Until recently healthcare was something people received after something went wrong. However, this is changing fast. Incredible advances in technology, specifically mobile, have made it possible for clinical teams and patients to be proactive as opposed to reactive — to deal with medical issues before they become medical events.
Harmony, security, talent
The healthcare industry is in a period of transition, and new technology is making for a more engaged and empowered patient and practitioner. Overall, this bodes well for an industry that was ripe for digital transformation. However, before people can begin celebrating a new dawn in healthcare, a number of key issues must be addressed.
In its “Top health industry issues of 2017” report, PwC has three pieces of advice for healthcare companies coming into a new technological era:
- Harmonize your technology: don’t adopt technologies individually, but explore how they can and should work together. Take a whole approach. Develop comprehensive strategic plans that define their roles in a wider digital ecosystem.
- Develop a security frame of mind: As the health ecosystem becomes a superhighway of interconnected medical devices and clinical equipment, bad actors will work to exploit vulnerabilities. Health organizations must recognize the danger early and make cybersecurity investments commensurate with their adoption of emerging technologies.
- Get the right talent: Know that new technology calls for highly skilled people who will be in demand in many other sectors beyond healthcare. Health organizations should be prepared to compete with IT, retail, and financial services for talent, and establish relationships with partners who can supply workers with the skills they need.
Mobile tech is changing the healthcare industry. With the proliferation of healthcare apps, you would think it is straightforward: identify a need or gap in the industry, develop an app to fill that need, and launch it to a grateful market. This not the case at all. In an industry where emerging tech is answering a lot of old questions, it is raising just as many new ones.
Timely webinar
In the webinar “Redefining the healthcare experience using mobile technology” on November 30, 2017, IT World Canada CIO Jim Love will be joined by Dr. Jeremy Theal, CMIO and Gastroenterologist, North York General Hospital; Shri Kalyanasundaram, Head of Digital Identity Services, TELUS; and Mike Cook President & CEO, IDENTOS Inc. in a discussion of the challenges and new opportunities presented by healthcare apps.
This webinar promises to provide attendees with fresh ideas on how they can redefine their organization’s healthcare experience using mobile tech. Register now.