Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | August 16, 2023
Explore latest hospital industry trends driving digital transformation, data analytics, and patient-centric care for improved outcomes and personalized experiences in a dynamic healthcare landscape.
Contents
1. Understanding Dynamic Hospital Industry Trends
2. Significance of Keeping Up with Hospital Industry Trends
3. Quick Glance at Latest Hospital Industry Trends
3.1 Cybersecurit
3.2 Virtualization and ML capabilities
3.3 Telehealth and Telemedicine
3.4 Robotics
3.5 Wearables
4. Future Scope
1. Understanding Dynamic Hospital Industry Trends
The hospital industry is undergoing dynamic changes driven by digital transformation, data analytics, and patient-centric care. Hospitals are adopting technologies like electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine while leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence for better insights. Patient engagement and personalized healthcare experiences are prioritized. The shift towards value-based care and proactive population health management is evident. Collaboration, interoperability, and preventive care initiatives are also gaining importance. These emerging trends in healthcare technology reflect the industry’s commitment to improving patient outcomes in an evolving landscape.
2. Significance of Keeping Up with Hospital Industry Trends
Staying up-to-date with the latest trends in healthcare industry is of utmost importance for professionals and organizations. It enables them to deliver improved patient care by implementing cutting-edge technologies and treatment methodologies. Hospitals can streamline processes, reduce costs, and allocate resources effectively by adopting industry trends focused on operational efficiency. Keeping pace with industry trends also provides a competitive advantage, helping hospitals attract and retain patients, maintain their reputation as innovative institutions, and outperform competitors. Furthermore, staying informed about evolving regulations and compliance standards ensures hospitals remain compliant, avoiding penalties and legal issues. Industry trends also reflect the changing demographics of patient populations, allowing hospitals to adapt their services and offerings accordingly. This knowledge aids in strategic decision-making, enabling administrators to align their strategies with the evolving healthcare landscape. Additionally, staying updated on industry trends facilitates collaboration and partnerships, promoting innovation and improved healthcare delivery.
3. Glance at Latest Hospital Industry Trends
The hospital industry is experiencing a wave of the latest trends reshaping the healthcare delivery landscape. From technological advancements to shifting patient needs and evolving care models, these trends drive significant changes in how hospitals operate and provide care.
3.1 Cybersecurity
Taking the lead in hospital industry trends is cybersecurity, which plays a vital role in safeguarding the industry against cyber threats and protecting patient information, sensitive data, and critical infrastructure. By implementing a robust hospital cybersecurity policy, patient data confidentiality, integrity, and availability can be ensured, along with mitigating the financial and reputational damages that can arise from cyberattacks. Furthermore, cybersecurity measures enable the continuity of healthcare services and foster patient trust. Prioritizing cybersecurity helps hospitals maintain compliance with data protection laws like HIPAA and strengthen relationships with patients and other stakeholders.
3.2 Virtualization and ML Capabilities
Next in line with hospital industry trends is the adoption of virtualization and machine learning (ML) capabilities that are revolutionizing healthcare operations and patient care. Virtualization allows hospitals to optimize infrastructure, reduce costs, and enhance resource utilization by creating virtual instances of hardware and software. Concurrently, ML algorithms analyze vast amounts of healthcare data, such as electronic health records and medical images, enabling accurate diagnoses, personalized treatments, and predictive insights. The integration of virtualization and ML facilitates remote healthcare services, ensures data security and privacy, and drives operational efficiency, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and streamlined healthcare delivery.
3.3 Telehealth and Telemedicine
The rapid adoption of telehealth and telemedicine, which will transform healthcare delivery, is on the horizon for the hospital industry. These technologies enable convenient access to healthcare services, especially for individuals in remote areas, reducing travel time and costs. Telehealth and telemedicine improve healthcare efficiency by reducing wait times, allowing timely medical advice, prescription refills, and follow-up care. They also facilitate collaboration among healthcare providers and specialists, ensuring access to specialized care. In emergencies, telehealth and telemedicine in the hospital industry enable real-time triage and remote monitoring. Despite challenges related to regulatory compliance and data security, telehealth and telemedicine have transformed healthcare delivery, offering convenience, efficiency, and expanded access to care.
3.4 Robotics
The integration of hospital robotics is reshaping the industry, revolutionizing surgical procedures by enabling exceptional precision and significantly reducing recovery times. Surgical robots assist in complex surgeries, improving accuracy and patient outcomes. Additionally, robots streamline tasks like medication dispensing and inventory management, reducing errors and freeing up healthcare professionals. Rehabilitation robots aid patients in regaining mobility, while robotic telepresence enables remote consultations and monitoring. Despite challenges such as implementation costs and regulatory considerations, robotics continues to transform healthcare delivery, enhancing patient care and operational efficiency.
3.5 Wearables
The widespread adoption of wearables, emerging prominently in the hospital industry, redefines patient care and monitoring practices. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and remote patient monitoring devices, offer real-time health data and enable continuous monitoring of vital signs, activity levels, and sleep patterns. These devices provide valuable insights into a patient's health and allow for early detection of potential health issues. Wearables promote patient engagement and empowerment by encouraging individuals to manage their health actively. Healthcare professionals can remotely monitor patients' health status, track medication adherence, and intervene promptly if abnormalities are detected. Additionally, wearables offer opportunities for remote patient monitoring, telemedicine consultations, and personalized health interventions.
4. Future Scope
The potential of hospital industry trends in the coming years also encompasses genomics and personalized medicine advancements. With an increasing understanding of genetic factors in health and disease, hospitals can offer tailored treatments based on an individual's unique genetic makeup, leading to a revolution in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Furthermore, integrating blockchain technology in healthcare is expected to enhance data security, interoperability, and patient privacy, enabling seamless sharing of medical records across healthcare providers. Overall, the horizon of the hospital industry holds immense promise for innovative technologies, data-driven insights, and patient-centric care models, all contributing to the development of a more efficient, accessible, and personalized healthcare ecosystem.
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Health Technology, Digital Healthcare
Article | September 7, 2023
Contents
1. Alexa, Are You There?
2. Digital Assistants-Cum-Doctor-Assistants
3. Toward An AI-Friendly Life!
1. Alexa, Are You There?
If Siri, Alexa, Google Now, or Cortana are your friends, you do not need any special introduction for today’s topic! This is because these digital assistants have become part and parcel of our lives; from completing our minimal tasks to helping us solve our problems, they make our day-to-day life simpler and more manageable. Popularly called AI, Artificial Intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines. Similarly, Machine Learning, also called ML, is the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior.
2. Digital Assistants-cum-Doctor Assistants
The unpredictable pandemic years, which took thousands of lives, depict the rise of complexities in the healthcare industry. To deal with such cases in the future tactfully, the healthcare segment needs to be proactive and implement advanced technologies to detect, resolve, and prevent untimely death. Modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning help the medical fraternity perform tasks usually done by humans quickly and accurately, saving much time that can be utilized elsewhere.
Let’s take a quick tour of how AI and ML can boost the healthcare industry:
Artificial Intelligence can broadly scan patient databases or consult patients via a chatbot or online support system to understand their symptoms, send data to doctors, and get real-time diagnoses and prescribed medicines.
Machine Learning, a subset of AI, can replace traditional processes with a supervised one, as in, a patient can be treated based on similar symptoms and treatment of other patients. The process requires a quick scanning of the database, which can be time-consuming if done by human effort.
Taking technology by storm, patients suffering from neurological disorders can be treated via Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) backed by AI. With the help of this technology, normal bodily functions, such as the ability to move, speak or react, can be restored. It can also assist doctors in treating patients with strokes, locked-in syndrome, etc.The healthcare segment is revolutionizing, as sensitive operations such as heart surgery are being performed with robotic precision and control with AI-based algorithms. For this purpose, precision machine learning processes are being used to train robots and improve accuracy.
AI can also help in digital pathology. Instead of placing separate slides or tissue blocks and observing them manually, pathologists can do it via AI, which can help analyze digital slides using image analysis and machine learning.
3. Toward an AI-friendly Life!
If you never forget to wear a smartwatch, track daily steps, get water intake notifications, eat mindfully, and consistently monitor pulse rates, then you are already AI-friendly! You have successfully incorporated AI into your life and taken the first step towarda healthy life!
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Health Technology
Article | September 12, 2023
Do you have a difficult time explaining your mental health issues to your family and friends?
If so, here are six suggestions on how to discuss your mental health issues with your friends and relatives.
1. Talk to a counselor: The most important thing that you need to do is to talk to a counselor about your mental health problems. Seeking professional help will go a long way in overcoming your current issues. In addition, a counselor will be able to give you additional advice on how to deal with your friends and family members.
2. Don’t argue with others: It is important that you do not get into arguments with those who are giving you a hard time. Your number one priority is getting your life back on track. Your health is more important than what other people may think.
3. Watch who you hang out with: It is important to surround yourself with positive people. Try to keep your distance from those people who are giving you a difficult time. Remember that your goal is to remain positive and hopeful. Do not let the negative people in your life bring you down.
4. You are not alone: It can be very frustrating to deal with your mental health issues when your friends and relatives are on your case. Remember, you are not alone. There are millions of people around the world who struggle with their fears, anxieties, and depression. The key is to find those people who can relate to you.
5. Stand your ground: It is important to stand your ground when dealing with family members and friends who are giving you a hard time. Explain your situation and your feelings to the people in your life, however don’t let them hassle you. Your number one priority is to get better and not to please everyone that you know.
6. Join a support group: There are many mental health support groups in your area that can help you. Many hospitals, churches, and counselors in your area will be able to provide you with a list of groups. These mental health organizations will be supportive of your situation and they can give you additional advice regarding your problems.
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Digital Healthcare
Article | July 7, 2023
Stay at the forefront of the digital healthcare revolution by mastering EHR analytics. Discover the top EHR certifications that provide comprehensive training and industry-recognized credentials.
As healthcare organizations increasingly embrace digital solutions, the demand for skilled professionals well-versed in EHR analytics continues to soar. Numerous certifications and courses have emerged to meet this demand, offering comprehensive training and industry-recognized credentials.
This article delves into the top EHR certifications and courses, exploring their unique features, advantages, and opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
1. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
By pursuing this course, participants will gain knowledge and practical skills in EHR, medical billing & coding, anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, and health insurance in the United States. This electronic health record specialist certification includes hands-on exercises using specialized software to create patient records, generate lab reports, and take notes & codes. Furthermore, it emphasizes the legal aspects of patient confidentiality and the responsible disclosure of medical records, ensuring a solid understanding of privacy regulations and ethical obligations within the healthcare industry.
2. Deep learning in Electronic Health Records - CDSS 2
The course provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of electronic health records (EHR) while also addressing the challenges of applying time-series classification methods to EHR data, such as missing values and variable heterogeneity. Professionals will learn various imputation techniques and encoding strategies to handle these challenges effectively. Upon completion of the course, University of Glasgow awards a certificate. Additionally, this electronic health records certification explores the role of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in analyzing data to aid healthcare providers in making informed decisions and improving patient care.
3. Introduction to Electronic Health Records
The course aims to provide an introduction to the field of digital health, covering essential concepts and definitions in this emerging area. It encompasses various vital topics, including Learning Health Systems, EHR, and a wide range of digital health technologies such as mobile applications, wearable devices, health information systems, telehealth, telemedicine, ML, AI, and big data. The EHR analytics course evaluates these technologies by examining the opportunities and challenges they present and the evidence of their effectiveness in the context of digital health, both globally and within public health and healthcare domains. This electronic health record certification includes a case study on using digital health technologies to address various aspects of the global response to COVID-19.
4. Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics
This course is offered jointly by the University of Minnesota and its National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. It provides a hands-on and interactive exploration of fundamental informatics tools and techniques, incorporating technology-enabled educational innovations to enhance the learning experience. The ten modules in the course will help participants create an online learning community and a functioning healthcare informatics network. The EHR analytics course covers multiple topics, such as emerging technologies, telehealth, gaming, simulations, and eScience. It aims to collectively imagine and shape the future of healthcare informatics within the rapidly evolving landscape. The course welcomes healthcare professionals and IT enthusiasts, encouraging a diverse and interdisciplinary approach to learning.
5. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
The Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) course is a fully-online program designed to train individuals to become certified specialists in electronic health records. It equips participants with the necessary skills to navigate EHR systems and pass the CEHR certification exam. In this EHR certification program, professionals will learn essential tasks such as auditing patient records for compliance, extracting clinical information, coding for reimbursement claims, processing medical record requests, reviewing documents for accuracy, collecting patient data, and facilitating communication with healthcare professionals and insurance providers. The course focuses on hands-on experience with actual EHR software, provides an overview of EHR systems, emphasizes compliance with HIPAA regulations, explores various medical record components, and trains students to track vital patient information and report public health data effectively.
6. Electronic Healthcare Records Basics, Plain & Simple
This EHR analytics course emphasizes the critical role EHRs play in improving healthcare services. The course holds immense importance as it delves into topics such as the comparison between digital and paper patient records, definitions of EMR, EHR, and PHR, the necessity for a unified view of records, the critical components of EHR systems, perspectives from both patients and clinicians, technology-related challenges, the concept of meaningful use, and the impact of the 21st Century Cures Act in facilitating advancements in healthcare. By undertaking this course, participants will acquire comprehensive knowledge as well as an understanding of EHR systems and their potential for revolutionizing healthcare delivery.
7. Records and Health Information Management
This comprehensive EHR training certification program has been designed for professionals looking to advance their careers or seeking to stay up-to-date in the medical field and prepare for industry-standard certification exams. The course covers essential skills such as processing patient admission and discharge documents, accurately recording and maintaining information in the electronic medical record (EMR), understanding third-party reimbursement terminology and concepts, and utilizing computer hardware as well as software to enter and process data using medical record software. Learners can get an excellent opportunity to gain comprehensive insights into electronic health records and enhance career prospects in the healthcare industry.
Closing Lines
The EHR analytics certifications discussed in this article offer healthcare professionals invaluable opportunities for long-term success and growth in the evolving realm of healthcare informatics. By acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge through these programs, professionals can enhance their proficiency in managing and utilizing EHR systems, positioning themselves as highly sought-after assets within the healthcare industry.
The comprehensive EHR certification training provided by these certifications and courses not only equips individuals with the technical know-how but also grants them industry-recognized credentials that validate their expertise. This recognition opens doors to diverse career pathways, including positions in healthcare organizations, consulting firms, research institutions, and governmental agencies. Moreover, staying abreast of the latest developments in EHR systems through continuous education ensures professionals remain at the forefront of technological advancements, enabling them to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced digital healthcare landscape.
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