Digital Healthcare Is Here to Stay: What You Need to Know
Across the healthcare industry, a paradigm shift is underway that is being driven by digital care technologies. Not only do patients want the convenience and flexibility of virtual options for their care, but more and more organizations are turning to digital healthcare solutions as a way to improve patient engagement and outcomes while lowering costs. Let’s take a look at what digital care entails, explore its benefits for organizations, and understand the driving forces behind this seismic shift.
What Is Digital Healthcare?
Digital care refers to the integration of digital technologies into the delivery of healthcare services. From virtual visits and online exercise programs to mobile apps and remote patient monitoring, digital healthcare is a comprehensive ecosystem that leverages technology to enhance the efficiency, accessibility, and quality of care delivery.
Top Digital Healthcare Benefits
Streamlined workflows: Digital care automates routine tasks for clinicians at the point of care, making their jobs easier and allowing them to spend more valuable time with patients.
Better access to care: Telehealth and home exercise programs allow patients to access the care they need from wherever they are. This not only attracts a broader patient base but also helps organizations provide a higher level of care.
Improved patient engagement: Digital care fosters better patient engagement through tools like home exercise programs, remote monitoring, patient adherence tracking, and in-app messaging. Engaged patients are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, resulting in improved outcomes.
Data-driven insights: Digital care generates vast amounts of data, offering valuable insights into treatment effectiveness. Organizations can leverage this data to make informed decisions, tailor services, and enhance overall patient care. One example is remote therapeutic monitoring, which allows patients to track and document their progress, giving clinicians greater visibility into their day-to-day status.
Reduced costs: By reducing unnecessary in-person visits for lower acuity patients, digital care tools help organizations provide more targeted care at a lower cost.
The Movement Towards Digital Healthcare
Rapid technological advancements, including the widespread availability of high-speed internet, the proliferation of smartphones, and the development of sophisticated health-related apps and devices, have laid the foundation for the digital healthcare revolution.
In addition, global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated digital healthcare innovation and adoption. During this time, the need for remote care, telemedicine, and digital communication became more apparent, prompting organizations to expedite their digital transformation efforts. On top of that, modern consumers expect convenience in every aspect of their lives, and healthcare is no exception. The demand for convenient, accessible healthcare services has also fueled the shift towards digital solutions.
Digital care is not just a technological upgrade; it is a strategic imperative for healthcare organizations. As the world continues to embrace the possibilities offered by digital technologies, organizations that leverage and adapt to this shift will be better positioned on the forefront of care.
How MedBridge Helps
MedBridge Pathways is a groundbreaking solution in the field of virtual physical therapy. This digital care platform, which is currently in beta testing and will be available to early adopters in 2024, is purpose-built to keep therapy at the forefront of musculoskeletal care. By offering a personalized experience, incorporating gamification, and utilizing data-driven progress tracking, MedBridge Pathways aims to guide patients towards better health outcomes.
Want to know more? MedBridge’s CMO, Taylor Sterling, recently discussed the future of digital care on the Demandbase Sunny Side Up Podcast. Listen here.
