A new report from Accenture predicts a number of trends that will shape the future of healthcare over the next three to five years. One of the areas the 2019 “Digital Health Tech Vision” report narrows in on is which technologies will be catalysts for change within the field.
Accenture believes that a combination of emerging technologies — distributed ledger technology, artificial intelligence, extended reality and quantum computing — will be the foundation for new products and services. Before they have all reached full maturity, this set of technologies (also known as DARQ) can benefit healthcare organizations.
Here’s a closer look at how DARQ technologies are playing a role in healthcare:
- Distributed ledger technology like blockchain “will be an important part of healthcare payments and identity management,” the report notes. By utilizing DLT, healthcare organizations can cut back on waste, save costs and increase the quality of care they provide. Potential use cases include identifying patient payment obligations and qualifying individuals for insurance benefits.
- AI. According to the report, it “has perhaps the greatest number of emerging use cases in healthcare.” Artificial intelligence technologies are used for payment activities, medical chart reviews and to help patients take part in self-service. One use case highlighted in the report is that of Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin Health Network and a company called Buoy. They’ve teamed up to give patients access to Buoy’s interactive digital tool that lets users enter their symptoms and receive recommendations for care options.
- Extended reality. “XR allows machines to operate cognitively, as humans do, and it allows people to interact naturally with technology,” the report says. For instance, Cedars-Sinai is using XR for pain management purposes, while Cleveland Clinic and Zygote Medical Education are using virtual reality to help students access 3D anatomy models.
- Quantum computing. According to the report, Accenture and a computer software company called 1QBit joined forces with Biogen “to develop a first-of-its-kind quantum-enabled molecular comparison application that could significantly improve advanced molecular design to speed up drug discovery for complex neurological conditions.”
Overall, Accenture believes these technologies are or will be powerful on their own but will push each other forward as their capabilities improve.
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