Technology in health: what it is, its importance and trends
Between 2020 and 2022, with the global pandemic scenario, the health sector faced several challenges to be able to adapt to the needs of patients and to reduce the impact on its structure. Because of this, the implementation of technology in health was a significant and essential milestone.
After all, the pandemic highlighted the importance of digitizing the sector and the need to integrate technology to facilitate patient anamnesis and treatment. Thus, the different innovation solutions are having a great impact on the sector, since, of all the industries affected by the pandemic, the health sector needed to adapt the most digitally.
With significant technological advances, the adaptation of the sector was a priority. The high demands for access to health made these innovations a game-changer for the health sector to continue offering quality of service.
With health technology still in constant expansion, our objective is to show, in this article, some of the innovations and opportunities present in this market. Check it out!
What is health technology?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health technology is the “application of knowledge and skills organized in the form of devices, drugs, vaccines, procedures, and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of life”.
Thus, health technology can be understood as a range of tools, devices, software, and systems aimed at optimizing the efficiency, precision, and quality of services provided in the health sector, in order to promote health, prevent and treat diseases, and rehabilitate people.
Importance of technology in health
As technologies continue to evolve in our increasingly digital world, traditional forms of health care delivery will become increasingly obsolete. Thus, understanding the importance of technology in health is essential for competitiveness in the sector - after all, you cannot operate your clinic with outdated systems.
In recent years, the growth of health technology has been evident, with large investments being made and startups being created to support the financial movement of the sector. As Healthtechs are an example of this, since they are directly linked to this market and are constantly growing.
As the health sector faces new challenges, technology solutions are helping health managers to improve performance, increase integration between systems and manage costs.
One thing is certain: health technology not only optimizes processes, but saves lives, providing more efficient, accessible and personalized care to patients - and continuous integration and technological innovation are essential for the advancement and continuous improvement of the health sector.
Here, we will explore the advantages of the technological scenario in health, the main areas driven by such innovations, and what is the future scenario of this market.
Key health benefits of technology
The integration and adoption of technology in the health area brings with it a series of crucial benefits, which become even more evident as the sector faces new challenges. These technological advances have a significant impact on optimizing performance, promoting collaboration between systems, and effective cost management in the healthcare environment.
Improved operational performance
The implementation of innovative technologies in the health sector significantly improves the operational performance of medical institutions. From automating processes to streamlining data collection and analysis, technology improves service efficiency, providing faster and more accurate diagnoses, effective treatments, and better coordination of health teams.
Until the adoption of technologies such as digital signature, for example, can provide notable changes in the flow of information and internal and external processes of clinics and patients.
Enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration
Health technology facilitates collaboration between professionals from different areas and health systems. Through interconnected platforms and systems, it is possible to share information securely and efficiently, promoting an interdisciplinary approach to patient care. This results in better coordinated and personalized treatments.
Cost management and strategic investments
The use of technology enables better cost management, which is fundamental in a sector where financial efficiency is crucial. Real-time data analysis and financial management tools make it possible to make more informed decisions, optimizing investments and resources to ensure affordable and sustainable care provision.
Growth and innovation with healthtechs
The health sector is experiencing exponential growth, with large investments and the emergence of numerous startups, particularly the Healthtechs. These companies are driving innovation, creating disruptive solutions that improve process efficiency, accessibility to health services, and interaction between professionals and patients.
Modernization of care delivery
As technology advances, traditional methods of delivering health care become obsolete. Incorporating technological innovations into clinical practice modernizes the approach to patients, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and treatments, remote monitoring, telemedicine, and patient care in a more personalized and accessible way.
Main areas of activity of technology in health
Faced with so many technological possibilities in the health area, three crucial areas end up being the most impacted by innovation and the advancement of technology. Let's explore them below.
Exams
Through technology, it was possible to modernize diagnostic methods using advanced equipment and software. Imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for example, have become more accurate and less invasive, allowing for the early detection of diseases and medical conditions. In addition, laboratory analyses have been improved with automation and high-speed analysis, ensuring faster and more accurate results.
Treatments
Technology plays a vital role in the development of innovative treatments. Gene therapy, for example, has demonstrated great potential in treating genetic disorders.
In addition, artificial intelligence is used to personalize treatment regimens, optimizing efficacy and reducing side effects. Robotics is also present in surgeries, allowing for less invasive procedures and faster recovery.
Prevention
It may not seem like it, but technology has boosted disease prevention in a variety of ways that go beyond medical appointments. Wearables and health monitoring devices that we use on a daily basis, such as Smartwatches, for example, have helped to track physical activities, sleep patterns, and vital signs, allowing continuous health monitoring through a proactive approach.
With this, we can view various apps and digital platforms that provide information about health, healthy diets, and exercise routines, encouraging healthier lifestyles.
In addition, telemedicine also facilitates access to preventive consultations, promoting the early detection of health problems.
Technology in public health
According to the 1988 Constitution, health is everyone's right and the State's duty. However, it is up to health managers to identify the real health needs of the population, thus evaluating the large number of technologies offered by the market and prioritizing the inclusion of the main innovations in public health.
In Brazil, the Health Technology Assessment (ATS) is used to support the recommendations of the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies into the Unified Health System (CONITEC) regarding requests for the incorporation of technologies in the country's public health system.
This multidisciplinary process analyzes the short and long-term implications of the use of technology in health, summarizing information on clinical, social, economic, ethical, and organizational issues in a comprehensive, impartial, transparent, and systematic manner.
ATS is a type of assessment that “sees” multiple contexts, as we can see in the figure prepared by Ministry of Health:
And this assessment contributes to making important decisions, such as:
- Whether a particular treatment should be made available within a national health system.
- To which patients this treatment should be offered.
- How long should patients receive this treatment.
Any institution or individual can request a technology assessment, such as a company that manufactures the technology, a medical society, patients or technical areas of the Ministry of Health, State and Municipal Health Departments.
However, according to the legislation, the applicant must provide CONITEC with studies that prove efficacy, safety, economic assessment, and budgetary impact, in order to evaluate the incorporation of a new technology into the Unified Health System (SUS).
Currently, some of the technologies applicable to Brazilian public health include:
- Electronic medical record;
- Telemedicine;
- Management systems;
- Apps;
- Biometry tools;
- Monitoring cameras;
- Cloud computing;
- Remote Laboratory Tests (TLRs).
What are the main technologies in health?
As we have seen, technological evolution has triggered a revolution in the health area, providing a wide range of innovations that are transforming the way we take care of our health and how health professionals provide treatment to patients.
Now, let's get to know some of the main technologies that are currently shaping the health landscape:
telemedicine
Telemedicine enables remote medical appointments, diagnoses and patient monitoring through electronic devices, allowing access to health in a faster and more convenient way.
Telemedicine has been a major focus in recent years, as virtual appointments became mandatory during the pandemic, causing a sudden change in the daily lives of patients and doctors.
According to the Panorama of Clinics and Hospitals survey, conducted by Doctoralia in partnership with TuoTempo, 63% of medical centers are offering telemedicine care, demonstrating the strength and importance that this technology is having and will continue to have in the coming years.
The following are the main motivations for the use of telemedicine in Brazil:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning
AI and Machine learning are used for advanced analysis of medical data, diagnostic imaging, personalization of treatments, disease prediction and optimization of hospital operations.
AI is a collection of advanced technologies that enable machines to discover, understand, reason, act, and learn. In addition, they allow the processing of various types of data, such as voice, image, etc.
This technology is capable of increasing the productivity of health services, producing better results, and also being useful in seeking and reducing the treatment development cycle for existing diseases, thus reducing costs and making processes faster.
Electronic Health Records (RES)
RES replace physical records with electronic versions, centralizing patient health information, facilitating access and secure sharing of information between health professionals.
Smart medical devices
Devices such as portable health monitors, wearables and apps that allow patients to monitor their vital signs, track symptoms, manage medications, monitor diet and exercise, aiding in health management and early diagnosis of conditions.
Biotechnology and gene therapy
Advances in biotechnology have revolutionized the therapeutic approach to health. Personalized gene therapy, an application of biotechnology, offers treatments adapted to the individual genetic profile of each patient, promoting efficacy and minimizing adverse effects. This promising field is opening up new possibilities for treating a variety of medical conditions.
Trends for 2024 in the area of health
For the year 2024, several promising trends are shaping the future of health, marking a transformative trajectory in the sector. Let's explore some of them.
Medical robotics
Medical robotics is a rapidly expanding area that integrates robots into surgical procedures. These robots can be controlled by surgeons and provide greater precision and control in procedures, minimizing invasiveness and accelerating patient recovery. They are particularly useful in complex and delicate surgeries.
This technology has advantages for doctors and health institutions, as robotic assistance reduces the margin of error and causes more precise procedures. According to the report of Zion Market Research, by 2025 investment in robotics in the sector is expected to increase by around 20%. In other words, the technology used is an exponential advance.
Virtual reality and augmented reality
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are used in surgical simulations, training health professionals, therapy for patients, and visualization of complex medical data.
VR creates an immersive environment that simulates physical presence in a three-dimensional space, allowing the interaction and exploration of that environment in a virtual way. It is widely used in surgical simulations, training health professionals, and therapy for patients, providing a controlled environment for practice and learning.
On the other hand, AR complements the real world with digital information, superimposing virtual data and images onto the physical environment. In the health area, AR is used to visualize complex medical data, facilitating more accurate diagnoses and interventions.
Blockchain in health
The technology blockchain has played a fundamental role in ensuring the security and privacy of health data. Using cryptography and a decentralized structure, the blockchain enables the secure and incorruptible storage of medical records, guaranteeing authorized access only to the relevant parties.
In addition, it facilitates interoperability between health systems, allowing efficient data sharing between different medical entities.
Internet of Things in health
The Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare involves the interconnection of intelligent medical devices, monitoring patients' vital signs in real time and collecting relevant data. This information will be used to offer faster and more personalized interventions, in addition to facilitating disease prevention through the analysis of patients' health patterns.
What role can technology play in the future of healthcare?
As we've seen, technology is destined to play a crucial and transformative role in the future of healthcare. Technological innovations promise to revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered, accessed, and managed.
Regarding the evolution in the coming years, the sector can prepare by adapting technological advances, with significant changes in operational processes, the reduction of costs, and the creation of policies and data standards to encourage health organizations to adopt new technologies. It will be a gradual but effective growth for structuring the sector.
Meanwhile, today's challenges relate a lot to the customer experience, focusing on your hiring journey. Technological trends have made the experience more comprehensive and welcoming.
Digital signature in health
With that in mind, one of the solutions that stands out when it comes to improving the experience and practicality in the health sector is the digital signature, which has been facilitating the issuance of electronic reports, certificates and prescriptions. This type of subscription is allowing organizations to optimize their workflows and management processes.
In this way, it is possible to make the storage of all contracts more efficient and secure, allowing the team to find what they need quickly and guaranteeing a more satisfied patient.
The use of digital signatures is not only a viable solution for optimizing health services, but it also impacts the entire ecosystem of institutions, bringing advantages that go far beyond the reduction of paperwork.
With this technology, it is even possible to create hybrid experiences, in situations where the physical presence of the health professional or patient is essential to sign the contract. That's the idea of in-person subscription from Clicksign, a solution in which the patient signs the contract in person (using a mobile device to collect the signature), but with the speed and convenience offered by digital signatures.
In this type of signature, biometric evidence helps confirm the identity of the person signing, increasing the degree of security of the signed document. In addition, it is possible to count on the presence of a host, that is, a representative of the company at the time of signing, who will guide and be the witness during the signing process.
Do you want to understand how Clicksign's digital signature solutions can help boost technology in your company or office? Talk to an expert or Test for free!
