As the life sciences industry braces itself for the rising challenges of keeping up patient and employee engagement, there is an overriding need for resilience. Considering the major shocks and stresses felt by the industry in recent years, life sciences organizations must learn to repair, recuperate, and spring back faster and better prepared for future shocks. How care and services in the industry will be delivered must be reimagined accordingly.
Technology has brought about a two-pronged revolution in Life Sciences – it is enabling opportunities to renew existing systems for resilience and fortitude while also providing ways to streamline and deliver care and service in novel ways.
Digital health platforms have shown tremendous potential in cost-effectively improving ongoing treatment. Take the example of spinal disorders, which can lead to chronic pain and get aggravated with age. Their treatment is considered a costly affair. Those suffering from this condition can greatly benefit from innovative, implantable medical devices like spinal cord simulators. They can also benefit from digital interventions that can be used in tandem with these devices. This illustrates how technology can be used by care providers to pay particular and personalized attention to manage a highly prevalent condition for specific patient groups, the elderly, in this case. Life sciences in a digital avatar
Care and service delivery changed drastically as virtual consultations, virtual drug discovery and development etc. became the accepted mode. From an operational standpoint, the pandemic-induced digitalization meant a lightning-quick move to working from home and adapting to connected working and collaboration tools. Those in managerial roles had to set aside previous reservations regarding remote working and its impact on the productivity of their staff.
These developments have helped by pointing out where process improvements were required and how they could be implemented. At the same time, the recent global crisis brings home the need for transformative efforts to be directed at the right areas with important lessons regarding the future use of technology in life sciences.
Become data-driven to drive success
Data-driven organizations fare twice as well as the competition in terms of key performance according to various studies. Today, stakeholders rely on data to make scores of crucial and real-time decisions. The effectiveness of these decisions depends greatly on the accuracy, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the data. Therefore, digital assets must be maintained according to key principles that ensure the data they contain is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).
Using technology as an enabler, not a barrier
As exciting as it is to be able to experiment and innovate with technology, it brings up the dilemma of who is being left behind by the system, as a result. The digital divide experienced by those without access to the latest smart device or high-quality network can adversely impact how they engage with the healthcare system.
Life Sciences organizations must, therefore, prioritize and focus on the value and sustainability of their digital-first, patient programs and initiatives. Those attempting to bring care closer to patients, must design patient-centric programs that are omnichannel, intuitive, and allow room for personalization. For the success of these programs, it’s crucial for care providers and healthcare professionals to meet the intended users wherever they are and on a channel of their choice. Moreover, to allay security and data privacy concerns, life sciences organizations must exert themselves to make care and service inclusive, not intrusive.
After all, the primary objective of medical equity programs is to make care and services more accessible, inclusive, and affordable with the helping hand of technology.
Subhro Mallik, SVP and Global Head of Life Sciences, Infosys
(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthwold.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person / organisation directly or indirectly.)
