Digital tools are already part of various aspects of society, connecting people, and optimizing processes. It is no different in Medicine – health technology advances at a fast pace, bringing improvements for professionals, patients, and also for the management of institutions. Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, Big Data, and other innovations are already a reality in the health sector and have a positive impact on diagnostics, prevention, care, treatments, and also on the relationship between doctor and patient.

According to the latest movements and news presented in the sector, here we have listed 4 health technology trends in 2020. Have a good reading!

Improvement of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a prominent technology in recent years. This technology helps the health sector both in the diagnosis of diseases and in the development of new drugs, among other applications. In 2020, there will be a strong trend to improve AI validation, training, and implementation practices, expanding applications between clinical and non-clinical cases. 

Clinically, there are still several barriers for doctors and patients to benefit from this technology in the health field – the accuracy of algorithms, security of patient information, among others. However, a greater understanding of the information will facilitate the use of AI in health. Besides, the application of AI in primary patient care – the use of Chabot’s and other technologies – can help reduce costs in the sector, since it reduces the patient’s visit to hospitals and starts to act on factors such as disease prevention. These tools can answer simple questions, instructing users on food and healthy habits. 

Besides, smart devices record personal health data that is useful in this interaction. In the case of non-clinical cases, the tendency is for institutions to use AI to reduce fraud, improve medical auditing, increase productivity, among others.

Machine learning, a big part of healthcare

The amount of data generated from diagnosis and treatment is increasing day by day. By turning the data streams into knowledge and using machine learning to analyze that knowledge, healthcare researchers can discover new and more accurate answers.

 Understanding large amounts of data and putting them into action requires analyzing and understanding the data, moving from inputs to outputs. Machine learning is an ideal tool for this in 2020 and beyond.

Robotics

Robots are becoming commonplace within healthcare systems today, even more so during the pandemic, as they don’t cough or get sick. Today, the robots are being built that can handle multiple different scenarios, such as assisting and amplifying human efforts in various care tasks. Within hospitals, robots can be deployed to attend to disinfection, food and medicine delivery, vital sign monitoring, thus helping to significantly reduce the risk of infection to staff.

An interesting example is the Heriot-Watt Alana system, which has been designed to provide health-related information and support through conversational AI during the pandemic. Some of its essential features are that it can detect myths and misinformation and offers mental health advice. Furthermore, it only produces validated information sources, such as those of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Virtual and Augmented Reality 

Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR / AR) is not just for entertainment. It is being used for essential health purposes. The VR / AR healthcare market is expected to reach $ 5.1 billion by 2025. This technology is not only extremely beneficial for training and surgery simulation but also plays an important role in patient care and treatment. 

Virtual reality helped patients with visual impairment, depression, cancer, and autism. Augmented reality helps provide another layer of support for healthcare professionals and doctors assisted during brain surgery and by reconnecting blood vessels. 

In mixed reality, a convergence between virtual and augmented reality, the virtual world and the real world are interconnected, offering important educational resources for medical professionals and to help patients understand their conditions or treatment plans.

Conclusion

Technology in the health field continues to advance and results in more agility in the processes, optimization of the routine of doctors and other health professionals, and efficiency in the management of hospitals and clinics. It is essential to follow these trends to increase the quality of care, reduce costs, and provide more safety and well-being for patients.