{"id":11840,"date":"2020-09-24T11:00:30","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T10:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=11840"},"modified":"2023-01-16T18:06:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T18:06:23","slug":"technology-and-the-future-of-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/technology-and-the-future-of-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Technology and the Future of Healthcare"},"content":{"rendered":"

1As the world grows more digitally connected, people expect to have the technology available to meet their needs. Whilst this idea is taking hold in healthcare<\/a>, it can be slow going and often limited by the legacy systems in place. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the quick adoption of many new forms of healthcare. Pre-COVID-19, only <\/span>0.6%<\/span><\/a> of GP appointments took place online. Post Covid-19, this has jumped to over 90%.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>BMA<\/span><\/a> has provided guidelines for telemedicine<\/a> consultations, and it\u2019s interesting to note that they mention commercially available programs for <\/span>video calls<\/span><\/a> being used where approved tools (like accuRx) aren\u2019t available. Having a robust implementation of technological advances throughout the healthcare system could avoid this, and we should expect to see this sort of implementation prioritised once we\u2019re out of the immediate crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Technology<\/p>\n

State of Healthcare Today<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The UK has the advantage of having the NHS – a single, national healthcare system that\u2019s existed since 1948. It\u2019s somewhat devolved, with each country (England, Northern Island, Scotland, and Wales) having their own system within the greater NHS. In 2017, the Commonwealth Fund ranked it as the best healthcare system in the world, alongside Australia and the Netherlands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This large scale system means that patients don\u2019t have to contend with multiple service providers, insurance agents, and pharmaceutical companies, as they do in the mixed market world of US healthcare. It also means that care is free at the point of service, with the exception of dentistry, some elective procedures (like cosmetic surgery), and prescriptions in England. While there can still be a disconnect between health services – for instance, mental health provision and physical health provision – it\u2019s generally all found under the NHS banner. Of course, a person still has the option to opt-in to private healthcare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Technology<\/p>\n

Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Healthcare takes place in a few different settings, and it\u2019s important to understand these in order to see how new technologies might be applied.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s primary care – this is the forefront of healthcare; the GPs. There are moves at the moment to link these in with wider services, like pharmacies and social workers, but in general, if you have a non-urgent medical issue, a GP is your first point of call.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s outpatient specialist care – usually based at hospitals, though occasionally in a large general practice. This is where your GP will refer you to if you need further tests or treatment. It includes people like dermatologists, endocrinologists, and other experts in their fields.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inpatient care is for those who need to stay at least one night, potentially more, in a hospital setting. You may encounter surgeons, specialists, and nurses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mental health care can be covered by the above, but often has its own section of care. There are specific inpatient and outpatient wards, as well as community-focused care. This community care has been complicated somewhat by the pandemic, as it\u2019s harder to <\/span>stay connected<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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NHS Professionals Selects RingCentral\u2019s Cloud Communications Solutions to Support Digital Transformation Initiatives<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t

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Long-term care, especially end-of-life care, is covered by the NHS and either involves hospice care or providing medical support at home. Private nursing homes will still have links to the NHS, so any technology introduced needs to be suited for private and NHS care.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s also out-of-hours care, which is where <\/span>telemedicine<\/span><\/a> comes in. NHS 111 allows people to call in and speak to someone about their symptoms, with it escalating to a trained nurse if needs be. The 111 staff can then direct users to the right services, often arranging appointments when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, there\u2019s community care – this is where you\u2019ll encounter clinics, meetings, and check-ins. Often hosted at a GP practice, these are often drop-in services that cover particular conditions. Common clinics include chronic disease, diabetes management, blood pressure monitoring, and new parents check-ins.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Technology<\/p>\n

Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

For the purposes of this guide, we\u2019ll be focusing on the future of healthcare particularly within the UK setting. While there are many similarities in the types of technology that will impact the field, the way they\u2019ll be implemented will differ in countries without a system like the NHS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evolution of Technology in Healthcare<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The healthcare system has always incorporated new technologies. Computed Tomography (CT) is a great example of this. It was invented in 1972 by Godfrey Hounsfield (a British engineer of EMI Laboratories) and Allan Cormack (a South Africa-born physicist based at Tufts University, Massachusetts). By the late 1970s it was in use, but only for scanning the head – whereas today CT scans are used to check the whole body for issues like cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Evolution<\/p>\n

Tech also tends to benefit long-term conditions. The treatment for <\/span>type 1 diabetes<\/span><\/a> has evolved substantially since it was discovered, and technology has played a large part in this. From the 1920s, where insulin was first purified and used, to today, where there\u2019s research taking place into an artificial pancreas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In just 100 years, technology has moved on from \u2018dip and read\u2019 urine tests to the first insulin pump. This was prototyped in 1963, developed further in the 1970s, and applied more generally from the 1990s onwards. This technology has continued to evolve, with trials on an artificial pancreas taking place in 2013. Whilst there are hybrid closed-loop systems available, work is still being done on the artificial pancreas, so there should be even more developments in this field.<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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Much of the evolution in the field of healthcare tech has come about since the invention of computers. <\/span>Digital technologies<\/span><\/a> have been widely adopted, to the point where many are so commonplace we might not even think of them when discussing technology in healthcare! Advances in administrative software sped up health care professionals\u2019 ability to treat patients and reduced the amount of paperwork involved. Digital health records, meanwhile, allow for quick and easy sharing of important data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Technology<\/p>\n

Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

One major change in the field has been how people look at the future of healthcare. Rather than considering how technology might fit into our existing healthcare models, people are beginning to reassess the model itself to take advantage of developments. Telemedicine may lead to less of a need for the strict delineation of GP and specialist care, while real-time home monitoring is likely to reduce inpatient stays.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll look more at predictions for the future of healthcare later on, but let\u2019s take a quick look at some of the current innovations and how they\u2019re changing health systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Wearable technology.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As advances in computing continue, devices grow smaller and smaller. <\/span>Smartphones<\/span><\/a> today have more power than all of NASA did during the moon landings – and they can do so much more! Devices like Fitbits are everywhere, allowing people to track their fitness goals and daily activity. They can also monitor your heart rate and track sleep patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Technology<\/p>\n

A lot of research is currently taking place into how wearables might be able to help with health issues – especially chronic disease – and one current example is how they can aid people with seizures. While still developing into being able to track seizures in advance, <\/span>wearables on the market<\/span><\/a> currently can alert family or friends to a seizure taking place – increasing the chances of timely healthcare if needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. VR training.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Training surgeons<\/a> is a lengthy process, requiring a lot of practice. Training somewhat rely on what\u2019s available – meaning there are some procedures a trainee surgeon might never encounter, and others they might do all the time. VR training can level the playing field here, allowing different types of surgery to be practiced without the need for actual patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

A recent study by <\/span>HBR<\/span><\/a> showed that participants who underwent VR training had their overall surgical performance improve by 230% compared with traditional training methods. This is a huge difference and opens up the possibility for VR training to become a standard part of medical degrees. It also opens up the possibility for healthcare professionals to be able to practice individual surgery before doing it – something that can\u2019t currently be done.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Robotic surgeons.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Robotic-assisted surgery still sounds futuristic, but it\u2019s actually been around for some time. Arthrobot first assisted with orthopedic surgery in <\/span>1985<\/span><\/a>. Robotic systems are particularly good for assisting with minimally invasive procedures, helping surgery evolve to having less of a long-term impact on aftercare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A lot of current research focuses on artificial intelligence and robotic surgery – the potential to have a robot carry out the surgery, rather than assisting, is huge. Delicate surgery on small areas like the eyes requires incredibly steady hands, which is something a robot can provide far more easily than a human. It also has benefits for avoiding infection – many future healthcare journals are considering how it might aid with treatment during the pandemic, such as in this <\/span>research topic<\/span><\/a> from Frontiers.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Telehealth.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We mentioned telemedicine earlier, but <\/span>telehealth<\/span><\/a> is a broad field that encompasses more than just digital appointments. Covid-19 has really pushed it into the mainstream consciousness, but it has been around for some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Technology<\/p>\n

Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

One of the biggest impacts telehealth has had on health systems is the <\/span>ability to consult with anyone, anywhere<\/span><\/a>. Rather than requiring patients to drive cross-country to see a specialist, a local hospital can take images and data, and forward the details digitally. This has sped up response time and improved patient care by increasing access to specialists that might otherwise be challenging to see.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. 3D Printing.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

3D printing has revolutionised many fields, and the future of healthcare looks set to be another one. Currently, a lot of progress has been made on <\/span>making prosthetics<\/span><\/a> easier and cheaper to access – which is particularly helpful for children, as they need to frequently change prosthetics to adjust for their growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of Technology in Healthcare<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As you can see from the examples above, there are a lot of advantages to implementing new technologies throughout the healthcare system. As well as specific benefits for certain types of medical needs, there are also broader benefits for the whole system.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Benefits-of-Technology-in-Healthcare\"<\/p>\n

1. Less time spent on admin.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Digital transformation<\/span><\/a> can hugely cut down the time spent on administrative tasks, freeing up time to focus on patients instead. A <\/span>\u00a340 million<\/span><\/a> investment designed to upgrade the software to have single-sign-on technology is following on from a trial at Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool. This trial showed that by implementing single-sign-on, time logging on to various systems dropped from 1 minute 45 seconds to 10 seconds. With nearly 5,000 logins a day, this ended up freeing up 130 hours of staff time!<\/span><\/p>\n

Digitally enabled care, such as the EPS (electronic prescription service) can also reduce the time spent on admin by reducing how long it takes. Rather than writing out prescriptions and having to either organise drop-off or pick-up to local pharmacies, they can be sent as digital files. This is particularly helpful for organising repeat prescriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The NHS e-Referral Service allows patients to <\/span>book their own appointments online<\/span><\/a>, reducing how long the receptionist team needs to spend on the phone and manually adjusting diaries. All of these small changes add up to a much more streamlined and efficient healthcare system, where the staff is freed up to spend more time on patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. More open access available to users.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As technology improves, people expect access to their own data. This includes medical records – and what those records are used for. The <\/span>NHS App<\/span><\/a> currently gives users access to:<\/span><\/p>\n