The Healthcare industry is estimated to be one of the world’s largest industries.
No surprise!
The latest healthcare trends hint at the phenomenal rate at which the industry is growing. The healthcare market has the power to sway the world economy one way or the other.
The total value of the global health care market is expected to be $11,908.9 billion by 2022.
Despite the unprecedented challenges the Industry has recently faced, it continues to adapt, adopt, and evolve. Healthcare technology innovations are at an all-time high.
The healthcare trends that I am going to discuss here indicate what the future of healthcare could be and the direction in which it may grow.
If you are a healthcare business owner or a marketer, take note of these emerging healthcare trends and refine your business strategy to stay on the growth path.
Top 10 Healthcare Trends That You Should Know
The healthcare industry is poised for disruption in many ways. And the healthcare trends are indicative of this shift in the way the industry operates.
It’s a good time for those who are planning to be healthcare professionals. You can enroll in an online nursing program from a reputed institution to make a great career in healthcare.
The healthcare trends that I am discussing here can help you prepare and strategize for what the future holds for this Industry.
1. Telehealth May Find a Permanent Position in the Industry
Virtual care has emerged as one of the top healthcare trends in the past few years. More and more healthcare providers are offering virtual check-ups and consultation sessions to their patients during the pandemic.
A survey conducted by Mckinsey and Company shows a tremendous surge in telehealth as both caregivers and patients looked for safe means to access healthcare services.
In 2022 and beyond, telehealth may find a permanent position in the healthcare industry. With the growing demand for medical services due to chronic diseases becoming more prevalent, telehealthcare promises to be a viable solution. Technologies like virtual call software make it possible for caregivers to connect with their patients no matter where they are.
Thanks to the mobile healthcare apps offering doctor on-demand and live video consultations, doctors can evaluate, diagnose, and treat a variety of symptoms virtually. Telehealth is one of the top healthcare trends with the power to shape the future of the Industry.
2. Growing Demand for Personalization
Personalization is at the heart of patient engagement in the healthcare industry.
Why do I say that?
Personalization in healthcare presents an opportunity to deliver better patient experience and engagement and high-quality care.
Personalization which is already among the top healthcare trends will continue to dominate the Industry in 2022. The concept of personalized healthcare offers convenience and easy accessibility and can ultimately reduce the overall cost.
As a healthcare institution, you can leverage this demand for your benefit. You can establish a patient-centric ecosystem by offering personalized tracking of blood sugar and blood pressure levels, targeted treatments for cancer patients, customized exercise and diet recommendations, and a lot more. Healthcare institutions are even conducting DNA testing to pinpoint genetic health risks and suggest measures to prevent them.
With a variety of advanced technologies at hand, you can meet the growing expectations of consumers and stand out in the crowd.
3. Wearables and Digital Healthcare Tools May Take Center Stage
The pandemic has made clear the importance of wearables and healthcare tools beyond our expectations. Digital healthcare wearables like fitness trackers and smartwatches can monitor blood pressure, oxygen saturation, blood sugar level, and so on.
One of the biggest success stories is the Apple watch which features an advanced heart rate monitor. The brand has even gone ahead and collaborated with Stanford and Johnson & Johnson to test the accuracy of their device.
As one of the growing healthcare trends, we can expect more and more companies to incorporate medical tech into their products. Such digital devices can help patients track their health and guide them efficiently in time of need. They are cost-effective and can help save valuable time too.
In the years to come, wearables and digital devices can help consumers develop a more intelligent approach to maintain their health and deal with adverse health conditions.
4. Enhanced Application of Artificial Intelligence
The use of Artificial Intelligence is one of the striking healthcare trends. AI has been successfully replacing laborious and time-consuming tasks in the healthcare industry. Healthcare is now remotely accessible, providing real-time solutions to patients.
The role of chatbots in the sector has gone way beyond recorded messages to offering human-like, intelligent answers. AI has healthcare applications in workplace management in hospitals, advanced surgical assistance, and diagnostics.
As one of the fastest-growing healthcare trends, AI is expected to penetrate deeper into the Industry. AI-powered platforms may play significant roles in monitoring patient safety, boosting efficacy, reducing clinical errors, and more.
5. Restrictions on Patient Data Intensify
One of the leading healthcare trends that healthcare institutions and insurance agencies can not afford to ignore is the importance of protecting customer privacy.
If you know your HIPAA rights, you know that your personal health information gathered by covered entities is federally protected.
The restriction on personal health data will only intensify in 2022. Data collaboration and technology integration is inevitable in healthcare, but it should be done keeping in mind the cybersecurity risks threatening the Industry.
As we advance, healthcare institutions should adopt a hardcore data security program to detect potential threats and avoid them.
6. Mental Healthcare Will Continue to be a Priority
If there was ever a time to prioritize mental well-being, it’s now.
Did you know that behavioral factors are one of the crucial reasons for premature deaths in the US? Several chronic healthcare conditions like substance abuse, depression, overeating, etc., may be caused due to an imbalance in mental health.
That’s the reason behavioral medicine and healthcare are among the top healthcare trends in 2022. In the post-pandemic era, equal emphasis needs to be given to mental wellness and physical health.
Psychology, psychiatry, and other treatments for behavioral health disorders should find the place they deserve in mainstream healthcare. Once behavioral healthcare becomes more accessible, we might prevent and even treat a long list of other health conditions.
7. Better Website, Better UX
How good is your website at delivering a great user experience?
If you are still stuck with a generic website design that neither pleases the consumer nor Google, it’s time to redesign.
Why?
Google recently rolled out its ‘page experience update,’ which will help determine page ranking.
If you want to improve the SEO of your healthcare website and rank higher in search results, your website must deliver an excellent page experience. That’s one of the healthcare trends you should prepare yourself for.
To do so, healthcare firms should understand what their patients are looking for and restructure their websites accordingly.
To deliver better UX through your website, you should work on:
- Website content and design
- Ease of navigation
- Compatibility with various devices
- Website SEO
- Accessibility
- Round the clock engagement tools like chatbots, auto email support, and telephonic support
In 2022, make it your aim to improve your website for a refined UX and generate quality leads for your business.
Which Healthcare Trends Will Dominate 2022?
That’s my list of top healthcare trends to watch out for in 2022 and beyond.
Several of the key healthcare trends and issues that dominated the global healthcare sector in 2021 may continue to do so in 2022 as well.
The healthcare stakeholders who want to beat the competition can leverage these healthcare trends for their benefit. You, too, can take note of these trends to prepare effectively and be future-ready.
Will any of these healthcare trends become industry disruptors? Which one of them do you think will dramatically impact the Industry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
