The influence of digitization on healthcare

 

The digital revolution affects all aspects of our lives, including healthcare. Whether it is to find the best chiropractor, to reserve a parking space before your operation or to train doctors and educate patients, the internet is everywhere.  techwadia

The quest for the right doctor 

The Internet is the first place many of us now go to find medical professionals. A recent study of 1,700 adults in the United States found that 80% of those surveyed had used the internet in the past year to conduct health care-related research . In many countries, the internet also helps internet users choose the right healthcare provider. A Google study found that 94% of Australians looking for a healthcare professional used at least one of the following internet channels to help them make their choice: 

73% Professional website  

56% Comparison site 

48% Search engine

35% Online Directory 

33% Forum, blog, etc. 

Online reviews 

The internet has also given patients a voice. Online review and review sites aren't just for finding a good restaurant. Indeed, the category of healthcare and medical professionals now accounts for 6% of all online customer reviews, making it the sixth most important category .  

These review sites play a vital role in the health care decision making of many people. One study found that 28% of patients surveyed agreed that reading positive reviews on an independent site would be enough to prompt them to choose a particular doctor . Paying attention to patient feedback helps to ensure the quality of healthcare. 

Online reviews therefore undoubtedly have an impact on which medical facilities patients choose. In this context, it is not surprising that even small medical practices are interested in managing their online profile. 90% of health professionals surveyed say they are concerned about the risk of bad customer reviews . This concern is increasingly translated into concrete action: 46% of respondents plan to devote resources to managing their online reputation in the next year .   

The doctor-patient relationship  

Before the advent of the internet, doctors' diagnoses were very rarely questioned. These days, it is not uncommon for patients to arrive with a list of potential diagnoses in hand. This may have the advantage that a well-informed patient will be better equipped and more motivated to follow treatment recommendations. However, the information found on the internet is not always correct and this can cause disagreements and conflicts between doctors and their patients. 

The reliability of internet health advice depends entirely on the quality of the sources. There is a need to better educate patients and empower them to be able to distinguish between reliable and unreliable health care information on the Internet. 

Follow-up 

Healthcare professionals have realized that the internet and digital marketing are essential tools for preventive care and patient education. 

Even though patients know what to do to stay healthy when speaking with their doctor, they often get caught up in everyday life and forget or lose sight of their treatment goals. In the United States, nearly a third of the population has stopped taking their medications without telling their doctor,  and 50% of chronic disease medications are not taken as prescribed . This of course has a negative effect on the health of the patients. It is even estimated that it is responsible for around 10% of hospitalizations per year .   

The Internet is being used more and more to help patients follow their treatments correctly. Unlike a doctor's office, the internet is an integral part of patients' lives; he is always there to answer their questions and help them stay the course. 

As part of the fight for patient empowerment and against misinformation, healthcare services around the world are increasingly present online. All UK citizens have access to the NHS 111 online service, where patients can read reliable medical advice and make appointments with practitioners.  

Online services help patients find and follow treatment; it even affects people we consider less comfortable with technology. A study of older adults in the United States found a positive correlation between internet use and the timely adoption of preventative behaviors . Those who used the internet were more likely to get tested for cancer, get the flu shot and have their cholesterol checked. Older women who used the internet were also more likely to encourage their partners to seek these treatments.  

Smartphone apps also help patients get and stick to their treatments. There are a variety of apps to remind them to take their medication, such as Medisafe, Tabtime, Med Minder, Pillpack, and E-Pill. There are also disease-specific apps, like Glucose Buddy, which allows people with diabetes to track their insulin levels and blood sugar levels through their phones.   

The Internet can also help patients find answers to some difficult or embarrassing questions. There is clearly a demand in this area: Ro is an online pharmacy specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. This year, the company was valued at around $ 500 million .  

Training  

Virtualmedschool  is an online platform that offers what the Dutch company calls "A flight simulator for healthcare professionals". It offers online tutorials of complex medical procedures from the virtual perspective of a surgeon in the operating room. The tool is currently used by more than 6,000 doctors and nurses in many hospitals in the Netherlands and the UK.   

Medical Realties is another company that provides services in this area. Dr Shafi Ahmed is the CEO of the company. His vision is to create an online platform that uses augmented reality and affordable technologies like smartphones to teach medicine to people in different places around the world. The goal is to make medical training as affordable and accessible as possible. All of this proves that the internet not only helps with all stages of treatment, but also helps to train the best doctors for the future.