7 Emerging Trends in Healthcare

Recently, on The Medical Futurist, we amassed two vast collections of healthcare trends. The TOP100 Digital Health Companies In 2021 assembled the most important companies in this field and put them onto one giant infographic. From startups through government authorities to prominent innovators, we determined four fields wherein these companies must excel: innovation, technology, business and dedication towards digital health.

Our next compilation was an even bigger undertaking: creating the Hype Cycle Of The Top 50 Emerging Digital Health Trends clearly indicated where a particular technology is at on its life cycle, and what Dr Meskó’s expectations are towards that technology. Our hype cycle shows 50 of the most promising digital health technologies the way we, at The Medical Futurist, see them today.

To delve even further into current trends, this time The Medical Futurist team have tried to collect those trends within digital health that are especially astonishing and forward-looking. These have the possibility to grow beyond average industry expectations and clearly move markets upwards, and healthcare further. Let’s have a look at these!

Field1: Niche telemedicine?

Description: Telemedicine today is like a cup of tea – everyone can have one. But to build a telemedicine service that covers a well-defined niche area is something The Medical Futurist team stands by. This isn’t the average call between physicians and their patients, rather a follow-up option for remote care systems.

An excellent example is how telemedicine can be combined into therapy decisions. A study on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and telemedicine visits for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes concluded that the use of telemedicine patient consults and remote monitoring of CGM and insulin data can significantly improve glycemic control.

Example: Ginger + Headspace

The marriage of these two giants was in a way unavoidable. Merging a massive number of enterprise and health plan customers with combined booking systems equals a mental health megadeal – the first of its kind.

Field2: At-home lab tests

Description: Laboratory tests at the comfort of your home are such an attractive concept for patients that the field started growing even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rise Of At-Home Lab Tests can really make a difference in people’s lives today. Patients can have access to a wide range of analyses determining our lab markers and blood results. No need to meet anyone, go anywhere - and such solutions are already built in the existing testing kits.

Example: imaware

The imaware platform provides over 20 different types of advanced home-based health tests. The company also offers telemed physician oversight, helping people take control over their health. During the pandemic, they launched a collaboration with virtual care company Wheel to deliver clinician-administered at-home COVID tests. They will surely have more ideas under their belt.

The Evolution Of COVID-19 Rapid Tests Paves The Way For At-Home Lab Tests – The pandemic brought light to a trend we discussed before. To reduce the exposure to risks such as an infection, at home lab tests are coming. It is a sector ripe for disruption that has yet to be penetrated by advanced technologies. And with the enhanced access to care that these technologies offer, additional concerns over their use will emerge that have to be tackled by policymakers in a timely manner.

Field3: A.I.-guided ultrasound systems

Description: Artificial intelligence gives healthcare professionals without specialised training in ultrasound imaging the opportunity to be able to carry out diagnostic quality professional examinations. These devices are designed to provide diagnostic-quality imaging – just as good as the much bigger, heavier imaging machines.

Example: Kosmos by EchoNous ?

I find this device fascinating. Kosmos is the only portable ultrasound benchmarked against cart-based machines, with A.I.-assisted full diagnostic imaging at the point of care. I have tested this device – and I did find it a blast.

Field4: 3D printing of certain medications

Description: It was already over 6 years ago when the FDA approved the first-ever 3D printed drug. There haven’t been many others since, and it’s partly due to the fact that medications can be 3D printed for a specific purpose (e.g. to make the drug dissolve faster) and most purposes still don't require the use of this technology. However, with technological innovation, we can expect to have 3D printers in pharmacies someday, printing our own, personalised medication in a matter of minutes.

Example: FabRx

UK-based FabRX aims to commercialise printed tablets in 5-10 years. They foresee that 3D printing will become available in every major hospital in the next decade. As the head of the company explained to The Medical Futurist : “We envision a system where medicines are going to be prepared from raw materials in the same way you use a Nespresso machine to prepare coffee.”

The present and the possible future of digital pills

Field5: digital health insurance

Description: Already with futuristic technologies like clinical grade personal health sensors, at-home genome sequencing kits and artificial intelligence, healthcare is receiving a much-needed overhaul that democratises access to quality care. The health insurance industry could also ride on those same waves of disruption to make the market relevant again in the digital health age.

Example: Oscar Health

Insurance firm Oscar Health famously incentivised healthy lifestyle by rewarding U.S. customers with Amazon gift cards for achieving their daily goals as measured by Fitbit wearables, cleverly connecting a good product with a matching motivational tool.

Field6: medical transportation companies?

Description: Some say transportation problems are the leading cause of inequalities in healthcare in the US. Ride-sharing apps are already doing their share of the job in non-emergency medical transportation, and these services continuously prove to be beneficial for patients and hospitals alike. Non-emergency medical transportation services mean a more reliable and affordable means of getting to the doctor’s office for many people in rural areas or in cities without appropriate infrastructure.

Example: Modivcare

In order to avoid missing hospital appointments, Modivcare’s healthcare services provide medical transportation and care-centric solutions. The company addresses the social determinants of health, including non-emergency medical transportation, personal care, remote monitoring, medication management, and even nutrition.

Plus one – Field7: wireless health monitoring ...for pets

Digital health tools for pets are surprisingly similar to the ones physicians who treat people face, and the digital transformation will also lead to (animal) patients living longer. Veterinarian care can expect the same trajectory of digital health technologies as we see in healthcare. In a strange way, the passion people have to keep their pets healthy will expose them to these new technologies enough so that they can start taking advantage of them in their own healthcare as well.

Example: VetGuardian

An astonishing piece of design, VetGurdian is like a radar that tracks your pet’s vital signals from afar. In hospitals, we put all sorts of sensors on patients – but that would hardly work with energetic pets running and rolling around. Without a physical connection, the device can monitor and accurately track temperature, pulse, respiration and movement.

In order to make use of all the great trends listed above, we as patients need to embrace this changing landscape of digital health provided to us already. These trends also stand out for the fact that the companies listed share the same kind of forward-looking mindset and innovative spirit, pushing themselves towards excellence for their vision - and our health.