5 Healthcare Trends For 2022
Following another year of pandemic-related disruption, it’s more important than ever for healthcare services, including private healthcare, to continue to provide patients with the best clinical outcomes possible. With that in mind, here are 5 healthcare trends we can expect to see in 2022.
Following another year of pandemic-related disruption, it’s more important than ever for healthcare services, including private healthcare, to continue to provide patients with the best clinical outcomes possible.
With that in mind, here are 5 healthcare trends we can expect to see in 2022.
1. Continued Virtual Consultations
Even prior to the pandemic, virtual GP consultations and remote healthcare were gaining popularity. When the COVID outbreak struck, they came into their own, providing people of all ages with a means of safely and conveniently consulting with their doctor, nurse or specialist.
As 2022 unfolds, we can expect this remote GP consultations trend to continue, especially while new coronavirus variants remain a threat.
2. More On-Demand Mobile Healthcare
We’ve come to expect a mobile-first approach in many aspects of our lives, including shopping, entertainment and customer service. So it stands to reason that a mobile-first approach to healthcare will also become prevalent.
Building on the convenience and safety of virtual consultations, mobile healthcare solutions that enable patients to receive quick and seamless triage services will become much more mainstream.
[Related reading: PMI Provides Safety Net, Peace Of Mind Amid Growing NHS Waiting Times]
3. Digital Therapeutics
A subset of digital health, digital therapeutics are patient-facing software applications that help patients treat, prevent or manage a disease, and that have a proven clinical benefit.
Digital therapeutics might be used to support patients who are self-managing symptoms, helping them improve their quality of life by harnessing the insights afforded by devices like insulin pumps, blood glucose metres and wearable gadgets.
4. Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality
According to Grand View Research, the Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) healthcare market will grow at a CAGR of 27.2% and be worth $9.5 billion (£7 billion) by 2028.
These innovative technologies hold a lot of promise for the healthcare sector. For example, they enable medical professionals to test carrying out procedures before attempting them in real life. This reality will help afford more favourable outcomes for patients going forward.
5. Increased Private Healthcare Uptake
The ongoing pandemic has, sadly, put immense pressure on the NHS, highlighting a number of cracks in the process. With almost 6 million people on waiting lists for hospital treatment in England, the role of private healthcare has never been more important.
Whether the pandemic finally ends in 2022 or not, we can expect to see more people taking out private medical insurance so they can take advantage of private healthcare for themselves and their family.
[Related reading: More People Choosing Private Healthcare As NHS Waiting Lists Hit Record Highs]
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Digital initiatives are set to continue to dominate the healthcare industry going forward. Now that consumers have had a taste of the convenience and safety they afford, healthcare providers will need to provide them as an option.
Meanwhile, with NHS waiting lists showing few signs of abating, more people will look to private medical insurance to provide them with a way of taking advantage of private healthcare without indebting themselves.
If you’d like more information on private healthcare, contact Premier Choice.
