Like many things, the landscape of healthcare is being temporarily and permanently shaped by the effects of COVID 19. There has been a significant shift in consumer behavior and how individuals interact with healthcare providers. Below, we take a look at a few ways the healthcare system has transformed in the past year and what the future may look like.
Going Virtual
There is no doubt the pandemic fueled substantial and rapid growth in the telehealth category. It pushed providers and health systems to quickly adopt new processes & software to accommodate the trend. The ability to offer virtual visits generates more value than simply being convenient. It allows patients to feel safe at home, experience cost savings, and in some cases receive a better quality of care. In the 2020 State of Telemedicine Report by Doximity, it estimates 20% of medical visits in the U.S. were completed virtually in 2020, amounting to $29.3 billion. The report projects that by 2023 up to $106 billion will be attributed to telemedicine services.
The study also looked at the perspective of patients, finding 28% of American’s feel telemedicine care is the same or better than in-person visits. This statistic increases to 53% of consumers for those with chronic illness, such as diabetes or arthritis. The ability for telemedicine to fill in gaps by providing comfortable & convenient care will continue to fuel its growth now and into the post-pandemic future.
Virtual visit technology has proven to be a valuable tool for patient appointments and is now being used to boost patient morale. The need for a virtual solution to allow patients to interact with friends and family became evident when hospitals had to enact strict visitation policies. The development of virtual visitor carts has brought technology to the bedside with video visits via mobile carts housing a tablet and charging capabilities. The technology allows patients to connect with loved ones and remain emotionally healthy during their stay.
Delay in Care
A particularly alarming trend is the frequency at which individuals are choosing to delay care or are simply unable to access the care they need. In 2020 there was a decline in annual wellness checks, screenings, and the scheduling of elective procedures. These missed opportunities to take preventative steps may cause patients to seek care on an urgent basis, putting more burden on the healthcare system.
The delay in elective procedures presents its own set of difficulties, as these are not optional but rather can be scheduled in advance. In some cases, the result of waiting may cause health complications, declining quality of life, and certainly lost revenue for health systems that are struggling to keep up. While 90-95% of elective procedures have resumed, there is now a looming backlog of critical procedures and a skyrocketing number of individuals who have lost their health insurance. These factors will continue to place an unmeasurable strain on the healthcare system now and into the future.
Personal Wellness
The silver lining effect is the ownership that many individuals have taken over their personal health. This includes investing in equipment for physical activity, learning about immune-boosting nutrition, and overall listening to their bodies. Gone are the days of pushing through a workday while sick, there is now a profound value in protecting your own health and others.
As the healthcare landscape continues to shift it is essential to meet people where they are with solutions to improve the patient & provider experience. If there is one thing we know, it is that change is inevitable.