Why technology is key to transforming patient care and improving access

Bill Gates once remarked, “The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don’t really even notice it, so it’s part of everyday life.” This insight has proven true across numerous technological and digital transformations, from the industrial era to the rise of mobile phones and now the integration of artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies. In healthcare, the digital transformation has been rapid and profound, significantly accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, digital health technologies are instrumental in addressing gaps in access and delivery, making patient journeys simple and seamless.

Innovations in telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), mobile health apps, and wearable devices are revolutionizing healthcare by making it more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. According to a study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) , these technologies are shifting the focus from treating the disease to improving patients' overall well-being and quality of life. The study also highlights the multiple benefits of telemedicine, including reduced healthcare costs, shorter waiting times, and a lower risk of infection from in-person consultations. Remote diagnosis and care can also benefit patients with limited mobility.

With initiatives like the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) , a WHO-managed network designed to accelerate national digital health transformation, digitalization in healthcare is gaining significant momentum worldwide. Launched on February 20, 2024, GIDH aims to prioritize country-specific needs for sustainable digital health systems, align resources effectively, support the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025, and build capacity for local development and adaptation of digital health technologies.

?Embracing digitalization for enhanced patient-centric care

The widespread adoption of telemedicine has been a game-changer in healthcare, allowing patients to consult with providers remotely and minimizing the need for in-person visits. This has been especially beneficial for individuals in remote areas, granting them access to specialist care that would otherwise be out of reach. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there was limited space inside hospitals with overwhelmed healthcare professionals, preventing patients who needed critical care from receiving the right treatment. Telemedicine proved invaluable in reducing exposure risks and ensuring continuity of care during that time.

Alongside telemedicine, the transition from paper-based records to electronic health records (EHRs) has centralized patient information digitally, making it easier for healthcare providers to access and update data. This shift has improved care coordination, reduced errors, and ensured timely patient treatments.?

Another major transformation witnessed during the COVID era was patients’ shift from visiting hospitals for routine check-ups to adopting mobile health (mHealth) apps. These apps offer a range of services, including tracking vital signs, medication adherence, educational resources, and mental health support. Patients are using these apps to monitor their health in real-time, stay up to date, communicate with healthcare providers, and manage chronic conditions more effectively. Similarly, wearable health devices like fitness trackers and smartwatches continuously monitor metrics such as heart rate, physical activity, and sleep patterns, providing valuable data that can be shared with healthcare providers. These devices are particularly useful for early detection of potential health issues and managing chronic conditions.

In the last two years, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning has significantly influenced healthcare in data-driven decision-making. By analyzing large datasets to identify patterns and predict outcomes, these technologies are applied in diagnostic imaging, drug discovery, and personalized treatment medication.

In the book, “Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again,” Eric Topol says, “The greatest opportunity offered by AI is not reducing errors or workloads, or even curing cancer: it is the opportunity to restore the precious and time-honored connection and trust —the human touch—between patients and doctors.”

AI-powered tools assist healthcare providers in making accurate diagnoses, recommending treatment plans, and predicting patient responses to therapies.

On the other hand, remote monitoring technologies also play an essential role in enabling healthcare providers to track patients' health statuses from a distance through devices such as glucose monitors and ECG monitors. This continuous monitoring allows for early intervention when abnormalities are detected, improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital readmissions.

With the increasing amount of health information available online, concerns about data security arise. However, blockchain technology provides a secure and transparent way to manage health data, ensuring the integrity and privacy of patient information. It streamlines administrative processes, reduces fraud, and facilitates secure data sharing across different systems and organizations.

Embracing the transformation to make the patient journey smooth and seamless

At Axios International, we have embraced these digital advancements early on through our Axios+ digital ecosystem, which integrates various innovations to simplify and personalize patient treatment journeys. One such tool is the My Health app, which has been instrumental in supporting patients enrolled in our partnered patient access programs, like Ajmal, a 23-year-old ulcerative colitis patient from Pakistan.

?MyHealth for Patients provides up-to-date information on medication availability, making it easier for patients to access their prescribed treatments. Sharing his experience using the app, Ajmal says, “MyHealth makes it easier to pick up my medication from the pharmacy. I can check the app once my program coordinator has released the medicine and get the pharmacy's location. I just have to visit the pharmacy, provide the security code, and pick up the medicine.” The app not only allows patients to view their upcoming medication releases but also keeps them updated on their program application status. It further supports a paperless approach by enabling patients to upload program-supported documents and have access to them all in one place.

Through the Axios+ platform, patients enrolled in our partnered-access programs benefit from personalized care and treatment plans, medication management, emotional support, and data-driven insights. This integrated approach not only enhances the patient experience but also empowers healthcare providers with the tools needed to deliver optimal care. A recent survey among MyHealth users revealed that 44% of patients use the app frequently, with 66% utilizing it for medication pickup. This data highlights a digital app's role in improving medication accessibility and treatment visibility throughout their patient treatment journey.

Axios+ offers a comprehensive view of the patient journey, supporting over 40 multinational and regional pharmaceutical companies. It streamlines processes from physician referrals to medication distribution, facilitating better patient care. On the other hand, MyPatients for Physicians provides real-time data, enhancing better and more informed decision-making, while MyPharmacy for Pharmacists improves patient-pharmacist relationships, optimizing medication release and distribution.

As our partnered-access programs cater to a diverse demographic, with 46% of patients aged 40 and above, we understand the challenges each age group may face with new technology adoption. Our digital Axios+ teams, together with the patient care liaisons, dedicate time to guide them through the benefits and functionalities of MyHealth, ensuring they can manage their treatment journey effectively. While we prioritize digital solutions, we also offer a hybrid approach, ensuring that patients comfortable with traditional methods are not left behind. This inclusive strategy and approach to healthcare delivery is based on our principle of "Digital First, but Not Digital Only," which makes access to healthcare possible for patients belonging to all segments of life.

Digitalization - A faster way to make healthcare more accessible

A recent study conducted by WHO/Europe in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, a WHO Collaborating Centre in eHealth, highlights the significant benefits of telemedicine technologies for screening, diagnosing, managing, treating, and providing long-term follow-up for chronic diseases across.

However, it also identified several barriers related to users, technology, and infrastructure. Dr. David Novillo-Ortiz, Regional Adviser on Data and Digital Health and lead author of the study, noted, “These include lack of or poor internet access, health worker resistance, shortcomings in their knowledge of technology, heavy workloads, or insufficient training.”

While digital advancements are helping to reinvent healthcare by improving accessibility and efficiency, they are not a cure-all for achieving access to healthcare. Dr. Joseph Saba’s book?A World Undivided—A Quest for Better Healthcare Beyond Geopolitics ?explains this further by saying that digital tools are “facilitators and not replacements for human connection.”

In the chapter titled The Great Facilitator, Dr. Saba, the CEO and Co-Founder of Axios International, discusses how the advent of digital and social technologies has made it easier to bring multiple parties together to support the patient journey. “Digital is often painted as the be-all and end-all solution to the world’s problems. I don’t see it that way. Human connection will forever be at the heart of how healthcare is practiced. Digital tools will never replace that, but they can certainly help simplify and facilitate connected care by creating a simpler, more convenient link between providers and receivers of healthcare,” he says.

Digital tools and technologies bring significant benefits but also come with limitations and challenges if not adopted properly and appropriately. Digital technology is present in everything we do, and hence, it can't be ignored for long. We live in an age where digital ways have become part of everyday life. So, in order to truly ensure that every patient can benefit from these innovations, it's essential to address issues beyond technology itself, such as digital literacy, internet access, and socioeconomic disparities. For this, we need to look at it in a more comprehensive way - addressing all gaps in adopting the technology for a successful integration and implementation. We have developed robust protocols at Axios, including encryption of data, impact analysis, and frequent internal audits to identify and resolve potential risks and vulnerabilities .

Using our digital tools, we at Axios aim to minimize the burden on all stakeholders involved in the patient journey and close the gap outside the hospital, virtually or in person. We firmly believe that by integrating technology with supportive measures and focusing on inclusivity, we can make strides toward more equitable healthcare for all.

Interested in learning more about Axios+ and our digital apps and how they simplify patient journeys? Please leave your details here .