In 2019, Price Waterhouse Cooper surveyed CEOs of U.S. health care systems, over one-third, 38% reported having no digital component in their overall strategic plan.
For years, U.S. healthcare providers have been slowly moving towards making services available via telehealth. Fast forward to the spring of 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the acceleration and adoption of telemedicine forward by a decade, if not more, according to health care leaders.
Telehealth is just the beginning, the choices in new remote service options that health systems are rapidly attempting to implement is growing by leaps and bounds. These services include “omni-channel” communications like text, email and mobile-phone applications; helping securely meet the end user on the device and communication platform that they are most comfortable. These new technological services will not only support patients with Covid, but provide for everyday routine clinical services and administrative items.
The heathcare industry will require the power of digital technologies to transform delivery and scale systems. The pandemic has been a turning point for so many industries, but few with such a critical need for technological support. Thanks to this turn towards technology, physicians across the country are providing care that, until now, was thought to only be feasible in person. Patients, doctors and healthcare organizations are finding that this influx of technology is not only secure, but it’s quicker and easier than what they were doing just months ago. Doctors are achieving better outcomes due to use of the remote and virtual technologies they are now deploying. The increased accessibility has reduced the friction between the patient trying to get healthcare services and the healthcare provider – leading to better outcomes.
With all of this necessary change, the digital component needs to be at the forefront of every healthcare organizations strategic plan. From data storage needs, to connectivity and back-up, IT will continue to play one of the biggest roles in this healthcare revolution.