New Delhi: Technology has been integral to how new-age healthcare has been shaped over the past two decades. Technology adoption has accelerated in the past two years in the wake of COVID. Technology has enabled healthcare systems and workers to overcome some of the administrative and logistical challenges that have arisen in the recent past. Otherwise, these would have been severe, making it difficult to manage crises. To a large extent, Data Analytics and IoT took center stage in their ability to provide solutions to many of these challenges.
The journey towards incorporating technology into the field of medicine has been a long and challenging one, but it has led to significant advances in drug discovery and the development of new treatments. Use of high-throughput screening, AI, Computational Modelingand Precision Medicine, technology has been an enabler in advancing the drug discovery process from beta to commercialization.
The rise of medical technology
In recent years, the importance of second and third level diagnoses has become increasingly evident. These diagnoses help doctors understand the underlying causes of diseases and conditions, leading to better treatment plans and better patient outcomes. This has made the role of practicing physicians more critical than ever and has opened up new professional paths for them.
The integration of technology has also allowed doctors to focus more on the core aspects of their profession, such as patient care and diagnosis. In addition, financial stability is assured since the use of technology has allowed cost savings and increased efficiency in the health system. With these advances, practicing physicians they can unite with their domain expertise to solve some of the biggest healthcare challenges facing our world today. Some of the immediate career options available are in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology, including positions within drug research and development, regulatory affairs, drug safety and pharmacovigilance, pharmaceutical medical affairs, health economics, access to market and managed markets, biotechnology industry and medicine. Device design/development.
Add technology and design thinking to medical training
Doctors can provide more personalized treatment by evaluating particular data sets to discover root causes and triggers and make accurate diagnoses using a high-tech environment. They can omit reams of research, test data, and medical records. It is imperative that medical experts help patients and improve care for those in need. They need training to use new medical technologies properly. Keeping up with technical and societal changes requires upskilling and reskilling.
The way to go is medical training that keeps up with industry innovations and uses them to improve patient outcomes. Medical students and recent graduates should consider including technology and design thinking as an integral part of their learning process. There is a high demand for physicians and physician assistants who can work with and around new/emerging technologies. Data is the core for predicting future outcomes, new opportunities exist that can enable medical records, test readings, diagnoses and health focused information be processed, analyzed and decoded. Exposure to design thinking as part of professional development will benefit applicants with the pace of change that will continue to be a part of the healthcare industry as a result of technology. Digital health, AI, healthcare policy, and healthcare delivery will need professionals who are creative thinkers, not just critical thinkers.
Medical data planners
Medical data planners are equipped with the technical expertise to analyze large amounts of medical data, identify patterns, and use this information to inform decision making. They work closely with healthcare providers to ensure that the data collected is accurate, relevant, and in line with their needs. This role is becoming increasingly important as the amount of medical data generated continues to grow at an exponential rate.
The use of AI and ML in healthcare has the potential to revolutionize the industry. These technologies can help streamline processes, improve accuracy, and make diagnostics more efficient. For example, AI algorithms can be used to analyze vast amounts of medical data and identify early signs of disease, enabling early detection and treatment. This has the potential to save countless lives and improve overall health outcomes. Some of the career opportunities that allow the use of this experience are: healthcare delivery in hospital administration/leadership of healthcare delivery companies/clinical information systems/health care quality and patient safety/improvement of the performance and medical health care issues; and careers in consumer health dealing with health promotion, case management and care planning, fitness, weight loss, medical broadcasting, and entertainment.
Other alternative clinical careers
Today a large number of physicians/clinicians are looking for a change from the conventional career model. Physicians seeking careers outside of direct clinical practice can explore being a part of the patient care journey by working with healthcare solution organizations. Physicians may seek immersive careers that offer the opportunity to use their expertise to provide patient and care related solutions through digital documentation technology, population health studies, insights through patient data, and be strategic partners for experienced physicians and clinicians in a multi-geography setting. These roles would typically involve working closely with physicians around the world, enabling better documentation of physician-patient interactions, helping build decision trees, and gaining leadership positions in clinical support solutions.
New methods and innovations improve patient care in the ever-evolving healthcare environment. Technology-enhanced medical treatment prioritizes precision, speed, and efficiency. It is a scenario where the brave will move outside the comfort of traditional medical careers, allowing technology to lead the way in the way we care for patients. The COVID outbreak leaves many lessons for the healthcare sector to ensure we move from a treatment-focused environment to a prevention- and patient-focused one.
However, in order to take full advantage of these new career opportunities, work processes must be put in place to foster the exchange of talent between academia, large healthcare groups and healthcare systems. Resource fungibility and resource collaboration will need to be resolved to make these careers lucrative and enjoyable for members. The healthcare industry has a long way to go, but with the integration of technology, design thinking, and the growth of new careers, it’s never been a more exciting time to be a doctor.
abhay srivastavaDirector of Human Resources, IKS Health
(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by ETHealthworld. ETHealthworld.com shall not be liable for any damage caused to any person or organization directly or indirectly.)
