By Arthur A. Burley 
Healthcare Experience
New technology has allowed patients to be empowered and has enabled healthcare to shift towards a digital landscape. Naturally, technology is a major part of our daily lives. This has led to digital health.
Patients have a variety of options to choose from when it comes to receiving care. These include online reviews, education tools, voice user interfaces (VUI), patient portals, and appointment bookings. The Healthcare industry must stay up-to-date with the latest medical developments and the best ways to provide these services to a growing consumer market.
Healthcare professionals are now looking for technological tools that will help them understand the needs of their patients and provide personalized care. Clinicians can coordinate their care with other clinicians by utilizing relevant technology and patient information.
Diversifying and evolving healthcare needs
The Baby Boomer generation has had a major influence on healthcare. They account for over 76 million Americans approaching Medicare enrollment and require chronic care and post-acute care.
Here are some more details:
- They make up 20% of the country’s population
- One in four Medicare beneficiaries has six or more chronic conditions out of 54 million.
- Close to 42% require post-acute care after a hospital discharge.
This has had and will continue to influence the delivery of healthcare. These needs can be met by specific technology and services that differ from the older generation.
After dropping to 72 million people in 2022, the Baby Boomers are now less than the millennial population, approximately 73 million. America’s largest generation is now the millennials. This means that healthcare needs are changing, and they have different expectations. They also expect healthcare to be delivered in a more tech-focused way.
These factors have shaped and continue to shape the healthcare industry. Professionals, industry leaders, and companies will need to be vigilant about trends in care delivery, technological advances, and changing needs.
Consumer-Driven Factors
Patients are more involved and engaged in their health and well-being thanks to the availability of technology. This has increased healthcare professionals’ need for additional resources and has shifted care delivery away from treating patients to preventive measures.
Transparency is a key component of today’s healthcare. Patients have easy access to information that helps them make informed decisions about the quality of care, patient engagement, and other matters. Online review sites, star-rating systems, and other tools can help patients perceive their care.
Another factor that consumers are influenced by is Price. Many people choose to see a doctor for treatment rather than receive preventive care. This has resulted in more Medicare-eligible patients. It has also had the opposite effect on the Price and reduced out-of-pocket expenses. Patients have more options and can select from a wider range of services, influencing the healthcare options offered by hospitals and physicians.
Consumer Healthcare in Practice
Due to its new approach to healthcare and the specific contexts it is operating has introduced new services such as the Health Savings Account. The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) was introduced in late 2022. It allows residents aged 19-64 to save money and use it to pay for their healthcare services.
The HIP is available to patients who are not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid coverage. It covers patients whose family income is below 138% of poverty. The HIP covers approximately 330,000 to 600,000 residents. Patients increasingly seek preventive care. They pay a monthly fee of 2% of their income to receive a vision, dental, and other services. The program is paid by more than 70% of enrollees, who enjoy preventive care that suits them and their budget.
Wearables are a great example of how consumers have influenced markets to adopt technology-based and patient-centered care models. Individuals can connect to their doctors and insurance companies using health monitoring devices.
Consumers want to control their healthcare and feel empowered by the tools available to them. While technology has made healthcare more accessible and easier to access, it has also changed how it is delivered. However, it has been shaped by costs and information.