Since the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the way we view our world has been fundamentally shifted forever. From the way corporate offices are ran to determining what services are ‘essential’, COVID-19 severely impacted our lives. The healthcare industry was most affected by these new challenges. From this we saw an evolution in the ‘digital health’ industry to meet these new circumstances.
Healthcare services at the time were unable to keep up with the immense challenges of the pandemic. We started to rethink our healthcare services and how can we utilise the immense technological advancements of the 21st century.
One outcome that came from this discovery of limitations, was to update the Telehealth system to be used by more than just remote communities. So Telehealth 1.0 was created, and a wealth of benefits were immediately apparent that including:
- Reduced waiting room numbers
- Reduced traveling costs and employment disruptions
- Increased efficiency in a busy general practice
- Decreased non-attendance rates, leading to reduced healthcare resource waste.
- Increased access to care for vulnerable populations
- Overall reduction in barriers to primary care
Source: Australian Journal of General Practice (2022)
Since the implementation of Telehealth was expedited from necessity and not innovation, it lacks in some key aspects. A widely available Telehealth service would lessen the burden of healthcare resources, as well as improve overall healthcare equity.
Why Telehealth 1.0 requires an evolution to keep up with digital health needs
A study was completed on whether Telehealth 1.0 could be an alternative model of care. In fact, it provided an in-depth analysis on the state of Telehealth 1.0 and the problems that arise when replacing conventional face-to-face methods, some of which include:
- Contacting patients in a timely manner
- Lack of understanding due to low health literacy
- Bandwidth limitations and slow internet connections
- Language barriers
- Additional staff required to support Telehealth appointments.
The Mayo Clinic on Telehealth Benefits and Barriers also completed a similar study. They concluded similar results in a suburban setting but also added some other considerations such as:
That internet bandwidth affects the validity and reliability for fine motor task measurements. Which could lead to healthcare practitioners making clinical diagnoses based on inaccurate data.
Applying existing principles of malpractice liability to Telehealth is not straightforward. It is unclear what an appropriate “standard of care” is.
For this reason, with the immense potential that Telehealth has, it’s no surprise that in 2021 a whopping $29.1 billion has poured into digital health start-ups, with over 720 investment deals being made – according to digital health venture fund Rock Health. They also state that in 2021, investments had nearly doubled 2020’s previous record of $14.9B across 484 deals. It is expected that this will reach an insane $787.4B by 2028, with a lucrative CAGR of 36.5%.
With all these investments and innovations happening within the digital health industry, it creates the perfect storm for Telehealth 1.0 to take an evolutionary leap of its own.
Telehealth 2.0 will be marked by new remote patient monitoring tools
Telehealth 1.0 does have its risks due to the inability to accurately record patient vitals for reliable diagnoses. Telehealth 2.0 must make full use of the emerging technologies available, so that doctors can ensure they are providing and collecting correct information like:
- Weight and height
- Body temperature
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Oxygenation
- Glucose
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs)
- Mobility levels
It is critical that medical practitioners can solicit an accurate method of collating this data. This would enable the evolution of Telehealth from helpful conversations to an informed medical assessment.
Smart watch technologies are already popular in the current market with the most notable being the Apple Watch and FitBit. These smart watches track a multitude of user vitals including most of the vitals listed above, except for weight and height.
Telehealth 2.0 is improving accuracy of data
Some critics have concerns about the accuracy of these devices. After all, if a doctor makes an incorrect diagnosis based on bad data that adversely affects a patient’s wellbeing then the doctor will fail their duty of care and be liable for litigation.
The Stanford School of Medicine has conducted studies that show incredibly promising signs for the efficacy of these devices. The Apple Heart Study determined that the Apple Watch had a 71% positive predictive value for indicating a positive tachogram reading. Among the identified 71% cases, 84% had atrial fibrillation. This finding demonstrates that the Apple Watch is a relatively accurate indicator of heart rates in patients.
The potential of these devices to change the way we do healthcare is extremely promising, and most importantly – could lead to a much higher global healthcare equity. Ensuring that under-served communities have the same access to medical information is achievable with Telehealth.
Telehealth 2.0 will improve Global Healthcare Equity
The ability to receive reliable healthcare services through digital health, is something that would greatly help the currently underserved communities, not just on a national basis, but on a global one. As we continue to advance our technological capabilities, it inevitably becomes cheaper to access previous technology which has been recognised through Moore’s Law. It recognises the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles about every two years, meaning the as time goes on the cutting-edge capabilities of years past, become less cutting edge and much more accessible to underprivileged communities.
Smart watch and wearable technology is at the cutting edge right now, but it can be stated that within a decade this technology will become available to most people on the globe. This in turn will allow for Telehealth 2.0 to be widely accessible to most places on the globe.
Right now it is about coming up with plans of enabling access to healthcare professionals, whilst the technology becomes more affordable. Once it reaches a certain level of affordability, it will allow an accurate and reliable medical diagnosis, all with the click of a button.
This dream will turn into reality, once these barriers of cost and access are broken. Right now there are many governments across the globe working to implement this in their own countries, with many roadmaps like the one below being used to guide this transformation.
This roadmap outlines the four-step process the Queensland Government have outlined to achieve better healthcare equity from 2019-2029.
No time like the present
We are now witnessing the beginning of the digital health revolution in this industry, with daily innovations in hardware and booming investments. It's an opportune time to get involved.
The way healthcare is delivered is going to be forever changed and it’s the perfect time to hop on the bandwagon and create something revolutionary within the digital health industry.
Partner with FONSEKA!
FONSEKA is a software development and consulting company that specialises in custom solutions that can turn any idea into a game changing app. Through using cutting-edge software frameworks, we adhere to the highest standards of web and mobile development and can guide you in your software solution process.
The digital health revolution has just begun, and it will be critical to stay current with the latest trends. Contact us now, and we can help you make your mark on the industry, through a tailored app of your dreams at fonseka.com.au/contact