive proper care. The Rubix report notes that easy-to-implement solutions can be quickly applied to current hospital infrastructure and will level the playing field for health systems regardless of size.
To see the full report, go to report.