The healthcare IT industry has seen a massive growth in the last decade due to rapid evolution of technology. The rapid progress made by technology in the last couple of decades is commendable and helped several industrial sectors to boom. IT is considered to be the backbone of every sector, such as manufacturing, defense, electricity, and healthcare. The healthcare industry has not shied away from the hi-tech revolution and embraced the transformation with open arms. Technology in healthcare has changed the face of the industry in many ways and also how patients and doctors interact with each other. The growing need for patient safety and data accuracy has boosted the growth of the healthcare IT industry worldwide. A market report was recently published by Allied Market Research that offers valuable insights related to the healthcare IT industry, such as market share, size, and growth. The adoption of technology in the healthcare industry has benefited a large number of patients and played an important role in saving human lives.

Technology—A blessing to the healthcare industry according to experts

The rapid progress made by technology in the last few years has taken the healthcare industry by storm. The introduction of technology to the healthcare industry has made things easier in terms of data monitoring, data accuracy, information sharing, and to track the activities of patients. IT in healthcare has also changed how patients and doctors interact with each other. Technology has engulfed the healthcare industry and the trend is here to stay. However, it is important to understand that some aspects should not be replaced by technology such as touching the patient to diagnose a disease or a condition.

In October 2016, at the sixth International Patient Safety Congress organized by Apollo hospitals, Ms. Preetha Reddy said that technology should never replace human touch as it plays a crucial role in patient care and that technology should be adopted only in areas that really need it. Today, doctors, dermatologists and cardiologists have started making use of high-end technology. One of the key speakers at the event was Adam Darkins, vice-president, Medical Affairs and Enterprise Technology Development, Medtronics, USA. He emphasized on the advantages of digitalization in the healthcare sector and says that it enables the patient to connect to healthcare systems like never before. He stressed on the fact that in the developing markets such as India, setting up a healthcare system is going to heavily rely on digitization.

The introduction of IT in healthcare is catching up but not as easy as it seems to be, the major concern for the patient is the protection of confidential information and there is a growing need to find solutions for this issue. There are systems that are trying to safeguard customer information and data, however, it is still not entirely efficient and reliable. According to Ms. Reddy, Apollo Hospitals is one of the largest provider of telemedicine and telehealth in the world.

Technology to enhance healthcare systems

In modern times, technology has swooped all the industrial sectors including the healthcare industry. In modern times, prescriptions are filled digitally, receive health alerts on our mobile devices and with the emergence of healthcare mobile applications and Fitbit technology, it is easy to keep a track of wellness statistics. As more data can be accessed and stored, it is also an opportunity to revamp and upgrade the existing healthcare systems. It is important to incorporate technology to improve the health outcomes. It is important to utilize the data effectively to improve the efficiency of healthcare systems. It is important for technology to collaborate with the healthcare sector as collaborations will enable accurate care for patients, instant access to healthcare setting for patients and protection of confidential medical data.

Integrating technology with healthcare will help improve personalized care for patients and provide them access to quality treatment. The primary goal of the healthcare sector is to discover, develop and deliver new treatments for diseases that do not have a known cure. The new innovations in healthcare industry are enhancing the administration side of things as well. A few hospitals have implemented programs that alert nurses when a room is available for new patients and when the patient needs to see a doctor. Technology is also helping patients who are not physically present at the medical facility to connect with their doctors. Telehealth tools improve the efficiency of the treatment given to stroke patients and has proved to be cost-effective and time efficient. IT in healthcare industry is also making developments in terms of data security. Around 55 million Americans have registered for Medicare, Medicare Common Access Card Act that will safeguard information and data of senior citizens.

Healthcare in IT is a growing phenomenon and by looking at how technology is simplifying the different aspects in the healthcare sector, it is safe to say that IT and healthcare will continue to have a successful symbiotic relationship in the coming years. Asia-Pacific could potentially be the largest market for the healthcare in IT industry owing to the improving economic conditions in the region and initiatives taken by local governments to promote IT in healthcare.