By The healthcare industry is on the brink of a transformation. Just as the banking sector underwent a significant shift in the early 2000s, healthcare is poised for a similar leap. With cloud-based technologies, providers can reshape the delivery of care and improve patient outcomes.
Lessons from Banking: Healthcare’s Digital Evolution
The shift to digital in banking began decades ago. In-person visits to banks were the norm, but by the late 80s, things started to change.
A big leap came in 2007 with smartphones. Fast forward to 2011, and online banking had become mainstream. Today, most bank visits are purely transactional. The parallel with healthcare is undeniable. Many visits to healthcare facilities are now episodic, opening the door to a new opportunity: building a healthcare system in the cloud.
A health system based in the cloud aims to monitor patient activities between visits. The ultimate goal is to address the root causes of healthcare issues, improve outcomes, and reduce overall costs.
The Next Step: What Healthcare Needs to Focus On
Healthcare’s transition to the cloud comes with its own set of priorities. Here are three key areas the industry must emphasize:
- Holistic Patient Management: The future healthcare system should integrate all aspects of a patient’s health, not just their immediate symptoms. A connected digital ecosystem could enable physicians to treat the whole person. For example, a patient diagnosed with type 2 diabetes could be seamlessly connected to mental health services to assist with behavior change. This approach can cut costs and improve the quality of care.
- Outcome-Focused Solutions: Digital tools produce data continuously, not just during patient visits. This allows real-time monitoring of care plan adherence and provider performance. Digital healthcare can address barriers to care longitudinally, improving accountability and ensuring high-quality care access for all patients.
- High-Quality Networks: For digital health to work, isolated point solutions need to be part of a comprehensive network. A well-connected system can help steer patients toward brick-and-mortar specialists when necessary. Standalone tools won’t suffice, but an integrated network of digital health solutions can significantly impact care quality.
Bridging the Gap Between Digital and Traditional Care
Healthcare’s transformation won’t happen overnight. The key to success will be integrating new technologies into traditional care models without losing the human touch.
Digital tools offer exciting innovations that can be complementary to existing methods. For instance, remote monitoring and AI-driven diagnostics can reduce costs while achieving similar or better outcomes. Providers can use these tools to optimize specialty care, directing patients to the right specialists only when absolutely necessary. Chatbots, remote consultations, and personalized health coaching apps are just a few examples of how digital healthcare can ease the burden on physical healthcare facilities.
But there’s a catch: these tools must enhance—not replace—the human element in healthcare. The challenge is striking the right balance between tech and traditional care.
Overcoming Challenges in the Shift to Cloud-Based Healthcare
Moving healthcare to the cloud introduces several hurdles. The industry will need to address four key challenges to make this transformation successful:
- Bridging the Traditional-Digital Gap: Healthcare professionals must stop viewing digital and traditional methods as separate entities. Integrating digital tools into existing workflows, training staff on new technologies, and demonstrating the benefits of these tools will go a long way in easing the transition.
- Aligning Economic Models: The current fee-for-service model conflicts with the efficiency and prevention-focused nature of digital healthcare. To fix this, stakeholders should advocate for value-based care models that reward outcomes rather than service volume.
- Building Trust in Point Solutions: Digital health has exploded with new solutions, making it hard for healthcare providers to trust and adopt these tools. The solution is to prioritize integrated platforms over standalone options, supported by evidence-based validation.
- Securing Leadership Buy-In: Healthcare leaders need to embrace digital health initiatives. Those who champion the cause will drive broader industry adoption, pushing digital healthcare into the mainstream.
Addressing these challenges will ensure the success of cloud-based healthcare systems. It’s a tough road, but the potential benefits are immense.