How technology is transforming the doctor-patient dynamic?

Almost every industry is embracing digital methods to improve its operations and Covid-19 has only expedited this process. The Healthcare sector has seen the emergence of tech-focused services like telemedicine grow rapidly in recent years to make the doctor-patient relationship better.  Telemedicine services, such as video calls and wearable health monitoring devices, have proven vital to maintaining access to healthcare when in-person care is not available. Virtual and telephone appointments are also helpful to patients with conditions that make it difficult to visit the clinic or hospital. Additionally, AI-based interactions have made it easier to schedule appointments and get basic queries answered without the limitation of time.

 What do Patients seek? And how Technology can provide

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests that physicians who are not using technologies like telehealth should consider it soon. Interest in this area has grown steadily in recent years due to its potential to help physicians with issues such as recruitment and retention while facilitating consistent, timely care. Patients are more than open to using technology if it deepens their relationships with physicians. Medical technology advancements that are neither intuitive nor personal will only create further distance between patients and the healthcare system, thereby making it more challenging for them to utilize the service to its fullest potential. In their healthcare journey, patients want more than empowerment and control. They want to connect with healthcare professionals who can offer support and advice as per their needs, not just information.

Creating a balance between Doctors and Patients

To provide healthcare services to a growing population, the government must make the best use of a limited number of resources. The imbalance between medical service providers and patients often results in long waiting times for patients in healthcare settings. Physicians are often working too much and not getting paid enough hence unable to devote adequate time to consultations and monitoring. The Association of American Medical Colleges projected a physician shortfall of between 61,700 to 94,700 by the end of the decade, forcing healthcare providers to find ways to increase the reach and scope of healthcare services.

Through these escalating efforts, we now have many devices and applications that facilitate round-the-clock communication between doctors and patients, in addition to enabling patients to become more actively involved in the healthcare process.

Services tailored to doctor-patient needs

The traditional method of keeping paper records by hospitals had many limitations. Staff had to comb through stacks of files to learn about a patient’s medical history. Similarly, patients were responsible for maintaining their medical records and repeating their histories to every doctor. As a result of both of these factors, healthcare services have become disease-specific, where physicians attempt to diagnose a disease based on the information available and prescribe treatments to resolve the underlying issue. 

Technologies like Blockchain now allow physicians to use electronic medical records to tailor treatments for each patient, rather than only treating diseases. Additionally, healthcare providers are attracted to EHR systems because they charge minimal maintenance fees, no licensing fees, and no upgrade fees.

Technology-assisted healthcare is more time-efficient 

In the past, people often delayed or avoided seeking medical help since they were unable to take time off for a lengthy trip to the hospital. However, this aversion to enduring a long hospital stay had major long-term consequences, since it allowed illnesses to develop and increased the likelihood of hospital admissions. Thankfully, there is now a slew of apps that allow users to get rapid advice from doctors via video calls.

App usage in the medical and finance categories grew 53% and 36% in Q2 2021, respectively, according to SensorTower. According to recent studies, the global Internet of Things in the healthcare market is slated to grow from $41.22 billion in 2017 to $158.07 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 30.8 percent.

Furthermore, when it comes to scheduling appointments, these apps have enhanced communication between doctors and patients. Patients can now receive timely reminders from their healthcare provider about forthcoming appointments, resulting in fewer no-shows.

Technology is not a replacement but an enhancement for the doctor-patient relationship

It is important to understand that this digital transformation via technology isn’t seen as a replacement for doctors, but as an enhancement for the doctor-patient relationship. A survey sponsored by ResMed found that 85% of respondents value their relationships with doctors and believe that the use of new technology can ease frustrations and foster a structured relationship. In most cases, a patient’s healthcare experience is out of his or her usual daily routine. This does not change even with new-age technologies to support them. Furthermore, while some tech solutions may be mandated for clinicians (like EHR regulations), for most patients it’s easy to default to older methods. Therefore, describing the benefits of technology and encouraging its adoption are separate tasks.