Like previous worldwide disasters in human history, the COVID-19 outbreak is creating significant health and economic disruptions in many nations. However, in many companies and across society, this new circumstance promotes the shift to digital solutions.
Advancing Healthcare
During the pandemic, medical professionals and patients with many chronic diseases are unquestionably the most active consumers of digital technology.
The introduction of blockchain to medical data has been a game-changer. A blockchain is a decentralized online ledger controlled by its community members. The concerns regarding safety and collective data analysis are addressed using blockchain.
Consequently, the number of health facilities that have or are planning to adopt blockchain is increasing daily.
Patients must accept the unavoidable use of technology. In a pandemic when face-to-face appointments have been a rarity, virtual healthcare comes in handy. Devices ranging from computerized tomography equipment to video calls make checkups and receive prescriptions from a healthcare practitioner.
Tracking Patients
Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) have contributed to COVID-19 tracking of persons, hence curbing transmission.
Mobile phone-based tools, such as migration maps, payment applications, and social media capture live locations. As a result, the government could track persons of interest and whom they contacted for mitigation purposes.
Machine learning models could also be constructed using these data. Then, they could estimate transmission patterns of SARS CoV. Consequently, the government would ensure border safety through surveillance.
Evolution of Telehealth
The usage of telehealth has skyrocketed after COVID-19. Consumer adoption has exploded, with 46% of customers in the United States now adopting telehealth to replace missed medical appointments, up from 11% in 2019.
Providers have significantly expanded their services. Currently, they are experiencing about 150 times the amount of patients through telehealth than before.
The year before COVID-19, the total yearly sales of US telehealth vendors were $3 billion. Here, significant vendors would focus on urgent virtual care. Hence, assisting customers in obtaining on-demand rapid telehealth sessions with physicians.
The telehealth market is currently ranking above $250 billion in US healthcare only. In the coming years, this value will grow as their services become more personalized.
