Healthcare: wired, smart, and upwardly mobile!

Healthcare: wired, smart, and upwardly mobile!

The world is getting Smarter by the day. Shopping, banking … and more are accomplished at the click of a mouse or the press of a mobile button. Healthcare, too, has come within the ambit of this Smart world. According to reports, 70% of the world’s population is expected to use smartphones capable of monitoring biometrics and lifestyle data by 2020. 

This calls for concomitant Smart teams with access to constant, real-time data on lifestyle diseases or chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, and the ability to remote monitor and manage patients and situations. Users and their families will, in turn, have access to full medical records, test results, history of appointments, and related services. 

The benefits include better management of health conditions, lesser complications, fewer hospital visits, cost reduction, and faster return to the workplace. Patients’ medical queries are answered quickly, diagnosis is faster, and people understand their health and well-being better. For patients and countries battling healthcare costs, competition, and shortage of physicians, the use of telemedicine and mobile health technology or m-health is a blessing.  

Downloaded healthcare apps on the rise, and GCC countries, too, are upwardly mobile. The tech-savvy population is eager to adapt digital solutions for healthier lifestyles, and private and government entities are taking steps to provide on-demand healthcare. Cloud-based systems are used to connect healthcare professionals and cloud-based solutions to provide aid, for instance, in administering immunizations and conducting medical investigations.

GCC healthcare leaders could ensure that:

• 1.      Hospitals improve their admission, discharge, and transfer process. This will lead to shorter hospital stays and higher occupancy rates; reduced costs for patients and improved productivity for hospitals; besides patient satisfaction.

• 2.      Data, both internal and external, are used in better ways to gain maximum value.

• 3.      Collaboration and exchange takes place between organizations and the broader ecosystem.

The overall goal should be to capitalize on the advantages and carry through the digital imperative to completion.

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