Healthcare
6 min read

2024 Vision: Industry Leaders Predict the Key Trends Shaping the Future of Digital Health
Ziv Gidron Head of Content, Hyro
2024 Vision: Industry Leaders Predict the Key Trends Shaping the Future of Digital Health

Could generative AI unlock a new era of personalized healthcare, empowering doctors to tailor treatment with unprecedented accuracy? Can technology transcend the clinical setting, fostering continuous connection and support throughout the patient journey? And how might innovation revolutionize efficiency, unlocking cost savings that benefit everyone?

To understand the future of digital health, we tapped into the minds of some of the industry’s most influential figures. Here’s what they envision as the key trends shaping 2024.

Three Trends Shaping Digital Health in 2024

Generative AI (GAI)

Generative AI has been perhaps the biggest talking point in tech over the last couple of years, and digital health is no exception. 

Snapshot:

 

  • Generative AI will enhance patient care, drug discovery, medical imaging, and diagnostics in 2024.
  • AI-enabled software will serve as medical copilots, aiding in diagnosis, treatment planning, and streamlining administrative tasks like note-taking and billing.
  • Despite its potential, challenges in data privacy, ethics, and algorithmic biases require careful navigation.
  • There will be a focus on personalized medicine, with an increase in virtual and augmented reality applications, especially in mental health.

“Generative AI is poised to make significant strides in healthcare,” asserts Dr. Zafar Chaudry, Seattle Children’s Sr. VP Chief Digital Officer & CIO, envisioning a future where personalized treatment plans, expedited drug development, and enhanced diagnostic accuracy are the norm. 

This emphasis on personalization and precision in patient care is a recurring theme for the experts we talked to, echoed by Jon Freedman and Bret Anderson from Chartis. They foresee GAI fostering “highly personalized communication and educational materials…tailoring content to individual clinical needs, reading levels, languages, and preferred formats”.

Khalid Turk, Chief Healthcare Info Tech Officer, at the County of Santa Clara Health System’s vision of 2024 includes AI-enabled ‘copilots’—software that not only aids in diagnostics but also streamlines administrative tasks, enhancing efficiency and accuracy. 

Watch Khalid Turk’s Digital Front Door Day keynote session on the future of generative AI and patient engagement:

However, with great power comes great responsibility. Daniel Nigrin, Maine Health’s Chief Information Officer, emphasizes the need for a cautious approach: “Challenges such as data privacy, ethics, and algorithmic biases demand serious attention.” His sentiments are a reminder of the delicate balance between harnessing AI’s potential and navigating its complexities.

Microsoft for Startups Worldwide Lead Sally Ann Frank adds a layer of pragmatic optimism, foreseeing a gradual but steady march toward personalized medicine,  highlighting the significance of regulatory frameworks, like the European AI Blueprint, in shaping the responsible adoption of AI in healthcare.

Microsoft For Startup'S Sally Ann Frank
Sally Ann Frank, Worldwide Lead, Microsoft For Startups

The Digital Front Door

In 2024, the digital front door will emerge as a pivotal force in healthcare delivery. This omnichannel patient engagement strategy leverages cutting-edge technology to provide a seamless and personalized experience across the entire care journey. From initial appointment scheduling and virtual consultations to post-operative monitoring and medication management, the digital front door integrates various touchpoints into a unified platform.

Snapshot:

 

  • There will be a shift towards seamless, integrated patient experiences, dismantling the barriers of traditional, siloed care paths.
  • Providers will embrace digital self-service across scheduling, billing, and communication, mirroring the ease and accessibility found in everyday consumer apps.
  • Archaic patient portals will give way to sophisticated, mobile-native apps brimming with AI capabilities and offering a more intuitive and engaging way to manage healthcare.
  • Personalization will sweep over digital healthcare tools, with platforms offering tailored health insights and AI-driven care navigation, enhancing both virtual and in-person healthcare experiences.
  • The healthcare communication landscape will shift towards asynchronous digital communication channels for efficient, self-service healthcare interactions.

In 2024, the healthcare industry will be driven by a shift towards consumer-centric experiences. Patrick McGill Community Health Network’s EVP, Chief Transformation Officer supports this vision, emphasizing the need for “enterprise-wide horizontal thinking” to dismantle the siloed, disjointed patient journeys of the past. McGill advocates for a seamless ecosystem centered around patient needs, warning that those clinging to outdated models will lose out to competitors who offer integrated, digital, and personalized services.

Echoing this sentiment, Motti Edelstein, Vice President of Revenue Cycle at Allina Health, sees technology as a critical enabler, allowing patients to self-serve in areas like scheduling and bill payments. He foresees a future where digital interactions become standard in American healthcare, driven by electronic medical record systems improvements.

Adrienne Woods, Director of Digital Engagement at Hackensack Meridien Health, envisions a comprehensive digital front door offering wellness services, with AI-powered tools providing personalized care plans. In short, technology is expected to enhance every aspect of healthcare, from lab results management to appointment scheduling. Michael Archuleta of Mt. San Rafael Hospital’s CIO argues, “the digital front door is poised for a comprehensive overhaul, expanding its role beyond mere appointment scheduling and telehealth services.”

Hear Adrienne Woods’ thoughts on the future of patient engagement:

Uri Pintov Hyro’s VP of Product agrees with the experts, adding, “we’re going to see a shift into more asynchronous patient interactions. This change is driven by Gen Z and millennials, who would ten times out of ten prefer to self-serve digitally rather than call their provider.”

The emphasis is clear: 2024 will be marked by an industry-wide pivot towards digital integration, personalized patient experiences, and the use of technology to streamline and enhance healthcare delivery. This shift is a fundamental rethinking of how healthcare providers interact with and serve their patients. 

Tech-Driven Cost Savings and Operational Efficiency

By strategically deploying technology, healthcare can unlock substantial cost savings that extend far beyond the bottom line. As industry experts point out, these savings directly translate into improved patient outcomes through advancements in diagnostics, personalized treatments, and enhanced care delivery.

Snapshot:

 

  • Strategic tech integration will reduce costs by leveraging AI and automation to streamline operations without compromising care quality.
  • Ambient technology will transform patient-doctor interactions, streamlining documentation and reducing physician burnout.
  • The rise of chatbots and voice AI assistants will enhance back-office efficiency and improve patient care access and resource availability.
  • Emphasis on IT outsourcing, Robotic Process Automation, and AI analytics will balance operational efficiency with maintaining high-quality patient care.

Terri Couts Guthrie’s SVP, Chief Digital Officer, states, “by understanding our business needs and using the right technology, we will play a pivotal role in reshaping our operational landscape.” This vision sets the tone for a year where innovation isn’t just a buzzword but a tangible strategy for streamlining processes and enhancing decision-making. She highlights the role of artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and automation in optimizing resources without compromising care quality.

Terri Couts Guthrie'S Svp, Chief Digital Officer
Terri Couts, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Guthrie

Arz Raheem, Senior Director, Digital Transformation Office, at New York’s Montefiore Health System, points to the use of ambient technology in clinical and administrative settings as a game-changer. This technology will not only enhance documentation and reduce physician burnout but also streamline collaboration in administrative tasks. Raheem foresees a future where technology aids in creating meeting minutes and managing projects, boosting efficiency.

Israel Krush, Hyro’s Co-Founder and CEO, predicts a tenfold increase in the use of chatbots and voice AI assistants for back-office IT, HR, and administration tasks. He anticipates these AI tools will gradually extend to patient interactions, enhancing access to care and health resources.

Watch Israel’s Digital Front Door Day opening remarks on the future of patient access and care: 

Ed Marx of Marx Advisory underscores the importance of IT outsourcing, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and AI-driven analytics in achieving cost reduction and enhanced efficiency, balancing resource allocation with quality patient care.

“One of the most notable changes we’ll see comes from CMS,” says Shreese Maynard, Co-Owner of Nostra Data Medical. “Starting this year, those who qualify will pay $0 for their Medicare drug plan premium and deductible and a reduced amount for generic and brand-name drugs (CMS). Also, from remote consultations and virtual care options to streamlined administrative processes and the greater use of big data, broad changes will significantly impact every aspect of medical care. Doctors and patients alike can look forward to more streamlined, cost-effective, and efficient care that prioritizes quality and outcomes above all else.”

Shreese Maynard, Co-Owner Of Nostra Data Medical
Shreese Maynard, Co-Owner Of Nostra Data Medical

See What Else Industry Leaders Have to Say

From telehealth advancements to AI-powered diagnostics, these voices paint a detailed picture of a 2024 healthcare landscape transformed by technology. But it’s not just about gadgets; their focus is on building a system that prioritizes efficiency, compassion, and patient empowerment. 

Explore the full scope of their predictions.

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About the author
Ziv Gidron Head of Content, Hyro

Ziv is Hyro’s Head of Content, a conversational AI expert, and a passionate storyteller devoted to delivering his audiences with insights that matter when they matter most. When he’s not obsessively consuming or creating content on digital health and AI, you can find him rocking out to Fleetwood Mac with his four-year-old son.

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