The healthcare industry is in the midst of a transformative journey. Significant shifts have marked the past several years, with COVID-19 redefining patient expectations and highlighting the challenges of employee burnout. Simultaneously, new technologies, notably tele/remote health, have revolutionized how healthcare operates, ushering in a new era of patient care.
Furthermore, healthcare organizations find themselves at a crossroads of data abundance, with wearable devices, medical IoT, digitization of records, and the No Surprises Act opening new horizons through an unprecedented quantity of accessible patient and price transparency data.
These changes have created fresh needs and opportunities that can be harnessed through analytics and AI. In this blog, we will explore the major data and analytics trends and advancements propelling the healthcare industry toward an efficient and promising future.
Healthcare organizations are increasingly working to manage and utilize data, analytics, and AI to reach their business and patient health objectives, with four dominant trends steering the course in 2024. These trends will change how healthcare is delivered, experienced, and optimized.
Let’s take a closer look at these key data and analytics trends that will influence healthcare next year.
Traditionally, the healthcare industry has been cautious when it comes to adopting new technologies. Concerns about data privacy, security breaches, and strict regulatory requirements have led to a slower pace of technological advancement in healthcare than in other sectors.
However, the benefits of mature data and analytics programs in healthcare are substantial. In 2024, we will witness a notable shift as healthcare organizations gear up to accelerate their data maturity. Driven by the desire to unlock capabilities like precise clinical decision-making, early identification of health trends and epidemics, personalized medicine, and improved patient outcomes, healthcare organizations will feel the pressure to improve their data foundation and practices.
So, we expect an increasing number of healthcare organizations to focus on their data strategies and establish a strong data foundation this year to start harnessing analytics and AI to advance patient care and operational excellence. A mature data strategy includes:
The COVID-19 pandemic strained healthcare organizations. Today, there is a pressing need to find innovative ways to deliver high-quality care with limited resources. In 2024, many healthcare organizations will use their data to optimize and automate operations to do more with less. This strategic approach helps alleviate current staffing challenges while positioning the healthcare sector for greater resilience and improved patient care in the long run.
This brings many advantages. Optimization and automation allow healthcare organizations to deliver care more efficiently, ensuring patients receive timely attention. Simultaneously, they liberate healthcare professionals from repetitive tasks, alleviating burnout and enhancing job satisfaction. To address labor shortages, healthcare organizations can:
Healthcare organizations today are focused on fully understanding their patients and customers. With a need to provide personalized care, promote wellness, and build patient loyalty, a better understanding of what patients and customers need and want is critical. A patient-focused approach raises patient satisfaction, improves treatment outcomes, and aligns with value-based care models where patient-centricity is paramount.
As a result, in 2024, the industry will see an increase in healthcare organizations bringing customer analytics into their operations to create a more patient-centric environment. In healthcare, customer analytics includes the broad collection and analysis of patient and customer data. This empowers healthcare organizations to gain valuable insights into patient behavior, preferences, and needs. To improve healthcare delivery, organizations can harness customer data and analytics to:
In 2024, healthcare organizations will capitalize on the growing calls for and tools for interoperability. This will support healthcare organizations to become effective aggregators and analyzers of data. At the same time, rising Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards enable healthcare entities to create vast data pools while adhering to stringent interoperability data guidelines.
With the ability to explore and analyze patient data on a broader scale, healthcare organizations will have new opportunities to use data to improve patient and business outcomes. Growing focus and efforts on interoperability will:
As we look ahead to the 2024 healthcare landscape, we see the sector transform. From rising data maturity levels to the many applications for customer analytics, the new year’s trends will reshape experiences for patients, clinicians, and providers.
As we witness the unfolding of these trends, we see a healthcare system that is becoming more agile, patient-centric, and data-driven. To navigate this dynamic environment successfully, healthcare organizations should consider collaborating with experienced data analytics consultants. These experts can help leverage the potential of data, automation, and patient-centric approaches, ensuring that you make the most of your data resources.
For comprehensive healthcare modernization needs, reach out to Wavicle, a trusted industry partner recognized for delivering customized solutions.