In this article, we’ll look at the trends that will shape healthcare in the coming years, from Next-generation wearable devices to Cloud-based EHRs. We’ll also touch on Personalized medicine and plant-based diets. We’ll also explore a new trend that may be a bit jarring, but is sure to affect many healthcare organizations: clinician burnout. These trends are likely to continue to plague healthcare organizations and will lead to a lack of innovation and increased healthcare costs.
Next-gen wearable devices
As we enter the fourth decade of the 21st century, new technologies are transforming healthcare. From smart watches to biosensors that measure ECGs, sensors and artificial intelligence are being developed to track your health and provide valuable insight into your well-being. By 2022, 320 million consumer wearable devices are expected to be on the market. In the meantime, medical-grade wearables, which are usually called smart patches, will be more readily available off-the-shelf.
Wearables have the potential to perform many functions traditionally done by smartphones. The Xsensio wearable, for instance, detects elevated cortisol levels in sweat. While the wearable device category continues to grow, many of these devices are still in the pre-clinical phase, and many remain stuck in FDA purgatory. For now, however, the future of health and fitness is shaped by these devices.
As the wearable market grows, demand for these gadgets will increase. These wearable devices will be increasingly sophisticated and easier to use than ever before. They will provide health-tracking data, make it easier to monitor the status of your health, and improve your quality of life. And because of their popularity, wearable technology will become even more ubiquitous. But how will these wearable devices actually improve our lives?
In terms of power consumption, battery life, and overall functionality, the wearables of 2022 will serve a variety of needs. Adapting to the ongoing silicon shortage will be a crucial part of the development of wearable health devices in the next few years. Adapting to this problem will help manufacturers remain competitive and keep products on the market. The next-generation wearable devices are expected to provide the same benefits as their smartphone counterparts.
Cloud-based EHRs
With COVID-19 at its apex, the world has experienced rapid evolution of healthcare technology. In 2022, virtual care will become more prevalent as more patients utilize apps and wearable devices to share health data with their primary care providers. Although virtual care may eventually replace in-person visits, the technology is a complementary part of a hybrid approach to health delivery. Increasing use of integrated telehealth solutions will allow practices to provide telehealth services without disrupting their established workflows.
Another innovation driving these health trends is the move of healthcare systems to the cloud. With cloud-based EHRs, providers can access patient health information from anywhere, at any time, without compromising their data security or privacy. These systems also offer improved connectivity and security because they do not require a physical server. A recent study has found that more than half of healthcare organizations now use cloud-based EHR systems, which can be used by physicians and hospitals across the country.
With more patients wanting access to their medical records on their smartphones, hospitals are racing to make the transition to cloud-based EMRs. This technology allows doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to access patient data from anywhere in the world. Moreover, as hospitals begin to digitalize their services, artificial intelligence is gaining momentum. This new technology can automatically manipulate patient data and extract essential information from large amounts of unstructured data.
In addition to embracing cloud-based EHRs, healthcare organizations will also focus on improving their internal communication to ensure patient care is better. With more time and energy being spent on treating patients, healthcare organizations must implement technology to make their workflows more efficient and more convenient. One of the top health technology trends for 2022 is automation. Automation allows for time management and information access, thereby freeing up staff to provide care.
Plant-based diets
Consumers are making the switch to a plant-based diet in large numbers, and not just because they are health-conscious. Many are also trying to minimize their meat intake, reduce their carbon footprint, and prevent climate change. The trend isn’t just limited to diets, however; it’s also expanding into a variety of categories, including snacks and functional beverages. Eventually, the trend will even reach into the baking aisle!
The growth of plant-based diets has been fueled by the ongoing debate over how to feed a growing global population. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect consumers. The trend has also led to the development of plant-based technologies that make a more plant-based diet more accessible to the general public. Meanwhile, greener manufacturing processes are taking a larger role in 2022, in part due to a growing demand for eco-friendly products. Furthermore, the health and environmental concerns of millennials and Gen-Zers are driving many of these trends, with the health and environmental benefits of plant-based diets at the forefront.
There are challenges to eating a plant-based diet, though. For example, many people are hesitant to try plant-based food because it tastes weird, or because of the off-tastes. However, the growth of plant-based foods is a trend that shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. In addition to the growing popularity of plant-based foods, school foodservice professionals can also influence the development of policies to promote sustainable food systems. In particular, policies should consider the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations. Additionally, introducing nutrient-dense foods to children’s diets can improve their development and academic performance. Ultimately, the health trend for 2022 is that of food security. In order to address this issue, it is crucial to increase access to healthy foods.
One of the defining trends for the plant-based food industry is nutritional parity. Consumers will be more apt to purchase a plant-based food if it meets nutritional criteria as their counterpart. For example, a plant-based product with high protein content is a good choice. However, people will need to understand the difference between meat and a plant-based alternative. As a result, companies will have to adjust their recipes to accommodate this growing trend.
Personalized medicine
There are a variety of health trends in 2022, and some of them will become mainstream. Some trends that have been around for years are already mainstream, but there are still more to come. Personalized medicine will continue to grow in importance as people live longer, experience less pain, and have healthier lifestyles. Wearables, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, will play an increasing role in healthcare.
Personalized medicine is the next step in the evolution of healthcare, and advances in technology are paving the way. Vaccines for diseases like COVID-19 showed that healthcare advances can happen faster than expected. These new vaccines were not only effective in combating COVID, they provided collective protection against the disease. Meanwhile, other innovations in health care such as value-based care and patient empowerment are driving the trend toward personalized medicine. The pandemic, COVID-19, has reshaped the landscape of health care, highlighting inequities and elevating the role of human behavior in the delivery of healthcare.
Using digital twin technology to create digital replicas of the human body will help the healthcare industry develop treatments more quickly and efficiently. Traditional medicine uses “one-size-fits-all” approaches, with drugs that target a broad population, but often fail to deliver the desired results. Using digital twins, however, will make it easier and less costly to create custom-made treatments for individuals.
More people are becoming familiar with their health, thanks to commercial wearable devices. These devices are generating enormous amounts of data that can be used to improve the care of individual patients. Commercial wearable devices also give general practitioners a way to engage patients in their health. Ultimately, the rise of wearables will make healthcare more convenient for patients and less expensive for everyone. So, Personalized medicine is one of the health trends for 2022.
Mental health
One of the major trends for employers in the coming years will be a focus on employee mental health, with more resources aimed at employees’ children and spouses. Employers will be more concerned about the overall well-being of their workforce and are increasingly interested in access to child care, family therapy, and other resources for the entire family. This trend will have significant implications for companies and the health care industry, particularly those looking to recruit and retain top talent.
In addition to mental health, an increased prevalence of gun violence will continue to have an impact on society. One in five children is likely to be exposed to gun violence at some point during their lives. Furthermore, social isolation will be a contributing factor, with more than half of all parents reporting a decline in their child’s mental health during the pandemic. And in 2022, COVID-19 will become the leading cause of death for children under the age of 19 in the U.S.
While mental health has become a major concern for employers in recent years, education on the topic has not kept pace. It’s important for employers to consider the future needs of their employees in 2022, especially in light of these trends. Employees may be unable to understand the causes of mental health issues or the solutions to combat them, and therefore need more help than ever. To help employers keep up with these trends, many companies have already started offering benefits to help their employees stay mentally healthy. One such resource is the Mental Health Awareness Month webinar.
As the United States continues to fight the mental health crisis, more people are sharing their stories. Social media has made it possible for people to openly discuss topics previously taboo, such as suicide. Celebrities and other prominent figures are also joining the conversation about mental health. The Biden Administration recently released a strategy to tackle the national mental health crisis. The new policy calls for the creation of more mental health treatment options for people suffering from mental illnesses.
