Healthcare Technology Trends 2013: IT, EMR, Mobile, Apps, Biochips

Find Healthcare Technology Trends of 2013 including an overview of Healthcare IT, EMR/EHR Softwares, Mobile Health, Medical Apps and Biochip Implants.

Healthcare Technology is an innovative field that is essentially aimed at making the life easier for everyone in the healthcare chain from Patient to Practitioners and Caregiver to Medical insurances.

Medical Technology Trends are sure to be on a roll with year 2013 and 2014. Healthcare Technology is going to witness some of the game-changing trends in the coming years, especially in the field of Healthcare IT and Mobile Health.

Healthcare Information Technology or Healthcare IT is a vital industry to ensuring effective, efficient, safe and secure care delivery. Mobile Healthcare is another evolutionary trend that has potential to balance the equation between number of doctors and number of patients especially in the areas lacking healthcare infrastructure.

Here under are the few core emerging healthcare technology trends of 2013 that will be play important role in the development of medical technology in near future in positive and revolutionary way:

Healthcare IT trends 2013 to 2016

Healthcare Information Technology is fastest growing field at the moment. Healthcare IT market is estimated to make $78 billion by the end of 2013 and then continue a 5% compound annual growth rate over the coming five years, until 2016 when it will be a $92 billion market, forecasted by Compass Intelligence.

There are additional stimulants contributing towards growth of Healthcare IT that includes regulation like CCHIT, HIPPA and the recently passed PPACA. If you take in rising healthcare costs, Obama’s healthcare initiatives including Meaningful Use, ICD-10, and ACOs, you can see healthcare IT sitting right at the top of a totally bullish upward wave in 2013 a couple of next years.

The following are Healthcare IT trends for 2013 and beyond that industry experts have shared:

1. EMR, EHR, PHR Softwares Trends in 2013

   The adaptation of digital health records is gearing up worldwide. The description of digital health records has become confusing and complex especially when we consider users, care settings, data and technology model. But all three terms are commonly used Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Personal Health Record (PHR) to describe digital health records.
   
   United States government introduced program for "Meaningful Use" attestation for Electronic Health Records (EHR). The rules are rolled out in stages. The next roll out is Meaningful Use Stage 2 with deadline in 2014. To compliance, Healthcare providers will require to implement Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and e-Prescribing (eRx) to providing patients online access to records and with many new tools this year. While a substantial share of the changes will be made by certified EHR vendors, hospitals and providers will still need to successfully institutionalize and operate these new requirements. Providing patients with online access to their electronic health records, facilitating the transmission of health data to third parties, and ensuring Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant secure communications.
   
   In United States, healthcare providers have more than 600 certified EHR systems to choose from if they want to qualify for Meaningful Use financial incentives. From 2013 to 2014 It's likely many of these vendors won't survive 2013 for several reasons. Some smaller companies have jumped into the market too quickly, hoping to get a quick return on their investment without making much of an investment to begin with.
   
   

2. Patient Monitoring

   This is another essential field in the health industry that is sure to enjoy some drastic changes in 2013. Remote patient monitoring will basically move from pilots to large scale adoption. This will mainly allow hospitals to adopt a care organization model so as to reduce Hospital readmission costs highly attributed to chronic illnesses.
   
   Applications that ensure smooth sharing of information between patients and physicians will basically be on a roll in 2013. This would be highly essential in creating a highly holistic healthcare system. As at now there is an application that is able to provide one with local pollen count and where one can be able to get nearby medication.
   
   

3. EMR Tablets

   It is no secret that many doctors have now started to incorporate iPads in their day to day operations. With iPads, medical apps are sure to come in plenty while ensuring smooth access to EHR data. A host of data previously was only available in hospitals or offices but with this age and period of the iPad this is sure to change.
   
   The iPad Mini and Nexus 7 and other medium size tablets are just about the perfect size to be used as EMR loaded tablets by healthcare providers. Now that these new tablets can easily fit into lab coats, we may see a much larger percentage of providers using these devices. Although the right form is essential for device acceptance, it remains to be seen how satisfied providers will be with these conveniently-sized tablets. Widespread adoption will depend on a number of factors within the user experience. How well will providers be able to view images, see lab results, and input orders on these mini tablets? The long term success of tablets in comparison to computer depend on these factors.
   
   

4. Mobile Healthcare

   Recently, a research study conducted by Vitera Healthcare Solutions, stated that 91% of Physicians are interested in getting Mobile EMRs. In the future, both healthcare providers and patients will use mobile healthcare, smartphones, and tablets. Physicians can deliver the healthcare services using their tablets and smartphones by reviewing patient charts, lab results, document patient encounters and ePrescribe the medication. Patient can then revived or get home delivered those medicines for the preferred pharmacy. There will be no need to bring paper prescription in that case, because pharmacy will be able to access patient's ePrescription directly from doctor.
   
   

5. Medical Apps for Android, Apple iOS and Windows Phone

   Medical Applications that ensure smooth sharing of information between patients and physicians will basically be on a roll in 2013. This would be highly essential in creating a highly holistic healthcare system. As at now there is an application that is able to provide one with local pollen count and where one can be able to get nearby medication.
   
   

6. Healthcare IT iCloud Services

   Medical data is highly vital and will at all times need to be protected at all cost while ensuring utmost privacy and confidentiality. It is for this reason that many hospitals in 2013 Will opt to go the iCloud way for storing there most important data especially of patients. With this kind of tactics cost will highly be reduced while efficiency is doubled.
   
   

7. Healthcare Information Security

   In 2013 we expect increased cyber-security threats to Healthcare Information systems. Information Security breaches, hacking and DDoS attack are already a major concern for information technology system all over the world, in general. A study conducted by Ponemon Institute reveals that 94% of hospitals, healthcare practices and healthcare insurances have experienced at least one Information Security incidence. In 2013, Gewirtz has predicted that healthcare service providers will be targeted by cyber criminal more frequently, due to increased financial value of sensitive information held by healthcare information systems.

In 2013, people will look to Mobile Apps for their smartphones and tablets for monitoring vitals such as heart rate and will increasingly access healthcare info apps.

In United States, by 2017 the Mobile healthcare, Mobile EMR, Mobile EHR and other Mobile Apps market is expected to be an opportunity worth $5.9 billion alone. It is also being anticipated that mobile healthcare market trends will not only alter existing healthcare IT models but also create new healthcare IT revenue models.

• Biochip Technology

  This is one of the most essential advancement in the medical industry that we will ultimately see in 2013. Biochip technology is highly essential in detecting various diseases while also able to detect their cause within the shortest time possible. With this kind of technology treatment will be hastened while also ensuring drug practitioners are able to keep track of response to a given drug that is administered. Molecular biomarkers would be highly suited for this technology as they would be able to use it in lab diagnostics and also diagnostic imaging.
  
  

• Stretchable Medical Electronics

  Many medical electronic devices are highly static lacking the mobility factor that is highly essential especially in life threatening scenarios where movements are highly needed. With 2013 we are sure to see changes in some of these medical appliances by simply embracing electronic appliances that are able to bend and stretch easily. Some of this biomedical system changes that we are sure to see include; wearable health monitors and advanced surgical tools.
  
  

• Electronic Implants

  Electronic implants have essentially been here with us but in 2013 they are sure to be given a boost especially by the use of highly smart tools with some of the best and finest technical aspect. The exchange of information between patients and physicians via mobile devices is another mooted technological advancement that will be made possible via integrated sensors.
  
  

• Medical Materials

  The kind, type and quality of material used in the medical field have always been a hot topic thus the reason behind frequent adjustment and development. The essence with the evolution of material is to ensure they are free of any PVC and remain antibacterial. Personalized medicine that is highly mobile is another essential field in medical that would be given a boost to cater for the needs of the aging population.

Moving forward from 2013 to 2016, the benefits of healthcare technology from healthcare IT to Medicine and Materials will continue to evolve and play a leading role in new healthcare services and delivery models. Healthcare IT with EMRs, EHRs, PHRs, mobile healthcare and remote patient monitoring will continue its strive towards evidence based care. Biochips, Stretchable Electronics, Electronic Implants, Nano Medicines, targeted Drug Delivery Systems and other innovations in medicine and materials are not only the storm of benefits for the patients but an ocean of opportunities for the healthcare technology industry as well.

Where do you see Healthcare Technology standing in next five years? especially Healthcare IT? What are your view about the challenges and opportunists of Healthcare IT Industry in coming years? Please feel free to share your thoughts!