5 predictions for how technology will transform

healthcare in 2022 … and beyond

There are resources medical institutions can draw on to
relieve some of the burden from overworked, stressed-out
physicians, nurses and staff – and many of them come in
the form of technological advancements that may
transform how we offer care in the years to come.
AMIT PHADNIS

The Great Resignation of 2021, which has resulted in millions of Americans quitting their
jobs, has – unsurprisingly – hit the healthcare industry hard.

Many resignations across all industries are spurred by an emotionally jarring and
unprecedented pandemic that is now coming upon its third year, prompting many
workers to reconsider the trajectory of their lives and careers. The toll has been
particularly difficult for healthcare workers on the frontlines of Covid-19 care, many of
whom are understandably burned out. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a
whopping 534,000 U.S. health care workers left their jobs voluntarily in August alone.

With demand for healthcare workers expected to keep increasing in the coming years, the
loss of workers – especially among those who decide to leave the industry altogether –
poses a severe threat for hospitals and other medical facilities already overwhelmed by
patients.

There are no easy answers to the healthcare labor crisis. But there are resources medical
institutions and their teams can draw on to relieve some of the burden from overworked,
stressed-out physicians, nurses and staff – and many of them come in the form of
technological advancements that may transform how we offer care in the years to come.

Many of these are coming to bear right now. Here are five predictions for healthcare
advancements we’ll see gain further traction in 2022.

Prediction: More burnout-busting innovations are on the way.

Burnout has long been a serious issue among healthcare workers, but Covid-19 certainly
made it worse. In fact, 79% of radiologists, neurologists, cardiologists and critical care
physicians who say they feel burned out today actually felt similarly before the pandemic.
And a key cause of that stress and fatigue is an abundance of administrative duties and
the “data deluge” required to track and follow-up with patients – a longstanding issue
exacerbated by the tidal wave of patients suffering from Covid-19.

Fortunately, improvements in technology are reducing that burden. Using new and
improved algorithms that quickly and efficiently assess mounds of patient data, while also
removing certain repetitive tasks, clinicians are able to unearth the information and
insights needed to efficiently treat their patients. Whether it’s a device, or department or
enterprise-wide workflow, we are working to use data, analytics, and AI to first provide
insights and then use those insights to automate repetitive tasks and improve workflow
efficiencies. We believe it is possible to see a 30% improvement in efficiency through such
technologies and software. Patient flow can be managed better by providers, even in
overtaxed emergency rooms, and that gives clinicians more time to do the work for which
they were trained.

Prediction: Clinicians will decide which AI tools are right for them.
Building on the previous point, advancements in data analytics and artificial intelligence
are giving clinicians and support staff access to numerous new tools to make their tasks
easier to complete. But are they really doing the job?

As with any new advancements, the learning curve can sometimes be steep. In fact, a
recent report revealed that slightly less than half of the AI tools being studied by
radiologists that could directly contribute to patient care actually led to an increase in the
number of exams a radiologist performs in a given amount of time. Most of the rest do
not change that number (or therefore the radiologists’ efficiency) but still could directly
contribute to patient care.
Clinicians are eager for tools that seamlessly integrate into their existing workflows, limit
screen time and the effort required to input data. My prediction is they will embrace those
AI resources that work spectacularly – such as deep-learning image reconstruction
technology embedded on an MR device that delivers high-quality resolution and shorter
scan times – and ignore those that don’t. The winning AI technologies will emerge in ’22,
and their effect will be dramatic. When it comes to use of AI to improve off – device
workflows, either operational or clinical, those AI models that factor in multi-modal
datasets (population health information, social determinants of health, genetic
information, economic status, multi-modal clinical data etc.) tend to be more accurate
and precise as compared to those models which are built on single – factor data (single
modal information).

Prediction: High-tech solutions will eliminate many healthcare inequities.

A longstanding problem in the U.S. is health inequity, as many people from disadvantaged
or historically oppressed groups are often at greater risk for poor health outcomes. And
the pandemic only worsened the problem.

Since its onset, for example, people of color, American Indians and Alaska Natives have
had the highest hospitalization rates for Covid-19. Plus, fears about contracting the virus
and the loss of health insurance led to a significant drop in the number of regular
screenings for cancer and other diseases. Consequently, it is expected that these delays or
missed screening appointments have had negative impacts on early detection and
diagnosis, leading to an increase in deaths or severe illness.

But technology is again riding to the rescue, with advancements that hold the promise of
enabling health equity for almost everyone by creating new pathways to care. Telehealth
exploded in 2020, out of necessity, but is becoming the delivery method of choice for
millions. Remote monitoring devices may provide the ability to check on patients in rural
areas or who have difficulty finding transportation to get to the doctor. Further, the use
of predictive analytics is helping identify at-risk patients before they incur a disease, so
that preventive steps can be taken.

Prediction: Precision medicine will drastically improve medical outcomes.

The industry has made tremendous advances with technologies that help diagnose and
prevent disease. In 2022, genomics — the study of a person’s genes or DNA — will move
to center stage, as we will see the availability of tools and techniques to treat diseases and
disorders based on each person’s genetic fingerprint, environment and lifestyle.

In doing so, we will be replacing the one-size-fits-all approach to medicine with precise
treatment solutions that are revamping legacy care delivery models in ways that will
significantly improve patient outcomes.

Secondly, use of multi-modal data, including genetic information, imaging, digital

pathology and other multi-modal information will enable precise detection of disease
state early and the progression, thereby making therapies a lot more effective, while at
the same time, lowering the cost. One of the challenges of taking diagnostics upstream,
especially in the U.S., is the current reimbursement models. The need and effectiveness
of upstream diagnostics and therapies will accelerate the value-based care paradigm in
2022.

While healthcare providers have been facing tremendous burdens, with or without the
pandemic, hope and help is on the horizon. As healthcare technology continues to
improve, so, too, will the mental, physical and emotional states of the millions of
individuals who are devoting their lives to caring for others.