Before the pandemic shook the globe in 2020, our world was shifting to more digital-centric experiences. After COVID-19\u2019s unwelcome appearance, the demand for a connected world quickened, showing us a need for enhanced drug delivery, wearable devices, and apps for remote monitoring. Additionally, an increased importance was placed on patient engagement and adherence to health and treatment plans, as health maintenance fell to the wayside when the world shut down, and attention was diverted primarily to COVID-19 victims.<\/p>\n
The healthcare realm turned upside down as infections and deaths skyrocketed. As a result of the pandemic, many hospital systems suffered monetarily, putting a halt to surplus IT projects and digital initiatives. Ironically, navigating COVID-19 also increased awareness of our growing need for digital and remote alternatives in healthcare.<\/p>\n
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, accessing healthcare services was challenging. Even with limited availability of routine and emergency medical care, many people chose to forgo standard check-ups and treatment to avoid possible exposure to the virus.<\/p>\n
Data collected by TRACIE\u2014the U.S. federal government\u2019s healthcare emergency preparedness information gateway\u2014showed the following COVID-19 healthcare delivery impacts<\/a>:<\/p>\n All these factors put an increased strain on the healthcare industry as demand for medical services resumed after severe COVID-19 infections lessened. Many patients were playing \u201ccatch-up\u201d on their health maintenance as the world returned to a state of new normalcy.<\/p>\n Others experienced a need for more significant medical care. Unfortunately, unavailability, inaccessibility, unemployment, lack of benefits, and fear of falling ill kept many from reaching out to their healthcare providers or attending regularly scheduled visits\u2014thereby exacerbating the burden on the healthcare system.<\/p>\n These impacts don\u2019t even begin to touch on the pandemic\u2019s direct effect on staff shortages and finances. Nevertheless, the impression of COVID-19 on healthcare workers was significant and severe. Per a brief published by the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)<\/a>, a division of the Office of Health Policy, in May 2022, the pandemic \u201cput extreme stress on the healthcare workforce in the United States, leading to workforce shortages as well as increased healthcare worker burnout, exhaustion, and trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, many healthcare workers had their hours drastically cut, were furloughed, or lost their jobs due to slowed, delayed, or closed business. Elective and other minor medical procedures or entire departments were cut back or eliminated to avoid unnecessary exposure and make way for the focused care of COVID-19 victims, leading to some healthcare workers leaving and not returning even after things calmed down.<\/p>\n Vaccine mandates further complicated a return to the workforce for those who didn\u2019t feel comfortable with the shot. ASPE relayed that by mid-January 2022 (during the Omicron surge), \u201cthe 7-day average of hospitals reporting critical staffing shortages peaked at 22%<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Hospitals have had to pay to bring in contract staff and nursing to fill the gaps. This necessary solution continued to throw off their budgets and put the healthcare industry at a standstill as it dealt with the glaring problem\u2014from one crisis to another. Mainly, budgeting for IT projects saw a sharp decline, as hospital administrators were determined to sacrifice digital initiatives already in place (or in the planning stages) for adequate patient care\u2014the right choice at the time.<\/p>\n The pandemic\u2019s effects were and still are far-reaching. It was \u201cpanic mode\u201d for a while, but even in the aftermath, things aren\u2019t returning to \u201cnormal\u201d\u2014and that\u2019s to be expected. We\u2019re just beginning to see the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the healthcare industry\u2014but the good news is, they\u2019re not all negative.<\/p>\n Notably, digital health options are accelerating as the healthcare industry returns to a more profitable state. The health systems that adopt a more modern structure for connecting and interacting with their patients will see a more productive future ripe with possibility and innovation\u2014to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis unscathed and more abundant in practice than before.<\/p>\n Following the pandemic, people have been thrust into a new reality of digital requirements. COVID-19 showed us the essentialness of telehealth, remote monitoring, and at-home diagnostics. Additionally, you should expect to see advances in genetic engineering, cloud-based operations, big data, drones and robotics, and machine learning and human-machine interfaces (e.g., biosensors). Finally, AI, IoT, and machine-to-machine communications can increase efficiency, accuracy, and speed in clinical development and supply chain processes.<\/p>\n Consumerization is another healthcare transformation that\u2019s already happening. When implementing IT initiatives, it\u2019s important to remember the diversity of your patients, who now have plentiful options for their healthcare. Delivering optimal outcomes means fully adopting emerging technologies that can improve your organization\u2019s performance and rank you strategically among your competition. Specifically, leveraging technology to deliver healthcare to underserved populations can give you the upper hand moving into 2023.<\/p>\n After significant disruptions that began in early 2020 due to the global pandemic, going digital doesn\u2019t have to be another roadblock for your organization. Instead, it should be a gateway to heightened communications, engagement, and access for your patients. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states that \u201cthe spread of information and communications technology and global interconnectedness<\/a> has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge the digital divide, and to develop knowledge societies.\u201d<\/p>\n Applied to healthcare, specifically, the United Nations General Assembly found that technology led to \u201cbreakthroughs in government in the provision of healthcare, with greater numbers of people having access to services and data that might previously have been out of reach or unaffordable.\u201d This feedback was based on an overall review of outcomes retrieved by the World Summit on Information Society regarding implementing specified global digital health strategies.<\/p>\n Vantage Market Research predicted that the healthcare cloud computing market will reach $128.19 billion<\/a> by 2028, with an 18.74% CAGR from 2021 to 2028\u2014meaning if you\u2019re not already making advances to cloud technology, it\u2019s worth factoring into your IT strategy. Also, transitioning to cloud-based operations may make you less vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches. Lastly, it\u2019s the greener choice<\/a> for companies trying to be more eco-friendly in today\u2019s environmentally conscious climate.<\/p>\n As part of the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025, it is the goal that \u201cthe strategic and innovative use of digital and cutting-edge information and communications technologies\u201d might ensure that 1 billion more people benefit from better access, services, and health and wellbeing. Some of the highlighted technologies that could help achieve these objectives include:<\/p>\n Key benefits of implementing these technologies include:<\/p>\n To develop effective digital health initiatives that are patient- or person-focused, it\u2019s essential to consider \u201ctransparency, accessibility, scalability, replicability, interoperability, privacy, security, and confidentiality,\u201d per WHO\u2019s report. WHO states that when implementing new digital strategies, you must prioritize your patients\u2019 health and benefits in a \u201csafe, secure, reliable, equitable, and sustainable\u201d way.<\/p>\n Additionally, your methods should be aligned and integrated with the appropriate, supportive infrastructure to avoid your good intentions falling short. Lastly, affordability is also a prime factor as consumerization envelops the healthcare industry, so you should be aware of cost-saving measures as you promote IT transformation within your organization and put more digital options within the grasp of your patients.<\/p>\n Presently, the most significant challenge for the industry is financial recovery, and it will take some time for many health systems to bounce back from the hit to their budgets. In May 2020, the American Hospital Association (AHA) estimated a total four-month financial impact of $202.6 billion in losses for American hospitals and health systems<\/a>. This number equates to an average $50.7 billion monthly loss at the start of the pandemic. Losses could be attributed to:<\/p>\n According to Fierce Healthcare, the amount of money in the bank and the organization’s size are important factors in each health system\u2019s overall position post-COVID-19. Most importantly, though, those with established digital strategies and a handle on telehealth operations<\/a> are among the healthcare systems that will fare better on the other side of the COVID-19 crisis.<\/p>\n So, as the industry finds some renewed balance, redistributing funds back into the IT budget may be the best way to excel through the end of 2022 and into the future. Just like other areas of healthcare, though, the IT sector is presently experiencing a shortage of trained IT professionals<\/a> capable of filling cybersecurity and other technology gaps as they move to enhanced digital functionalities.<\/p>\n AI can help fill some of these gaps with effective risk management. Additionally, cloud technology built into your digital transformation strategy with security and reliability at the forefront could negate the need for an increased cybersecurity workforce by lessening the burden on your current staff.<\/p>\n Lastly, having a trusted partner to provide the needed support and expertise to help you enhance your healthcare IT capabilities<\/a> can help you transition to a more digital-friendly organization that best serves the needs of your patients into the New Year and beyond. As the world moves forward, it\u2019s important to move with it, remaining one step ahead of your competition by creating a system that operates more efficiently and precisely while providing remote and other alternate options for care.<\/p>\n COVID-19 has monopolized the healthcare space for years. It\u2019s time to take back the industry by creating a bigger, better, and more modern experience for your patients\u2014one that encourages participation and interest in ongoing medical care and treatment to get our world back to optimal health with increased ease and satisfaction.<\/p>\n It’s becoming more apparent that doctor-patient interaction with increased connectivity, involvement, and convenience can result in more personalized, consistent, and reliable medical care. Part of that process is getting to know the patient. At a digital level, this includes accumulating relevant data that can be used to determine areas where support may be needed, what services might be required, and how to maximize health potential. Trust is paramount to carrying out this mission.<\/p>\n At Oxford, we believe in relationships built on trust<\/a>, starting with getting to know you and providing The Right Talent. Right Now.\u00ae When you partner with us, you can be assured that you will get the knowledge and expertise of some of the top healthcare IT candidates worldwide\u2014and you\u2019ll get who you need when you need them<\/a>. We\u2019ve already built a network of professionals ready and waiting to work with you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" COVID-19 led to staff shortages and budget cutbacks in healthcare. But advanced digital initiatives are vital as the industry continues to recover post-pandemic. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":9419,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[183],"tags":[114],"category-tag":[],"class_list":["post-9426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-healthcare"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
Current Healthcare Trends Post-COVID-19: How Is the Industry Evolving?<\/h2>\n
IT\/Digital Initiatives in Healthcare: What\u2019s Being Done and What Should You Be Doing?<\/h2>\n
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2023 Trajectory: Reallocating the Budget to Information Technology<\/h2>\n
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Oxford Solutions: How Can We Help Your Healthcare Organization Push Digital Initiatives?<\/h2>\n