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Digital Innovations and Trends Brought in 2022 that Will Shape the Future of Healthcare

The digital innovations that healthcare saw in this decade are major determiners of what its future will look like and what expectations to have. The healthcare industry has started progressing because of the innovations put forth because of digitisation and artificial intelligence. It has enabled quick-paced diagnosis and treatments while also relieving burden off the workforce. One of the future concerns surrounding these new technologies is related to the viability of new system integrated with the older one. Most experts also believe that the conventional ways may be replaced with digitised technologies. Here, we will discuss the innovations that are here to stay and progress.

Role of AI

AI has played a crucial role in the healthcare industry with respect to many domains such as drug development, better cancer diagnosis, and development of AI-driven applications and telehealth. Pfizer claims that they would not have been able to produce vaccine if they were not equipped with digitised tools for the development of drug. Machine learning and remote monitoring allowed them to collect and analyse data, which shows how critical a role it played. Likewise, LUCID has been successful in devising an AI-powered application, based on music therapy, that has the potential to help patients with dementia. Telehealth application have enabled at-home care for the elderly and many other people. Recently, engineer at Stanford University created minirobots that can swim through the body for the purpose of targeted drug delivery.

The trend of relying on AI-sponsored applications is here to stay as most of the technologies can yield better outcomes. In cancer diagnosis, for instance, scans carried out with modern methods of histopathology are more reliable and accurate. Not only does the WSI technology yield results, but it also requires little training, which will make it easier to be used all around the world in healthcare.

Augmented Reality in Healthcare

Augmented reality is much talked about in other industries such as CPG. Does it have a potential in the healthcare industry? Data shows that it is, in fact, a reality that encompasses virtual as well as mixed reality. Assisting surgery is one of the major developments that healthcare recently achieved. Microsoft Hololens 2, for instance, is now widely used among surgeons during surgeries. The AR headset enables surgeons to keep getting heads up information while performing a procedure. The similar AR headset is not only confined to surgeries. Rather, it can be used during training sessions and medical education. Other AR technologies have assisted nurses in locating veins to draw blood from. Though the uses of AR are yet quite specific, the healthcare world is all set to confront extension of these technologies that are more encompassing.

Wearables

The trend of digital wearable devices is increasing at a very fast pace. A survey conducted by Delliote informed that 39% users owned a smartwatch that recorded their status. Wearable technologies allow doctors to keep a track of a patient’s well being. Devices that track heart rate and oxygen levels are considered quite valuable by the doctors as it issues in either of these things can lead to life-threatening conditions. Smartwatches have the potential to save lives as this data can be used by healthcare professionals for diagnosis. Wearables in the form of smart hearing aids are also impactful for the patients.

The Metaverse

While the Metaverse is something that is rapidly gaining traction from all sectors, the healthcare industry, as usual, is looked at with scepticism in the eyes. Even if the Metaverse is overhyped, it does leave some space for virtual reality, which enables the healthcare industry to provide better personalised care. Some of the hospitals such as Alder Hey Children Hospital and Yashoda Hospital have entered the Metaverse by acquiring space in Decentraland. PixelMax has duplicated Alder Hey’s radiology department digitally, where children can get care with the help of a VR headset. Maplewood Senior Living also offers the care to the elderly through a VR therapy that can enhance their emotional well being by unlocking their memories.

Experts believe that the Metaverse is worth the hype, even if it is overhyped, the healthcare industry will still have the potential to use this technology for the purpose of helping patients. Spatial audio enables patients in telehealth settings to encounter an immersive experience, which is one of the key features of the Metaverse.

 

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