The 10 Biggest Trends Revolutionising Healthcare In 2024

 

At a high level, this term refers to the creation of tailored treatment plans for individual patients. In practice, this is increasingly being done with technology and data. The most advanced applications are in genomics, where AI is being used to analyse patients’ DNA to diagnose and treat diseases and to create medicines that are personalised to specific people down to the molecular level (sometimes called precision medicine). Many researchers believe that a personalised approach to healthcare leads to better patient outcomes and more efficient use of medical resources and will play an increasingly important role in addressing the healthcare challenges of the future.

 

Virtual Healthcare Assistants

Virtual assistants and chatbots can help clinicians by providing advice on treatments, diagnoses, and medications. They can also help patients by answering questions about their care and connecting them with the information they need to make more informed decisions about their own care. Increasingly, they will interface with electronic health record systems and be used to book and schedule appointments. They can also help patients stay compliant by reminding them to take medications or exercise. They can even provide companionship for patients who live alone or in remote areas to improve their mental health!

 

Digital Twins

A digital twin is a virtual model of a real-world system, object, place, tool, or process. It can be used to simulate anything from a single device, such as a needle, to understand how it works in different conditions to an entire hospital to understand how services are delivered. Digital twins of the human body and individual organs have been developed to model the effects of changes in treatment, medication and lifestyle choices. Perhaps the most complex digital twin currently imaginable is a twin of the human brain, which researchers hope to advance by 2024.

IoT-Powered Virtual Hospitals and Telemedicine 2.0

This trend includes both telemedicine and wearable devices connected to the global network known as the Internet of Things (IoT). By using connected devices to remotely monitor patients and provide communication channels for healthcare professionals, more elements of care can be delivered remotely. We call this “telemedicine 2.0” because it goes beyond the simple delivery of remote care, such as remote consultations, to a holistic approach to remote patient care and treatment. Virtual hospital wards are an example of this trend in action in 2024 – where a central location acts as a hub for monitoring multiple patients in their own homes.

 

Preventative Healthcare with Life X DNA

Preventative healthcare encompasses a wide range of topics, including exercise, wellness, and immunisations, but fundamentally, it adheres to the principle that prevention is better than cure. In 2024, the shift from reactive to proactive healthcare approaches is set to be a strategic priority. Life X DNA is at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging advanced AI to analyse genetic data and provide personalised health insights. This proactive stance offers long-term benefits for patients by anticipating and mitigating health risks and significantly reduces the costs associated with treating preventable conditions. Technological advances, such as AI-driven analytics and wearable technology integrated with Life X DNA’s platform, enable early detection and rapid intervention, ensuring a healthier future through personalised preventive care.

 

Virtual and Augmented Reality in Healthcare

The use of virtual reality (VR) in healthcare is beginning to take off, with several innovative use cases now entering the mainstream. In particular, it has been shown to be effective in helping patients manage long-term chronic pain. It has been shown to be more effective and cause fewer side effects than traditional pharmaceutical pain management, leading to improved quality of life for patients and reduced hospital stays. Meanwhile, augmented reality (AR) is increasingly being used by surgeons to provide digital information as they work without the need to look at separate screens. Another application is wound care management, where it enables non-invasive assessment of the severity, healing status, and best treatment options for a patient’s wound.

 

Elderly Care

Many developed nations have aging populations, which will inevitably put increasing pressure on healthcare systems as people live longer and require more support in later life. Innovative solutions that enable the elderly to remain in their own homes for longer, rather than taking up space in hospitals, hospices and nursing homes, will come to the fore. There will also be an increased focus on developing new treatments for diseases that occur specifically in old age and put a strain on care systems such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Other trends discussed here, including preventative care, virtual hospitals and healthcare assistants, will also have important implications.

 

3D Printing – From Implements to Organs

Additive manufacturing – where products are constructed using processes such as 3D printing – has a major impact on healthcare. In parts of the world where medical equipment is hard to come by, it can be used to print tools and devices on demand, including surgical instruments, orthopaedic or dental implants, and prosthetics. Research is also underway into the viability of 3D-printed organs for transplant using biological tissue taken from the patient’s body. If proven effective, this could provide a solution to the chronic shortage of organs available for transplant and dramatically reduce the cost of these procedures.

 

Convergence of Mental and Physical Healthcare Delivery

For most of the history of medicine, mental and physical health care have been relatively siloed. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed that, as providers increasingly recognise the intrinsic links between physical and mental well-being and the need for a holistic approach. Examples of this in action in 2024 will include frontline healthcare providers, such as primary care physicians, increasingly screening for ways in which mental health issues may impact the treatment and recovery of physical ailments.