Since the start of Covid 19, the healthcare system has experienced many disruptions that have exposed long-standing, serious problems plaguing healthcare systems worldwide. Inadequate equipment, infrastructure, and data are a few of the main issues identified. According to Martin (2022, p. 1), various measures should be adopted to address these issues. The health care systems should adopt medical technology by implementing artificial intelligence, automation, and virtue care. To ensure a collaborative ecosystem, they should promote effective supply chains and foster healthy competition among the key players. Patient and staff engagement should be enhanced by promoting the use of technology among patients and improving workforce diversity and safety. Healthcare growth should be enhanced through income diversification and alliances with larger enterprises. This paper explores new developments in healthcare in 2021 and various strategies that can help navigate the disruptions caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
Collaborative Ecosystem
The healthcare systems have implemented a collaborative ecosystem to address issues beyond their capacities. They have strengthened their partnerships with suppliers, providers, and other non-health organizations to address issues related to infrastructure, equipment supply, and availability of medical data. Successful supply chains and competition among the key players are among the leading techniques implemented to support the collaborative ecosystem. According to Martin (2022, p. 1), healthcare systems should prioritize the implementation of more aggressive and strategic supply chains. They should establish backup suppliers and form stronger relationships with the existing ones to avoid overreliance and for the flexibility and speed to obtain medical necessities. To streamline supplies and delivery methods, they should form relationships with vendors, including retailers and technology providers.
Additionally, it should increase storage for its supplies and self-distribution to minimize the risk associated with the depletion of supplies. The healthcare system should also adopt cooperative competition Martin, (Martin, 2022, p. 2). Coopetition will increase the opportunities for medical providers and key players to minimize the cost of care and concentrate on specialized services while maintaining a solid connection with the patient. It should focus on services within its scope and let other more able medical organizations carry out those that drain its financials. Walmart and CVS, for instance, have proved to profitably offer services like chronic disease management and basic primary care, which healthcare systems have long struggled to provide. The healthcare systems should also leverage virtue workforces and services. It will facilitate easy access to specialized care and workforce, which is difficult to obtain with the conventional approach to healthcare.
Patient and Workforce Engagement
Patient and employee engagement is vital for improved medical outcomes. The healthcare systems should ensure that providers deliver services efficiently and transparently (Martin, 2022, p. 3). Companies should evaluate any obstacles to client satisfaction and solve them accordingly. For example, they should use patient-centered technologies and practices to improve transparency, speed, and ease of care. This method is beneficial in the west coast health system. Precision scheduling approaches were used to reduce the time wasted between imaging exams. It resulted in the creation of about 5000 more exam slots, allowing for more efficient patient scheduling.
Furthermore, the healthcare industry should consider employee safety and diversity. Workers’ safety can be addressed by utilizing technology tools to assure employees’ flexibility to work remotely and to avoid burnout associated with overworking (Martin, 2022, p. 3). It should also look for techniques to make jobs more sustainable and increase health workers’ access to mental health services over time. Healthcare institutions can also embrace inclusion and diversity in the workplace by hiring individuals from varied backgrounds. Inclusive workplaces and diverse teams are more effective at achieving improved medical outcomes, especially among different populations of patients.
Digital Acceleration
The last few years have witnessed a digital acceleration characterized by the widespread use of artificial intelligence and the automation of medical services. Telehealth has been widely implemented due to the growing demand for decreased in-person visits and online consultations (Martin, 2022, p. 4). Virtual care has improved cost convenience and care accessibility as patients can now access services in the comfort of their homes. Artificial intelligence has considerably improved radiology effectiveness and quality, for example, by eliminating bias-based reading mistakes and repetitive tasks and increasing the operational process. Automation is optimizing some processes that rely significantly on repeated tasks, such as customer service, revenue cycle, and the supply chain.
Business Growth
Large organizations seek new ways to grow and generate revenue to increase production, better patient care, and fund vital initiatives. They increase their revenue streams, collaborate with bigger organizations, and implement payer modifications (Martin, 2022, p. 4, 5). Large organizations’ revenue is expected to be utilized to leverage and commercialize data for income and greater productivity and medical care. They are forming new investment platforms and forging relationships with new technology and pharmaceutical industry partners to reduce the adverse risks associated with unknown patient numbers and fluctuations. Employers are also considering modifications to existing payment plans or reducing worker benefits.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed critical issues within healthcare systems worldwide, necessitating immediate action. Key trends have developed to foster healthcare advancement and overcome these issues. Collaborative ecosystems have been formed to overcome infrastructural and resource constraints by creating relationships among suppliers, providers, and non-health organizations. Patient and staff engagement has been fostered to ensure efficient care while considering clinician well-being. Diversifying revenue streams, forming connections with larger firms, and implementing payer changes are part of the measures incorporated in the contemporary healthcare industry’s growth plans.
Reference
Martin, G. (2022) Top 10 emerging trends in health care for 2021: The new normal, AHA Trustee Services. Available at: https://trustees.aha.org/top-10-emerging-trends-health-care-2021-new-normal
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