Revolutionizing patient care: The power of hospital digitalization

• Hospital digitalization is currently transforming the quality and efficiency of patient care
• Digital technologies in healthcare such as electronic health records, machine learning, and digital therapeutics, can offer both short-and long-term benefits to hospitals
• Digitalization in healthcare has the potential to improve patient engagement, patient-provider dynamics, operational efficiency, and accessibility

The rise of hospital digitalization is transforming operational workflows within hospitals, optimizing decision-making and leading to improvements in both the quality and efficiency of care.¹

Let’s take a look at the latest developments showcasing the power of hospital digitalization, and investigate some of the digital tools currently being used to streamline hospital workflows.

Digitalization in healthcare refers to the integration of digital technologies into all aspects of healthcare services.^2,3 Whether through electronic health records (EHRs), digital health apps, telemedicine, or AI machine learning, hospital digitalization is designed to improve patient experiences and operational efficiencies within the hospital itself.³

By implementing these technologies within healthcare systems, providers can deliver more personalized care to patients while minimizing potential human errors.⁴ This can help boost patient satisfaction levels and quality of life and improve the dynamics between patients and providers.⁵

One significant advancement that has helped drive hospital digitalization has been the adoption of digital therapeutics (DTx). These evidence-based therapeutic interventions are driven by software to prevent, manage, or treat various medical disorders and diseases.⁶

Through the use of digital implements, like mobile devices, apps, sensors, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things, DTx can provide patients with a wide variety of customized health services capable of encouraging behavioral change.⁶

However, the growing use of digital technologies in healthcare has placed a spotlight on the potential issue of data protection.⁷ As DTx is designed to continuously collect biological and behavioral inputs from the patient, a huge amount of personal data is obtained in the process.⁶ As such, it’s important for hospitals to be cautious when implementing DTx and establish strict data protection protocols to safeguard patients from personal data breaches.⁶

As we’ve touched on already, there are a number of digital technologies already being used in hospitals that are revolutionizing patient care and hospital operations.

EHRs, for instance, provide hospitals with a centralized platform that allows for real-time access to patient data and helps streamline documentation processes.⁸ There is also the gradual integration of robotics into certain administrative and support tasks, helping to minimize human errors and maximize workflow efficiencies.⁹ Using robotics makes it possible to deliver medications, transport blood samples, collect diagnostic results, and even handle logistical tasks.⁹ This frees up more time for healthcare players to focus on other important aspects of patient care delivery.⁹

Generative AI applications and AI machine learning are arguably the two biggest areas of development in recent years. From utilizing natural language processing to enhance patient care, to leveraging AI clinical decision support tools, AI is transforming the field of diagnostics. For instance, AI is improving the detection of abnormalities in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, speeding up the review of mammograms, and accelerating drug discovery.^10–12

AI algorithms are also making it possible to detect signs of disease much faster and tailor treatment plans to a patient’s specific genetic profile.¹ As a result, patients are starting to reap the benefits of a hospital’s ability to offer targeted care through precision medicine.¹

Another recent development in the digital transformation of healthcare is the use of virtual and augmented reality (VR) in medical education. This technology is helping to provide staff and students with a safe, simulated environment to hone their medical skills.¹³ From learning how to perform certain surgeries, to analyzing the delivery of patient care, VR platforms are allowing healthcare teams to improve accuracy, reduce the potential for errors, and gain greater confidence to perform complex procedures.^13,14

The digital transformation of healthcare encompasses changes related to the internet, digital technologies, and their connection to new therapies and best practices for improved health management procedures.³ Through various advances in each of these areas, integrated health solutions can offer several benefits to patients and providers, including:²

• Improved patient engagement: The use of digital tools, like mobile apps, telemedicine, and online patient portals, can help provide patients with the ability to manage and monitor their health more effectively and proactively.²

• Enhanced operational efficiency: The integration of AI into hospital processes can help to reduce human error, prevent potential misdiagnoses, and ensure patients receive the correct treatments^2,4

• Reduced hospital costs: Being able to automate certain hospital processes can free up more time for hospital staff to focus on other areas, such as providing a higher level of personalized care to patients. This helps providers get better value from their staff and cut costs in certain areas. Reducing costs is particularly important in US-based hospitals, as the US is known for having one of the highest costs of healthcare in the world.²

• Greater accessibility: The gradual rise and implementation of telehealth services have helped to level the playing field, offering improved healthcare access to remote and/or underserved populations.²

The future of hospital digitalization will require providers to invest not only in technology itself, but also in people and processes.⁹ By doing so, the rise of “smart” hospitals should come to deliver higher quality care, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance patient satisfaction.⁹

While it might take some time to see results in the short term, as digital technologies continue to be honed and improved, investing in hospital digitalization now will pave the way for significant improvements to the quality of patient care in the future.⁹