Page 14 - COH Newsletter

14

Scientific Corner

The Future of Healthcare: Five Key Trends That Are Changing

Healthcare

Dr. Michele Cherfane, Associate Professor, Environmental and Public Health Department

Healthcare has changed dramatically over the last ten years, and the industry will continue to be
transformed, particularly in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic. Technology is considered the driving force
behind the evolution, with innovations changing how consumers manage their health and interact with
healthcare professionals. Here are three emerging healthcare trends modernizing the healthcare industry:

Telehealth
Telehealth refers to a broad scope of remote healthcare services. It comprises telemedicine that provides
a variety of services using mobile applications. Patients can schedule teleconference appointments,
manage their appointments, and communicate with healthcare professionals through secure messaging
and video/audio communication. A new Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has emerged from combining
the internet of things with telemedicine. This allows the use of wearable devices and the ability to perform
medical measurements, including ECG, heart rate, skin temperature, and oxygen saturation, etc. This
technology enables healthcare workers to monitor and prevent chronic diseases using real-time patient
data remotely.

Specialized Outpatient Care Centers
Recently, healthcare delivery moved from inpatient to outpatient facilities, changing from a hospital-centric
model to a patient-centric model of care. Specialized outpatient care centers improve patient experience,
quality of care, and clinical outcomes. For example, many surgeries and diagnostic procedures can be
performed more safely and efficiently in an outpatient setting. Also, patients are becoming more inclined
to avoid hospital stays whenever possible, and specialists can work in an environment focused on their
area of expertise. Specialized centers concentrate on a specialization, such as diabetes, pulmonology,
orthopedics, ear-nose-throat, and dermatology.

Technology-assisted Delivery of Care
Several tech trends are shaping the future of health care. In particular, technologies like virtual reality
(V.R.), augmented reality (A.R.), robotics, and nanotechnology impact patient experience and enhance
patient engagement.

For example, V.R. has been proven effective in pain management by distracting patients from painful
stimuli. Moreover, the technology allows access to activities and experiences that can stimulate memory,
motor function and improve emotional well-being. Similarly, A.R. greatly influences the delivery of care. In
contrast to V.R., users do not lose touch with reality, and it provides information in 3D space.
Robotics is another growing and exciting field of healthcare. There is a wide range of robots currently
used or in development, such as surgical robots, exoskeletons (external frames), care robotics, and
pharmabotics.

Nanotechnology is an evolving technology that enormously impacts diagnostics and drug delivery
systems.

Abu Dhabi University | The College of Health Sciences E-Magazine | Issue 1 2021-2022 Academic Year