The healthcare industry is leveraging technology to improve patient engagement and streamline operations. From telemedicine to blockchain, these technologies are making it easier for patients to access information and connect with doctors.
Automation is also reducing manual tasks, freeing up time for medical professionals to focus on patient care. Let’s take a closer look at some of the healthcare technology trends to watch in 2025.
Artificial Intelligence
AI and machine learning aren’t just improving diagnostic accuracy, they’re also making healthcare more affordable and empowering patients. By automating tedious paperwork, healthcare staff can focus on delivering quality care to their patients. This is especially useful when dealing with high volumes of claims, patient outreach, and other complex administrative tasks.
Aside from reducing the amount of time required to process data, artificial intelligence can streamline medical practices, helping address the global staffing crisis in the industry. Moreover, it can help elevate the skills of healthcare professionals. For example, by analyzing large data sets, it’s possible for AI to identify patterns in symptoms and disease progression, which can speed up the decision-making process.
Other applications include accelerating research and clinical trials, and streamlining medical imaging. Artificial intelligence can translate MRI scans into quantitative data, as well as identify anomalies in the images and notify doctors of them. These advancements are allowing physicians to diagnose patients faster and with greater confidence, especially in a crisis situation.
Virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) technologies are gaining ground in the healthcare industry because of their ability to bring health experiences into a simulated environment. They can be used to provide patients with a more immersive experience during treatment and therapy, and can even aid in their rehabilitation.
As healthcare continues to evolve, embracing innovation for improved health outcomes is no longer just an option but a necessity for providers striving to deliver high-quality care. Healthcare organizations are increasingly implementing sustainability initiatives in their facilities to reduce energy and water consumption, and to minimize waste disposal. This is an effort to make their services more affordable and accessible, as well as to mitigate the impact of climate disasters on healthcare. They may also incorporate telemedicine into their offerings, which gives patients more options for communicating with their doctors.
Machine Learning
Machine learning (ML) is a technology that uses software and connectivity through cloud computing to analyze data and make decisions. It’s the technology behind many tools used in healthcare, including wearables, telemedicine, and MRI and X-ray machines. It’s also being used to track and improve hospital operations and patient care, such as by detecting trends or flagging errors that can be corrected.
With a massive volume of healthcare data generated by EHRs, wearables, and other digital technologies, it’s important to be able to access, store, and manage this information in real-time. Cloud technology is a powerful tool for facilitating this, as it allows for fast, secure storage of large amounts of data and improves access for both healthcare professionals and patients. ML algorithms can be used to identify patterns, predict health outcomes, and personalize treatment plans.
Another healthcare technology trend to watch is the use of ML in automated helplines, known as chatbots. These systems allow people to interact with a computer program that responds to their questions or requests, using data collected from past conversations. Healthcare bots can also be trained to analyze medical images or other information and look for specific markers of disease, such as a cancerous tumor on a mammogram.
Aside from enabling the use of telemedicine and improving patient engagement, healthcare automation can reduce healthcare costs by streamlining administrative tasks for staff. ML is also being used to automate processes like prior authorization and claim status updates, saving time and improving accuracy. It can even be used to automate repetitive tasks such as scheduling appointments or sending reminders for upcoming tests. This helps healthcare professionals focus on what matters most, helping them provide better, more efficient service to their patients.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
Using healthcare IoT devices and software, medical professionals can access patient data remotely. This improves medical diagnostics, enhances remote patient monitoring, and enables more effective treatment for patients. It also allows for better control of healthcare assets like equipment and supplies. In addition, digitally tagging medications can prevent counterfeiting and help track the distribution of drugs.
Moreover, using healthcare IoT reduces the amount of time that patients spend in the hospital. This can be done through telemedicine or by giving patients the option to visit doctors and hospitals online using healthcare portals. This is an ideal solution for those who cannot afford to travel long distances or have limited availability due to work or family commitments.
A growing number of healthcare companies are making it easier to access information through a single platform. Interoperability is one of the most important features to look for in a healthcare technology system. It allows clinicians to see a full picture of patients’ health records and improves communication between facilities. It can also help meet data security requirements for sensitive healthcare data.
As healthcare providers continue to use the latest technologies, they must ensure that these systems are interoperable and integrated with other clinical processes. This will enable them to maximize the benefits of these innovations while minimizing the risks and costs. They must also consider how these advancements impact human capabilities and address ethical concerns related to their adoption. This may include balancing the benefits of automated decision-making and machine learning with the needs of doctors to ensure accurate medical diagnoses and effective patient outcomes. It will also involve embracing sustainable practices and adopting renewable energy to ensure healthcare services are accessible in the event of climate disasters.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a broad term that encompasses a range of information and telecommunication technologies. It ranges from the more familiar use of telephone consultations to remotely diagnose conditions to the more experimental innovations such as telesurgery, where surgeons can transmit visual and tactile information to control robotic instruments at a distant site.
Healthcare IT providers are embracing telemedicine, providing patients with access to their doctors from the comfort of their homes or offices. The technology is simple to implement, and even the most non-technical patient can easily arrange virtual appointments with their doctors, practitioners, or therapists.
As a result, healthcare is becoming more accessible for people living in remote and isolated areas. Telemedicine also allows healthcare professionals to share data across locations, increasing efficiency and improving outcomes. It’s important to note, however, that improving digital health literacy is vital to ensure the safe and effective use of healthcare telecommunications tools.
Besides telemedicine, telecommunications is also being used in the management of chronic diseases, and in healthcare education and training. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are increasingly being used to facilitate medical training by creating immersive simulations that allow surgeons to practice complex procedures before carrying out the operations on real patients.
In addition, telecommunications is being used in remote patient monitoring to track health trends over time, from remote diagnostics to automated patient coaching via chatbots. This has revolutionized patient care, and it can help identify problems early and prevent disease progression. Additionally, IoT devices and wearables are enabling remote tracking of patient progress outside of traditional clinical settings. Lastly, generative AI is another healthcare technology trend that’s being used to make the industry more efficient and engaging.
Automation
Automation is a healthcare technology trend that is not only saving time and money for patients, but also making providers’ jobs easier. The use of intelligent automation technologies, like AKASA’s GenAI and large language models, allows us to automate healthcare-specific tasks like claim status and prior authorization, freeing up provider staff to focus on more value-generating work. This means patients will receive more timely and accurate attention, and providers can continue to improve revenue outcomes.
Moreover, automation in healthcare is helping to reduce patient waiting times and even surgical procedures thanks to ultra-precise robotic surgery systems, and intelligent diagnostic tools, such as Aidoc’s platform for radiology that automatically detects anomalies in medical images. It’s even reducing costs for insurers by improving efficiency in the process of handling claims.
Generative AI, another emerging trend in healthcare technology, is already helping to speed up drug discovery and improve accuracy in diagnosis. It’s also making healthcare more personalized by summarizing vast historical reports, simplifying medical information, and engaging patients more in their own care.
Health tech is also promoting better lifestyles and helping people avoid illnesses with tools that encourage healthy habits. For example, smartwatch apps that track daily activity can give users personalized improvement tips. Wearables can monitor and alert users and caregivers of health issues, such as an asthma attack or a heart attack.
The future of healthcare is changing rapidly with new advancements in artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and other digital technologies. These innovations are enabling a more proactive approach to healthcare that is based on the old adage, “prevention is better than cure.” This will lower costs and increase patient satisfaction. To learn more about these and other healthcare trends, click here.