Healthcare Technology Trends to Consider in 2024

The healthcare and technology industries, with their ever-growing potential and demand, go hand in hand to broaden modern business horizons. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals embraced digital solutions to safely manage the rising patient numbers.

Utilizing cutting-edge technology in healthcare, medical institutions enable:

• AI-powered tools for precise and swift diagnoses.
• Boosted patient engagement and satisfaction.
• Enhanced data management for improved decision-making.

The Global Health Tech Market Size

The global healthcare IT market, valued at $200 billion in 2022, is projected to reach ~$1069.13 billion by 2032. As per this projection, there will be an 18.30% CAGR between 2023 and 2032.

Such numbers are driven by the increasing adoption of preventive, remote patient care and high customer demand for contactless solutions. The recent technological advances in healthcare, particularly in healthcare infrastructure through IoT and AI implementation, further propel market growth.

Acropolium

Through 20 years of breathing technologies into business operations, Acropolium has witnessed 45+ healthcare companies embrace digital trends. Based on our partners’ inquiries and industry analysis, we’re sharing the top healthcare industry technology trends for you to consider.

Top 5 Healthcare Tech Trends to Watch in 2024

Amidst the pandemic, healthcare technology trends like telehealth and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) have significantly influenced medical digitalization. AI and ML have gained traction, notably in addressing patient needs and facilitating analytics for healthcare organizations’ management and decision-making.

Consequently, healthcare institutions are adopting advanced technology within their hospital management systems, embracing the following trends:

• Telehealth & Telemedicine
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML)
• Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
• Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR)
• Cloud Computing & Big Data

#1. Telehealth & Telemedicine

Both telehealth and telemedicine technology for healthcare aims to transition traditional offline services into remote formats. Telemedicine applications and platforms offer hospitals various advantages, including facilitating remote consultations, reducing patient wait times, and broadening specialist accessibility.

The typical applications of telehealth and telemedicine solutions include:

• Remote consultations that allow patients to seek non-emergency medical advice, prescriptions, or follow-ups from doctors remotely.
• Remote monitoring that enables continuous tracking of patients’ health data and conditions from a distance.
• Follow-up care, facilitating post-treatment check-ups, and reducing hospital visits for routine examinations.
• Education and training for healthcare professionals, enhancing their skills and knowledge remotely.

For example, Massachusetts General Hospital integrates telehealth solutions for mental health services, offering remote counseling and therapy sessions. This approach segregates urgent and non-urgent patients, reducing wait times and enhancing operational efficiency.

#2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are the leading healthcare tech trends. They are extensively utilized in medicine to handle large volumes of data, provide predictive analysis, and enhance patient care. Healthcare facilities upgrade their existing legacy software by integrating AI-powered software to:

• Examine CT scans, X-rays, and pathology slides to ensure precise diagnoses.
• Predict patient outcomes, identify health risks, and refine preventive care methods.
• Enhance patient engagement through healthcare chatbots and interactive tablets, allowing immediate access to medical plans and additional information requests.
• Customize treatment strategies by incorporating patient data and genetic details into the plans.
• Accelerate drug development by studying molecular structures and forecasting potential drug candidates.

As a bright example, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) implements AI in radiology and pathology for image analysis and diagnostics. Similarly, Mayo Clinic utilizes AI for personalized treatment plans, predictive analytics, and improving patient outcomes.

#3. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) comes as an interconnected network of medical devices and applications collecting and transmitting real-time patient data. Considered a future healthcare technology, it comprises a complex system of connected tools and solutions, including:

• Remote health monitoring equipment measuring blood pressure, glucose levels, heart rate, etc.
• Implants such as pacemakers, neurostimulators, and insulin pumps communicating and transmitting internal data.
• Wearable health trackers like smartwatches, fitness bands, and other devices that monitoring vital signs and health metrics.
• Vending machines and pharmacy kiosks offering contactless medical services, prescriptions, and consultations.

Thus, Stanford Health Care integrates IoMT for patient monitoring, wearable devices, and enhancing patient engagement. Johns Hopkins Hospital, in turn, uses the technology for remote patient monitoring and improving healthcare delivery.

#4. Cloud Computing & Big Data

Big data is a transformative technology trend in healthcare. Using advanced analytical algorithms, it collects, classifies, and processes large amounts of patient data. Most digitized medical businesses operate with cloud computing by storing, managing, and processing data and applications on remote servers:

• With cloud computing, hospitals securely store patient records, medical images, and health information for accessibility and backup on cloud servers.
• Cloud computing tech and healthcare solutions facilitate collaborative medical research by sharing data, resources, and computational tools among global researchers.
• By using the cloud, medical businesses can host electronic health record (EHR) systems for seamless data access across various facilities.
• Big data aids hospitals with predicting disease outbreaks, patient outcomes, and health risks by identifying patterns in healthcare data.

For instance, Johns Hopkins Hospital leverages big data and cloud computing for medical research, predictive modeling, and improving clinical outcomes.

#5. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are the game-changers of healthcare practices and procedures. Using these technology trends in healthcare is aimed at advancing patient outcomes and enabling innovative treatment plans by:

• Providing interactive patient experiences to aid in physical therapy and enhance motor skills.
• Utilizing interactive and visual educational content generated by AR and VR to explain complex medical conditions and treatments to patients.
• Assisting surgeons in visualizing patient anatomy in 3D, facilitating surgical planning and practicing intricate procedures before actual patient surgeries.
• Creating immersive simulations for medical training, enabling students and healthcare professionals to safely practice surgeries in realistic environments.

Final Thoughts

The merging of healthcare and technology propels innovative progress. AI diagnostics, IoT in patient care, and the power of big data signal a promising era for the medical industry. At Acropolium, we were trusted with 23+ solutions and 68+ consultations on modernization — we know how transformative technologies can be in medicine.

By embracing healthcare tech trends, our partners have built with us a biotech cloud-based SaaS solution that increased sales by 65. We have also witnessed how IoT benefits healthcare when developing a pharmacy kiosk that has increased business profitability by 60%.

Acropolium stands for digitalization at any stage of business operations. Whether you’re switching from your legacy system or searching for a vendor to integrate a tech solution, let’s chat!