With the advancement in technology today, most things can now be addressed digitally as compared to the past. Digitization has not only brought about change in how things are done in the business arena or the telecommunication field, but has now penetrated the medical industry and changed everything from disease diagnosis, monitoring of diseases, manufacture of medicines, and also the treatment of diseases.
Most of the diseases that could not be diagnosed or treated in the past are now effectively treated even in your local medical facilities thanks to the advancement in medical skills, and the improved technology. Looking into the future diseases such as cancers, whose treatment entails deadly drugs or painful procedures would be treated successfully. Patients won’t have to endure excruciating pain or grapple with fatal prescriptions. But this is the role of digital health.
What are Digital Health Solutions?
These are programs or internet/cloud-connected devices whose purpose is to detect or treat medical indications. Digital solutions comprise of telemedicine, mobile phone applications, web-based analysis, wearable devices, remote monitoring sensors and much more. The multidisciplinary domain includes multiple stakeholders such as researchers, clinicians, engineers, social scientists and much more.
Digital health Solutions Stats
Research shows that these solutions will save the US health system over $100 billion in the next four years from now. Currently, in the US, there are several FDA approved digital healthcare solutions that are already changing the nature of patient interactions.
These systems have already started to alter consumer expectations and are continuing to enhance health outcomes. As of 2014, web-based medical devices promoted treatment adherence as well as behavior modification, significantly decreasing episodes of urgent medical care as well as cost. That year the US health system saved up to $6 billion.
In 2018 this figure is set to rise from 2014’s $6 billion to a whopping $50 billion according to FDA estimates. FDA in the same vein estimates the growth of digital health solutions from the initial 33 as of 2014 to 100 by the December 2018. The growth is attributed to various factors such as the health IT mandates, regulatory changes and also payment reforms.
Benefits of a Digital Health Solution
The stats above only show the financial benefits that these programs have on the healthcare sector. However, when a digital health solutions company comes up with such a program, they are not only looking at what the program will rake or what the healthcare system saves but how individuals will benefit.
They enable both the public and patients to keep track and manage their health without having to consult a general practitioner. It empowers patients by allowing them to gain an in-depth understanding of their conditions and easing the pressure encountered by healthcare professionals. There are reduced appointments, your GP accesses your readings on the go, and there is also an increased workload capacity which can be of help elsewhere.
Conclusion
The benefits of these solutions cannot be understated. These tools should be adapted as with them your GP can monitor a set of conditions such as chronic pain, Undernutrition, falls, your weight, COPD, surgical outcomes, and much more and. You prevent instances of urgent medical care or chances of dying.