The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant shift involving patient care delivery, struggling with nursing shortages, and adapting to technological changes that are redefining the entire field of medicine. As we look into the future, 2024 promises a profound transformation. Here are five areas of focus for the upcoming year.
- Hurdles for AI innovation in healthcare
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The appeal of AI technology in healthcare is undeniable, yet concerns regarding patient privacy, security, compliance, and ethical considerations have slowed its widespread adoption. While the healthcare industry has historically been cautious in embracing new technology including AI, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in its implementation despite lingering uncertainties.
Look for regulations to start rolling out in the coming year aimed at governing AI access across the board. In healthcare, these impending regulations are expected to redirect innovation towards the ethical application of AI, emphasizing its role as a complement to human interaction rather than a replacement. AI’s potential to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and alleviate burnout among clinicians will reshape patient care practices.
- Increased threat of cybersecurity attacks
As the healthcare industry continues to advance technologically, organizations must anticipate an increase in cybersecurity attacks and proactively implement strategies to combat these threats. We saw numerous headlines this past year of bad actors targeting sensitive information and data.
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Cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but an ongoing commitment that involves every member of the organization to avoid major issues. It is imperative moving forward that healthcare technology solutions incorporate security as an integral part of their design and that it becomes ingrained in the organizational culture. To safeguard sensitive data, organizations must employ various safety measures.
The start of a new year is always a good time to review the organization’s protocols, testing, and identify vulnerabilities. By mimicking real-world threats, organizations can help uncover potential weaknesses and strengthen defenses against external strikes. Regular HIPAA compliance audits are also essential to assess data security practices, privacy measures, and overall compliance, ensuring the protection of patient information and maintaining stakeholder trust.
Cybersecurity must be a collective, ongoing effort and consistently reinforced throughout the year with robust technological solutions and proactive practices.
- Revolutionizing nurse training for the future
The persistent challenge of nursing shortages is forcing the industry to explore technological solutions to ease the burden on clinicians. The widening gap between nurse supply and demand is made worse by a higher acuity of patients with chronic conditions, a consequence of delayed care during the pandemic.
As veteran nurses retire or pursue alternative careers, staffing shortages are intensifying leaving new and inexperienced nurses with limited mentorship opportunities. In 2024, we’ll see a major shift in focus on virtual training and mentoring programs, enabling seasoned nurses to contribute by virtually training and monitoring new RNs. This strategic use of technology aims to bridge the workforce gap, improve patient care, and retain experienced nurse talent.
- Transition to team-based and virtual care
The traditional one-to-one approach to patient care in hospitals is evolving into a team-based, virtual care model. These innovations prioritize patient safety and enhance communication among providers, patients, and caregivers. Patients and their families are accepting this new technology and recognizing its potential to provide better care. An emerging trend that will continue to grow involves younger family members caring for their parents or grandparents. Virtual care platforms empower patients and their families to make the best healthcare decisions even if family members can’t be bedside.
Looking further ahead, virtual care is expected to seamlessly integrate into patient care practices without segmentation. For now, a phased approach of virtual care implementation is best so models can be tailored to each organization’s needs, with experienced nurses overseeing virtual patient observations, admissions, discharges, and mentoring.
- Behavioral health to take center stage
In the upcoming year, there will be a heightened focus on behavioral health, emphasizing solutions for both patients and clinicians within healthcare. There is a renewed commitment to employee satisfaction which includes the overall well-being of staff members. Recognizing the intricate link between physical and mental health and the pressing need to alleviate staff burnout puts a large emphasis on behavioral health in 2024.
The new generation of virtual care, including virtual observation, is set to provide increased support for patients grappling with a behavioral health crisis. This expanded awareness aims to dismantle the stigma surrounding behavioral health, fostering a more inclusive environment and widening access so that more patients can receive the necessary support.
Embracing change in 2024
While the healthcare industry is poised to encounter fresh challenges in the coming year, it also presents opportunities to enhance patient care and boost clinician satisfaction. As the healthcare landscape undergoes continuous transformation, organizations that embrace emerging technologies, virtual care models, navigate the evolving nursing workforce, and prioritize behavioral health services will position themselves to enjoy benefits for years to come.
Photo: Feodora Chiosea, Getty Images
