CIOInsider India Magazine

Healthcare IT trends are continually evolving to fulfill the needs of healthcare organizations & providers, and patients. These trends have helped create additional chances to approach healthcare security more holistically while also raising the level of security, even though they may raise certain worries about patient privacy. Better data management techniques will be the end consequence of our efforts to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare expenses. The latest healthcare technology trends enable businesses to run more quickly, earn more money, and provide higher-quality treatment.

IoT and Medical Devices
With the Internet of Things (IoT) and the widespread use of medical devices, it is possible to assess their value in terms of accelerated workflows, enhanced inventory control, and enhanced staff tracking. However, as IoT and medical devices, such as pacemakers and insulin pumps, become more connected to computers and networks, they pose data security threats to patients and doctors. With the number of connected devices increasing, numerous IoT and medical gadgets have recently become the norm for many healthcare institutions.

The market for such devices is expanding too; figures vary, but according to one analysis, the worldwide IoT healthcare industry is expected to increase to an astounding $2465 billion by 2029. The HCIC task group claims that attacks on health information systems increase when linked devices, such as mobile devices, medical devices, and applications, are allowed to connect to EHR software. The risk to the facility increases as more devices are linked. IoT botnets are collections of compromised computers, smart appliances, and internet-connected gadgets that have been commandeered for nefarious uses. Malware can be installed on connected smart gadgets and be remotely controlled. A denial of service attack can be launched using any hospital surveillance camera as a botnet.

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
The ubiquity of AI in various industries over the past ten years has shocked the globe, and this trend is expected to continue. The use of AI in medicine includes everything from improving diagnosis accuracy to spotting diseases. Radiologists were under pressure as computed diagnosis became the standard as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the healthcare sector. In this instance, an AI-based technology optimized the diagnosing procedure to relieve the radiologists' workloads.AI systems can quickly perform scans, identify trends, and diagnose.

The AI-infused solutions that digital behemoths like Google and IBM have just released can assist medical facilities in finding data. In order to develop novel drugs and respond to trends swiftly, the industry will actively deploy AI-based solutions. Additionally, AI chatbots are gaining popularity in the healthcare industry as a way to offer clients round-the-clock email and phone support. Robotics and AI are being combined by businesses to create virtual nurses' and doctors' helpers. Additionally, it enables doctors to treat patients without having to approach them.

Increased Use of the Cloud
The global cloud computing market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 18.79 percent through 2026, up from $289.25 billion in 2021, according to a Research and Markets survey. This results from the increased demand for cloud computing services to cut IT expenditures. The market is continuing to accept the transition from on-premises-based storage to the cloud or hybrid model, and data needs demand the same. Cloud-based solutions are preferred over on-premise-based ones by larger healthcare facilities and hospital systems with several locations or departments. A portion of this is attributable to doctors' ability to swiftly and simply access a wealth of current information. Although cloud-based solutions may be increasingly common overall, some businesses are concerned about security risks because of them.

Digital Therapeutics
The commercialization and clinical use of digital therapeutics (DTx), a novel therapeutic approach based on digital technology, are growing, and the desire for expansion to new clinical domains is extremely high. It is still unclear how to employ DTx as a general medicinal component, which may be due to a lack of agreement on a definition as well as deficiencies in clinical trials, research and development, regulatory framework standardization, and technological maturity.

Then, emphasizing the commercialization aspects, we propose the necessity and considerations for international agreements on the definition and characteristics of DTx. Additionally, we go through the state of clinical research, its concerns, important technological issues, and the path of regulatory advancements. A cooperative system between researchers, manufacturers, and governments should be established to strengthen real-world evidence-based validation. Additionally, there should be efficient technologies and regulatory frameworks for removing DTx's engagement barriers.

Patients are now more in control thanks to the widespread adoption of digitization in healthcare. Digital health technologies enable patients to actively participate in their treatment regimens. It is a subset of digital health that uses software to enhance the delivery of care and deliver evidence-based care. According to the reports, the COVID-19 pandemic gave the digital therapeutics movement a huge boost, and it is still assisting healthcare providers in changing how they view the provision of care. Additionally, it aids in enhancing clinical pathways. For kids with ADHD, the FDA, for instance, has approved a video game.

Virtual Reality
Healthcare is one of the top 3 businesses that will continue to be early adopters of VR technology through 2025, according to Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research. The use of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality is one of the technology trends in healthcare that has made significant progress in the pharmaceutical sector. They are enhancing hospital administration and patient recovery times. Medical practitioners can use a VR headset to mimic an interesting setting or experience in a computer-generated environment.

Medical students and newly qualified healthcare professionals can understand theoretical concepts more effectively thanks to virtual reality. With VR, students can closely examine 3D medical models in ways that real models cannot, or they can practice communicating with AI-controlled virtual patients whose attitudes and behaviors can be easily changed to suit various learning objectives. By successfully deflecting a patient's attention, virtual reality pain treatment apps assist in reducing the intensity of pain or intense discomfort. This kind of VR minimizes the usage of potentially harmful medications, which also lowers healthcare expenditures.