WHY IS DIGITAL HEALTHCARE IMPORTANT & WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS?

What is digital health?

Digital health consists of a broad category of platforms such as mobiles, computers, applications, software, sensors, wearable devices, personalized medication, and telemedicine. Doctors and the general public use these resources to make decisions about healthcare-related issues. 

Digital health brings technologies and healthcare together. It uses information, tools, and communications in medicine to manage various disease conditions and health risks. It also lets people have easy access to their doctors or healthcare professionals, regardless of where they live. Digital technology has played a vital role in revolutionizing healthcare. It has great potential to considerably improve diagnosis and correctly treat diseases, thereby enhancing the quality of life of every individual.

These technologies are intended to be used as an accompanying diagnostic partner, medical product, or medical device. They can be simultaneously used with medicines, tests, procedures, etc. We can also use them to develop medicines and perform studies.

Digital healthcare in India

Digital healthcare technology is an important pillar for providing value-based care to all the healthcare sectors in India. Quick, adaptive, and intelligent solutions can help lower healthcare-related barriers between hospitals and patients. This technology also improves access to healthcare and overall patient satisfaction, especially in India's tier II and III cities.

Most healthcare companies are ready to embrace this innovation and new trends to steer their business strategies to increase their customer base and meet their demands. As healthcare innovation is growing rapidly, opportunities for healthcare companies and medical devices manufacturers across India are also growing.

The Indian healthcare industry is expected to achieve record growth. Similarly, the hospital industry in India is expected to increase by 16-17% each year. This growth is driven by lifestyle disorders, an aging population, increasing income levels, improving access to insurance, and increasing health-related awareness. India is leading in adopting digital health technology, with 76% of healthcare professionals in the country already using digital health records (DHRs) in their practice.

This rapid growth in need and demand for healthcare services puts considerable pressure on controlling the cost burden, providing quality care, and efficiently managing limited human resources and insufficient infrastructure. Artificial intelligence is currently reshaping the Indian healthcare market significantly. A significant portion of the projected growth is expected to be contributed by digital health start-ups.

What are the benefits of digital healthcare? 

There are many benefits offered by the digital healthcare system. A few of them include:

• •Digital healthcare focuses more on the prevention of health disorders than treatment. It helps in the self-management of various health disorders. It also keeps track of all the current and previous symptoms, thereby helping in monitoring a given medical condition regularly. Digital healthcare tools help detect diseases early before it progresses and irreversibly compromises health. This technology is immensely valuable for patients at risk of certain conditions like lung diseases, cancer, etc.

• •Digital health is more reliable and sustainable compared to other healthcare options. As the incidences of lifestyle-related diseases increase, there is an increase in healthcare costs and pressure on the healthcare system. With digital healthcare platforms, almost anyone can have access to quick healthcare-related services, which would eventually improve one’s quality of life. These platforms also reduce the burden on hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

• •With digital health, doctors and healthcare professionals can extend their practice. With easy access to more patients from all over the country, doctors are no longer limited by their location. It not only improves their business but also reduces the administrative burden. It increases the time between the patient and the doctor for treatment and monitoring. It is useful for patients who live in remote areas and do not have easy access to good hospitals and doctors.

• •Digital health can remodel the relationship between patients and doctors. One of the main goals of digital health tools and technology is to reduce the burden on doctors and professionals by providing them easy access to their patients. They have all the necessary information about the patients who are already logged in. They can remotely monitor their patients and provide treatment plans. This quick access between patients and doctors increases trust and improves their interactions. 

• •Digital health reduces the financial burden on hospitals and patients. Digital health is affordable to both patients and doctors because of all the available technologies and devices. Digital platforms have made online communication just as effective as an in-person consultation.
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What is digital therapy?

Major advances in mobile technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in our everyday lives have widened the role of digital therapy in the healthcare industry. Digital therapy is a subset of digital health. It is an evidence-based therapy backed by high-quality software programs, which assists in preventing, managing, and treating many diseases or disorders. It helps collect digital information, analyze reports, and provide measures for disease prevention. Many conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart failure, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression can be monitored effectively and accurately. 

Top digital transformation trends affecting the healthcare industry

•Telehealth: Telehealth is transforming how patients and doctors interact.

• •Artificial intelligence in healthcare: AI is one of the fastest-growing technologies in the healthcare industry
• •Big data and hospitals: Hospitals can collect data from various sources to provide insights, leading to taking informed action.
• •Data management and patient analytics: Digital health records (DHR) manage patients’ complete data in one place, which can be very useful for further analysis and evaluation. 
• •Wearable devices and technology: Wearable devices allow doctors to monitor patients remotely. 
• •Blockchain and medical records: Blockchain technology in medicine provides privacy and allows patients to manage their DHRs through an app. Doctors, pharmacists, and insurance agents need to request access to patient data.
• •Virtual reality for patient treatment: VR is changing the way patients receive treatment.