The healthcare industry is a place of constant innovation and evolution; new techniques, methods and trials are conducted on a regular basis, changing the landscape of medical science and improving patient outcomes.

Thanks to a combination of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology, technology is significantly helping to deliver the best possible healthcare services for patients and medical professionals alike.

Telemedicine will help facilitate quality healthcare

Healthcare for all has been the dream for decades, and in 2019 it could finally be taking shape. The developments of AI, Big Data analytics and robotics have contributed to some of the big changes in the course of medical science across all healthcare segments. Furthermore, the development in IT and cloud-based networks mean that it’s now possible for healthcare services to extend right into the patient’s home, crossing geographical barriers.

Cloud-based electronic health records are also enabling doctors across the world to truly realise the concept of remote patient monitoring, as they can easily provide complete health records of patients along with medical history, lifestyle habits and other vital observations which can help doctors to prescribe the right care.

We expect to see continuous advances in cloud-based EHRs in 2019, which will ultimately benefit everyone equally, irrespective of geographical boundaries, in a cost-effective manner.

Artificial Intelligence could help provide better care

AI is often used in the analysis of complex clinical data, as applications analyse the relationship between prevention, treatment techniques and patient outcomes. It’s also likely to have applications in diagnostic processes, treatment protocol development, personalised medications and prescriptions.

It also has the potential to positively impact the future of drug discovery, as well as patient monitoring and care.

We could soon see the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) for healthcare

It’s estimated that there are nearly 2.5 billion smartphone uses worldwide, who are creating a communication network which can be used as a strong base for various telemedicine programmes. By connecting the smart medical devices which already exist with this communication network, the healthcare industry could soon experience a total digital revolution.

A cloud-based connection of wearables, smart sensors and mobile diagnostic machines, as well as AI-powered health monitors, could enable doctors to investigate and access the patient vitals with greater accuracy. We expect that this wide pool of data would then be processed with the help of Big Data analytics to help doctors prescribe precision medicine.

The healthcare infrastructure is vast and full of strict protocols and procedures, but the network of medical sensory devices will likely be able to facilitate virtual and remote clinics for accurate treatment.

Blockchain could transform the industry

Blockchain technology has the potential to enhance healthcare systems, by placing patients at the centre of the healthcare ecosystem. It could ultimately increase the security, privacy and interoperability of healthcare data. These systems could also help to reduce the costs and friction of current intermediaries within the industry, as it could connect fragmented systems to generate insights and better assess the values of care.

These are just some of the advancements we could expect to see within the healthcare industry in 2019; it looks set to be a year of integrated intelligent healthcare infrastructure, where a ‘value/outcomes-based system’ has a strong emphasis.