
People are drawn to studying medicine for a variety of reasons. Today, we’ll dive into five of the most popular.
Every year, tens of thousands of students, from a diverse range of backgrounds, enter medical schools across the United States. What drives them to make that choice? If you’re contemplating whether you’d like to be a physician, looking at other people’s reasons for entering med school can help you decide whether it’s right for you. We’ll delve into five common reasons for entering med school so you can see if they resonate.Unbeatable job satisfaction
Those with an innate drive for altruism, or an ethical obligation to the people around them, are often drawn to medicine. While certain fields can feel far more profit-driven, medicine revolves around an impulse to save lives, and improve patients’ quality of life. A desire to help an ailing loved one or witnessing health disparities firsthand often serve as catalysts for medical careers, helping lead to the knowledge that even one dedicated medical professional can change lives, families, and even entire communities.Important role in your community
While the COVID-19 crisis has put an incredible strain on the healthcare industry across the world, the incredible outpouring of public support for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals because of it has been truly inspiring. No one gets into any career for the potential plaudits, but being a doctor does bring a substantial amount of respect from others. They know how hard you work, and the sacrifices you make, so that others may live. There is an incredible amount of pride to be found in that.The dynamic nature of the field
A field rich in technological development and change, a career in medicine is certainly mentally stimulating. Medical professionals must keep upgrading their knowledge to stay up-to-date with the latest treatments and methods of care delivery, making their jobs dynamic and always interesting. A doctor’s daily work offers an incredible amount of variety, too. The job never stays the same from one day, to the next. With dozens of different specialties, there’s a pretty good chance you can find something that appeals to you personally.Close collaboration on the job
Make no mistake, a career in medicine will provide its fair share of high pressure moments. Being able to negotiate those moments, and even lead others through them, will depend on those you work closely with. At the heart of medicine is collaboration. Regardless of your specific field within it, as a doctor you’ll frequently work with teams of fellow professionals, from different backgrounds, varying levels of experience, and a multitude of reasons for getting into medicine. Like in any industry, building relationships with these colleagues, and learning from their perspective and expertise, makes you not only a better doctor – but a better person. For those you work with in the future, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.Income and job security
While many jobs are at risk of being phased out, or becoming at risk in tough economic times, doctors will always be in demand. Jobs in medicine exist everywhere, too. Plenty of options to travel and live abroad exist in medicine, allowing doctors a chance to learn about new cultures through the lens of healthcare. And although medical students must usually pay off substantial debt, they typically find jobs with a salary that allows them to do that while planning for the future. Do these aspects of a career in medicine make you feel drawn to the field? Then a career as a physician could be right for you. Talk your thoughts through with a trusted mentor so you can make the best decision for you.
If you’ve been browsing through Caribbean medical schools or looking at local ones, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re likely to take your search further and find out how studying medicine can benefit you more than the patients that you should help throughout your career. The fact is, this is a career choice that should help you to make real changes in people’s lives. Most importantly, it’s highly respected. This is why you should cover everything when you’re thinking of studying medicine. To find out more about the benefits of studying medicine, you should keep on reading.
1. Diverse Career Opportunities
This should be the most compelling reason to choose to study medicine. In a world where job security continues to decrease, choosing medicine improves your chances of employability. With over 60 specialties, finding where you wish to work should be easy. In addition, you spend a number of years in school rotating different specialties. However, being a med-student doesn’t mean that you should spend your entire life attending to patients. You can choose a career that’s focused on contributing to the legal aspect of this industry. The great thing is that it’s a broad field and you have more than 5 years as a student to decide what you want to do.
2. You do Medical Research
If you’re someone who enjoys learning new things and discovering new cures, then this should be the ideal study option for you. There’s a lot of research that you should conduct throughout your years of studying. The fact of the matter is that the human body is fascinating. Moreover, there’s still so much more to learn about it. If you’re curious about all the processes that ensure the adequate functioning of the human body, then studying medicine should be something that you consider.
3. You Help People
This career choice is full of challenges, yet, when you see how you can change the lives of people from different walks of life, you should feel good about the work that you do. It’s important for you to have empathy and people’s skills. So, before you choose a degree in medicine, you should be honest with yourself. Think about how well you do with people who come from different backgrounds.
4. Earning Potential
It’s great to have a passion for anything that you do in your life. But if you’re going to spend six years studying for your degree, it should yield a financial investment for you. The great news is that doctors are not only in high demand but they’re paid high salaries and have better job security.
In summary, if you’re ready to start your career in medicine, the benefits that you gain should make your decision all the more worth it. Even though it’s not an easy journey, the financial gain and experience you end up with still make it attractive enough to fully commit to studying for 6 years, whether abroad or here at home.
What Do You Want from a Job?
Before reflecting on why you want to study medicine, it’s a good idea to think about you’re you want from your career in a more general sense. Having a clear idea about your work values will help you find an occupation or employer within the medical field that will best enable you to find satisfaction and meaning in what you do. Some common examples of work values include:- Achievement
- Independence
- Recognition
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Helping Others
- Advancement
- Job Security
- Collaboration
- Helping Society
- Compensation
- Leadership
- Creativity
- Variety
- Challenge
- Leisure
10 Reasons to Study Medicine & Become A Doctor
Reason 1: Make A Positive Impact on the World Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician and writer of the Hippocratic Oath, once said that “Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.” Most people who choose to pursue a career in medicine do so because they want to help people and save lives. Medicine is a highly rewarding career as you can be sure that others will benefit from your knowledge and expertise. It is an ideal career choice if you have a strong sense of compassion for others and are excited by the prospect of making a positive impact on society. Reason 2: Wide Range of Career Options Many people think that having a medical degree must lead to a career as a GP or as a hospital doctor. However, there are in fact a wide range of career opportunities that are open to medical graduates. For example, those with a taste for travel and adventure may choose to work in the armed forces or with an international charity. Graduates with an interest in scientific research may decide to go for an academic or lab-based role. If you have strong communication skills, then a career in medical journalism or public health could be for you.“[As a doctor] people will trust you, confide in you, and appreciate your efforts. You can do amazing things for people …”
– Wes Fischer, MD via Kevin MD A career in medicine is ideal for extroverts who relish the opportunity to meet new people. In your day-to-day work as a doctor, you will encounter people from all walks of life. Over the years you will have many memorable encounters that may be inspiring, funny, insightful and thought-provoking. What’s more, you will also get the chance to team up and collaborate with skilled professionals across a wide range of specialties. Reason 10: Climb Up the Career Ladder You can apply to study graduate entry medicine if you already have a Bachelor of Science in a related field. This pathway is ideal if you decide you want to make a transition from a career in nursing or biomedical science to pursue your dream of becoming a doctor.How to Figure Out if a Career in Medicine is Right for You?
Are you interested in studying medicine, but are not 100% if it is the right career for you? If so, then the most important thing is to get as much information as possible. You can do this by:- Conducting online research
- Watching videos and documentaries
- Talking to working medical professionals
- Speaking with your school’s career counsellor
- Keeping up-to-date with medical news


1. You’ll have diverse Medical career opportunities
Often overlooked, this reason is actually one of the most convincing ones. After graduation, you have a broad range of opportunities for a future job in the field of Medicine. There are over 60 specialities you can choose from, so you’re spoilt for choice. You can choose to work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities, research labs, or be part of the medical department in other professional fields. There are Medicine graduates who manage health care costs in economic sectors or contribute to the legal work intended to verify medical errors and defend patients’ rights. It all starts with choosing the right study path, including degree options such as:- Public Health degrees
- Biomedicine degrees
- Dentistry degrees
- Physiotherapy degrees
- Pharmacy degrees
- Nursing degrees
- Veterinary degrees
- Health Management degrees

2. Find Medicine jobs anywhere in the world
All over the world, there is a great uniformity of Medical knowledge and practice. This means that by graduating from a medical school or college in Europe, you can find a job and work in any hospital in South America or anywhere else in the world. This does not apply to many other disciplines! One thing to keep in mind is that if English isn’t widely spoken in that country, you’ll need to learn the local language. That’s essential when you communicate with patients and try to understand their symptoms and what’s causing them. If you decide to study abroad, you’ll see that in many countries learning the official language is either part of Medicine studies or is among the admission requirements. Before choosing a Medicine programme abroad, always check if English skills are enough to graduate and practise medicine in that country. Here are some of the most popular countries offering Masters in Medicine:- Medicine Masters in Germany
- Medicine Masters in the U.S.
- Medicine Masters in the U.K.
- Medicine Masters in Ireland
- Medicine Masters in Australia
- Medicine Masters in Canada
- Medicine Bachelors in Spain
- Medicine Bachelors in Finland
- Medicine Bachelors in the Netherlands
- Medicine Bachelors in Turkey
- Medicine Bachelors in Malaysia
- Medicine Bachelors in Hong Kong
3. Alleviate people’s pain and suffering
If you’ve ever been hospitalised or visited people who were, you know that those are some of the most difficult moments in someone’s life. It’s very easy for patients to feel desperate and suffer even if the illness can be cured, or they only have to go through a minor medical intervention. This is where a great medic or nurse can use their empathy and people skills to make a difference. It’s very important to be honest with patients, but it’s just as important to encourage and give them hope. Many doctors and medical staff confess that the interactions with patients and family members touch them deeply and often change the way they see their profession or even life priorities. In those moments, you remember why you’ve decided to work in Medicine in the first place, and you feel fulfilled. There’s nothing better than seeing people joyful and healthy. Knowing that you play a big role in restoring their health and relieving their pain is perhaps the strongest and most important reason why so many people choose to study and work in Medicine.4. Doctors are in high demand
The world needs more doctors. According to the Telegraph, “In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) projected that by 2030, low- and middle-income countries will have a deficit of 14.5 million healthcare professionals.” The demand for healthcare professionals is also high in countries like the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for nurses and doctors/physicians is expected to grow between 7-12% by 2028. The situation in Europe is reasonable compared to other continents like Asia or Africa, but some countries need more doctors than others. This is reflected in European policies. A lot of EU countries that have forbidden or restricted employment of foreign citizens do not apply this decision to doctors. The need for healthcare professionals is so high that in most cases, Medicine students get a job soon after they graduate.5. Careers in healthcare offer high salaries and job safety
Another pertinent reason to choose a career in Medicine is the job stability you will enjoy after graduation. This reason is even more important in countries where the recession is still a problem and where young people struggle to find a job. We also need to mention the high salaries of healthcare professionals. While this shouldn’t be the only reason why you choose to study Medicine, it is impossible to ignore it. The reason why medical staff enjoy high salaries, or at least higher than average, is the importance of their job and the high demand for qualified professionals. Salaries are much higher in well-developed countries, and you shouldn’t be surprised if you’re actually underpaid in a country with an unstable or slowly developing economy. With that in mind, here are the average salaries for some healthcare professions in the US, according to PayScale:- Registered Nurse (RN) – 63,300 USD/year
- Dentist – 130,800 USD/year
- Paediatrician – 149,300 USD/year
- Family doctor/physician – 184,100 USD/year
- Neurologist – 209,300 USD/year
- Oncologist – 259,000 USD/year

6. Find new cures and medicine through medical research
Many students go into Medical studies because the human body is fascinating. Whether we are talking about information travelling at around 400 km/h along the nerves or our bodies giving off a small amount of light that our eyes cannot see, we do many amazing things without even being aware of it. It’s easy to understand why someone would fall in love and want to discover everything there is to be known about our organs, tissues, and how we function. That’s why Medicine studies aren’t only focused on developing practical skills and working in a healthcare institution. You can choose a Medical degree focused on research and spend your time in labs, where you can examine cells, conduct experiments, and find new ways to improve our wellness and health. What’s even more fascinating is that as we discover more about the human organism, we realise there’s so much we do not yet know. We don’t even know what we do not know! Can you wrap your head around that? For example, a team of researchers from New York University’s School of Medicine might have discovered a new organ hiding underneath our skin. That’s the beauty of science and medical research. It allows you to look where others have looked and discover something they either missed or couldn’t understand at that time. This kind of work and discoveries help us better understand our bodies and the immune system. We can learn how disease spreads and develop better cures and preventive medicine. This is why medical research is such an important branch in the Medicine field.7. You can study Medicine online
We know med schools can be very expensive. If you decide to study abroad, you’ll add other costs on top of your tuition fees. We’re talking about accommodation, travel tickets, living costs, and so on. When you add them up, you might discover that you’ll need a big monthly budget. This is one of the main advantages of an online Bachelor’s or Masters degree in Medicine. The programmes are not always less expensive than traditional on-campus courses. But you remove all the other costs related to studying abroad. Another benefit of studying online is creating and managing your own schedule. You know those mornings when you can barely convince yourself to go out of bed, but you have an important class starting at 8:00 AM. They’re not great, especially if it’s cold outside and even the weather is begging you to stay at home. You wouldn’t have many options with a traditional degree, other than skipping class, which we do not recommend. It’s a bad idea in general, but it is even worse for med students. If you fall behind, you’ll make your life even harder, and life for future Medicine graduates isn’t exactly easy. With an online Medicine degree, you can study and complete your assignments whenever you want, as long as you meet the deadlines. This is great for anybody; you might be a night owl, or an early bird, or maybe more efficient during the second part of the day. It doesn’t matter when you work better, distance learning programmes allow you to have a very flexible schedule. You’ll still need a lot of discipline and planning to complete the courses, though. And make sure you have a reliable internet connection and a computer/laptop that works properly.Ready to start your Medicine adventure?


1. An Aging Population
Between 1946 and 1964, approximately seventy-six million people were born, commonly referred to as the baby boomer generation. This generation is said to be the largest in history. Some of the oldest people in this generation reached retirement age back in 2012. Other baby boomers will continue retiring up to the year 2030. This means that out of the seventy-six million baby boomers, eleven thousand people retire every day or four million people every year. The majority of baby boomers rely on Medicare and Medicaid to get the care they need, which will definitely put a strain on healthcare resources. Due to newer scientific discoveries and explorations, life expectancy will increase, which means the baby boomer generation will live longer and depend on healthcare longer than any other generation. The current life expectancy is 79 years. This is double what it was someone a hundred years ago. Due to the healthcare burden, medical professionals are needed to ensure that insurance and other payment systems are operating efficiently while using newer technological systems to keep baby boomers healthy. Prior authorizations have an important topic.2. A Growing Pharmaceutical Industry
The World Preview Report estimates that the pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow by a staggering 6.3 percent by 2022. The growing pharmaceutical industry needs qualified healthcare professionals to operate properly. The industry has created jobs that require a workforce with several skills and education. A growing pharmaceutical industry will positively impact the global economy and healthcare professionals.
3. Political influences
Politics has always been a great influencer and driver of change. A poll conducted in 2014 showed no other aspect as important to the opinion of an American citizen on healthcare as his or her party affiliation. Now that a Republican president is in office, Americans should expect major changes in the Affordable Care Act. These changes will definitely be enforced in a few years to come. And the healthcare sector relies on capable professionals to implement the changes. Healthcare policy can be transformed by professionals who want to get involved in healthcare policy jobs. There are three categories of health care policy jobs. They include:-
Healthcare settings
-
Healthcare consulting
-
Government policy
4. Competition and Creativity
Healthy competition always leads to creativity because professionals associate pleasure with the tasks at hand. Unhealthy competition leads to stress and frustrations. And it’s likely to promote unethical behavior. How many professionals love their work will determine their level of creativity. For example, every professional from the custom essay who loves their work is likely to spot opportunities that could positively impact many people. While competition can increase the performance of the mind and body, it should always be regulated to avoid its negative impact not only on the professionals but also on the people seeking medical services.5. Technological advancement
Technology has affected every aspect of our life, including health. It’s easier to collect data, conduct research, and come up with several treatment options that have the potential of performing well. Technology is a huge driving force in the healthcare industry. Over the years, medical experts have developed monitoring devices such as heart rate monitors, digital thermometers, and blood glucose indicators, to name a few. They have also developed wireless sensor technology which allows doctors to monitor the health of patients. The patients don’t have to go to the hospital to get health care services. Through the webcam, doctors can communicate with patients and make quick decisions regarding a patient’s health. A couple of minutes or seconds can save a life. Software developers have developed apps that people can use to track their health. Bloggers and publishers have not been left behind in increasing health awareness across the world through their content.Conclusion
The future of the healthcare sector depends on the commitment and excellence of qualified medical professionals. The economy is dependent on healthcare because people cannot survive without proper health care. Increased lifespan, technological advancements, politics, and the need for policy changes will only happen if medical professionals are equipped with the right knowledge and attitude.
Healthcare Industry Sectors:
The healthcare industry provides a variety of services to support the healthcare needs of a community or individuals. The healthcare industry classifies the different products it offers by sector. Hospitals and healthcare systems are continually changing their service offerings and responding to various internal and external forces including reimbursement issues, advances in technology, and shifts in the populations they serve. A universally agreed-upon classification of sectors does not exist, so a non-exhaustive but the inclusive and simplified classification of broad sectors will be used in this exploration.- Health care services and facilities
- Medical devices, equipment, and hospital supplies manufacturers
- Medical insurance, medical services, and managed care
- Pharmaceuticals & Related Segments
Healthcare Segment 1: Health care services and facilities:
Health care services and facilities subsector is comprised of many subsectors. The broad classification includes:(A) Hospitals:

- General medical and surgical hospitals
- Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals
- Specialty hospitals (not including psychiatric and substance abuse facilities)
- Family Planning & Abortion Clinics
- Hospices & Palliative Care Centers
- Emergency & Other Outpatient Care Centers
- Sleep Disorder Clinics
- Dental Laboratories
- Blood & Organ Banks
- Teaching or University Hospitals
(B) Nursing and residential care facilities:

- Home health care services
- Nursing Care Facilities
- Urgent Care Centers
- Mental health and residential developmental handicap facilities
- In-Home Senior Care
- Community care facilities for the elderly
- Other residential care facilities
(C) Ambulatory health care services:
- Outpatient care centers
- Medical and diagnostic laboratories
- Ambulance Services
- Other ambulatory health care services
(D) Medical Practitioners & Healthcare Professionals:
- Medical Practitioners
- Chiropractors
- Homeopaths
- Psychologists, Social Workers & Marriage Counselors
- Dermatologists
- Nutritionists & Dietitians
- Optometrists
- Physical Therapists
- Alternative Healthcare Providers
Healthcare Segment 2: Medical devices, equipment, and hospital supplies manufacturers:
These are medical companies at the forefront of the latest medical technology offering their products across the whole spectrum of medical equipment, hospital supplies, products, and services, including specialist applications. This sector further consists of many players including In-vitro diagnostic substances, Electro-medical and electrotherapeutic apparatuses , Irradiation apparatuses, Surgical Instrument & Medical Instrument Manufacturing, Surgical appliances and supplies, Dental equipment and supplies, Ophthalmic goods, Vital Signs Monitor Manufacturing, Mammography Machine Manufacturing, TENS Machine Manufacturing, Nebulizer Manufacturing, Hot & Cold Topical Therapy Manufacturing, Optical Coherence Tomography Machine Manufacturing, Medical Laser Machine Manufacturing, Medical Device Manufacturing, Medical Instrument & Supply Manufacturing, Robotic Surgery Equipment Manufacturing, Endoscope Manufacturing, Venous Access Device Manufacturing, Wound Care Product Manufacturing, Toxicology Laboratories, Glucose Meter Manufacturing, Instrument Sterilization Product Manufacturing, Intravenous (IV) Solution Manufacturing, Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment Manufacturing, Hospital Bed Manufacturing and Hospital Furniture Manufacturing etc. Given below are different Medical devices, equipment, and hospital supplies manufacturers:- In-vitro diagnostic substances
- Electro-medical and electrotherapeutic apparatuses
- Irradiation apparatuses
- Surgical Instrument & Medical Instrument Manufacturing
- Surgical appliances and supplies
- Dental equipment and supplies
- Ophthalmic goods
- Vital Signs Monitor Manufacturing
- Mammography Machine Manufacturing
- TENS Machine Manufacturing
- Nebulizer Manufacturing
- Hot & Cold Topical Therapy Manufacturing
- Optical Coherence Tomography Machine Manufacturing
- Medical Laser Machine Manufacturing
- Medical Device Manufacturing
- Medical Instrument & Supply Manufacturing
- Robotic Surgery Equipment Manufacturing
- Endoscope Manufacturing
- Venous Access Device Manufacturing
- Wound Care Product Manufacturing
- Toxicology Laboratories
- Glucose Meter Manufacturing
- Instrument Sterilization Product Manufacturing
- Intravenous (IV) Solution Manufacturing
- Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment Manufacturing
- Hospital Bed Manufacturing
- Hospital Furniture Manufacturing
Healthcare Segment 3: Medical insurance, medical services, and managed care:
This segment deals with the players that provide medical insurance or different types of services to either patients or other medical sector players. The term managed care or managed health care is used to describe a variety of techniques intended to reduce the cost of providing health benefits and improve the quality of care for organizations that use those techniques or provide them as services to other organizations. This sector further consists of many players including Health maintenance organizations (HMOs), Preferred provider organizations, exclusive provider organizations, Medicare, Medicaid, Healthcare Consultants, Medical Patient Financing, Healthcare Staff Recruitment Agencies, Health & Medical Insurance, Surgical Apparel Manufacturing, Medical Supplies Wholesaling, Medical Waste Disposal Services, Dental Insurance, Medical Couriers, Medical Device Cleaning & Recycling, Medical Claims Processing Services, Pharmacy Benefit Management, Corporate Wellness Services, Home Medical Equipment Rentals and Medical Case Management Services, etc. Given below are different medical insurance, medical services, and managed care providers:- Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
- Preferred provider organizations
- Exclusive provider organizations
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Healthcare Consultants
- Medical Patient Financing
- Healthcare Staff Recruitment Agencies
- Health & Medical Insurance
- Surgical Apparel Manufacturing
- Medical Supplies Wholesaling
- Medical Waste Disposal Services
- Dental Insurance
- Medical Couriers
- Medical Device Cleaning & Recycling
- Medical Claims Processing Services
- Pharmacy Benefit Management
- Corporate Wellness Services
- Home Medical Equipment Rentals
- Medical Case Management Services
Healthcare Segment 4: Pharmaceuticals & Related Segments:
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceuticals licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceuticals eliminate the need for inpatient and invasive care services. They are subject to a variety of laws and regulations regarding the patenting, testing, and ensuring the safety and efficacy and marketing of drugs. This sector further consists of many players including Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs & Drug Stores, Prescription drugs, Biopharmaceutical drugs, Generic drugs, Pharmaceuticals Packing & Labeling Services, Dietary Fiber Supplement Manufacturing, Vitamin & Supplement Manufacturing, Cough & Cold Medicine Manufacturing, Health Stores and Eye Glasses & Contact Lens Stores, etc. Given below are different types of Pharmacy and Medical Stores:- Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs & Drug Stores
- Prescription drugs
- Biopharmaceutical drugs
- Generic drugs
- Pharmaceuticals Packing & Labeling Services
- Dietary Fiber Supplement Manufacturing
- Vitamin & Supplement Manufacturing
- Cough & Cold Medicine Manufacturing
- Health Stores
- Eye Glasses & Contact Lens Stores

FDA and Health Technology
Congress, Health Technology, and the FDA
As the health technology market continued to grow, the FDA indicated to developers and CEOs that the agency would take a light approach to regulating health care apps and wearables. However, the lack of written guidelines stifled development; companies were hesitant to undertake developing new technology that would later be subject to oppressive regulations and no longer eligible for direct marketing to consumers. In 2014, Sen. Orrin Hatch introduced the MedTech Act, exempting electronic health records and other consumer health software from FDA regulation. Rep. Marsha Blackburn followed suit with the SOFTWARE Act (Sensible Oversight for Technology which Advances Regulatory Efficiency), further clarifying the FDA’s role in consumer health technology products. Finally, early in 2015, the FDA responded to growing calls for concrete guidance on handling consumer health technology and wearable devices. In a release met favorably by health care CEOs and CMOs, the FDA indicated it would not regulate any device that did not pose a serious health risk to the consumer if the device malfunctioned. The FDA also stated it would not regulate apps providing fitness tracking or tracking and recording of basic health metrics. With these new guidelines in place, the stage is set for further innovation and development in health care wearables and apps. The FDA has also positioned itself to streamline approval of regulated devices, giving consumers more tools to monitor and manage their health.
The convergence of technology in healthcare is becoming a reality. In the next few years, technologies will completely change the landscape of care. Here are our predictions for the next 5 years of convergent health.
AI and machine learning will change how hospitals make every decision
Often, we think of AI in healthcare terms of how it will impact patients, through device technology or perhaps population health. But more and more, we see hospitals and healthcare facilities using AI tools, not only to track patients but to run their businesses more efficiently.
Forbes predicts that AI for healthcare IT Applications will cross $1.7 billion by 2019. And a significant part of that prediction is for hospital workflows, e.g., HR management, supply stocking, and productivity tracking. In addition, Forbes says to look for AI to influence imaging diagnostics, drug discovery, and risk analytics applications.
Deloitte’s Hospital of the Future report says that AI will help simplify the admission, discharge, and other processes to improve efficiency and patient satisfaction. For example, if a patient’s physician advises admission, instead of the patient registration process, the patient would receive a digital welcome packet. Clinical, financial, and demographic information would be automatically filled out through cloud records. Likewise, non-medical support and discharge workflow could be managed and tailored to a patient’s needs.
HIMSS examination of the top trends of 2019 predicts a broader adoption of AI and machine learning for population health. It notes that the technology will identify patients at risk and deliver personalized (precision) treatments.
The Forbes article also notes that pricing concerns for implementing AI into Hospital IT will force suppliers to provide clear ROI evidence and work to become more cost-effective to sustain the market growth.
Digital therapies will enhance or replace traditional treatments, and further decentralize healthcare
We are already seeing increased use of digital products to compliment health practices, e.g., medication compliance. Experts also see a rise in digital technologies used as alternatives to traditional treatments, such as prevention and management programs for diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Forbes predicts that digital health tech for use outside the hospital will grow by 30% and cross $25 billion before the end of 2019. Tools such as remote patient monitors, telehealth platforms, personal emergency response devices, and other mHealth applications will continue to gain popularity. Provided these innovations support the capture and delivery of clinically relevant data that demonstrate improved health outcomes, they will be encouraged by favorable reimbursement policies.
Patients will start to accept virtual healthcare
Accenture’s Digital Health Technology Vision 2019 notes that virtual reality or extended reality (XR) systems are increasingly being used in healthcare. The report notes that 38% of healthcare organizations have adopted XR.
Brian Kalis, Accenture’s managing director of digital health writes that extended reality enables machines to behave with natural mannerisms, making the experiences immersive. For example, Cedars-Sinai is using XR for pain management. The system uses XR to help patients cope with pain through breathing techniques and positive thinking. The hospital reported that patients experienced a 24% pain reduction after 10 minutes.
In addition, XR has a significant opportunity to help make telehealth the first line of connection for patients. Steve Burrill, Vice Chairman, US Health Care Leader, Deloitte LLP wrote in an advertorial for Modern Healthcare that virtual health could help patients who might otherwise avoid the doctor until a problem worsens communicate more readily with caregivers.
He noted that despite the possible benefits, only a small percentage (14%) of physicians are using such technology, likely because of a lack of infrastructure and reimbursement. Among insurers, however, as of 2016, 74% of large employer-sponsored health plans had incorporated telehealth into their benefits.
Conclusion
The future of healthcare is closer than we might think. As we near the next decade, the challenges of reducing costs, increasing access to care, and improving outcomes remain. But converging technology is changing the conversation. Digital health, virtual reality, AI, and machine learning are allowing designers and developers to dream of a new healthcare experience. Healthcare that meets patients where they are, that unlocks data to provide health at a personal level on a universal scale. That’s a future worth encouraging
