Healthcare Technology Featured Article

December 12, 2013

Will Technology Render Hospitals Obsolete?


Hospitals have long been the cornerstone of healthcare. However, a new global study suggests that hospitals may not continue to play so central a role, given new options for patient care.

In fact, the Intel Health Innovation Barometer reports that 57 percent of survey respondents predict that traditional hospitals will become “obsolete in the future.”  The online study surveyed 12,000 adults from Brazil, China, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and the United States between July 28 and August 15, 2013. 

The survey also suggests there's now more desire to care for the elderly at home. Moreover, there are observed changes in healthcare behavior, policy and payment reform.

“The moment you signal pay for performance, people start thinking about how we misuse hospitals every single day,” Eric Dishman, Intel’s global general manager of health & life science, told Forbes.

Hospitalizations are not always needed, and many nations do not have many formal hospitals.

Dishman also noted that, “Improving health care is a team effort, including patients and their families. Intel’s research shows that when people see benefits for them and their wider community, they are open to sharing sensitive information in an anonymous way.”

In the future, the survey says, there will be more focus on using healthcare communication technology and healthcare personalization. Such technologies will likely include telehealth, mobile health and the sharing of health information in real time.

Also, ingestible monitoring systems are desired by many taking the survey. In fact, over 70 percent of those taking the survey are “receptive to using toilet sensors, prescription bottle sensors and swallowed health monitors.” Meanwhile, 72 percent would be willing to see a doctor via video conference for non-urgent appointments.

Another interesting finding is that some 30 percent of those questioned would be willing to perform an ultrasound test on their own bodies. With 53 percent saying they would trust a test they administered equal to or more than if the test was done by a doctor.

“Care must occur at the home as the default model,” Dishman added. “It was also interesting to see people in emerging markets such as Brazil, China and India trusted themselves to use health monitoring technologies more than those in more technologically advanced economies like Japan and the United States.”

These findings are reassuring numbers for companies providing home healthcare technology, especially that which allows for telemedicine or self-diagnosis. It's not good news for those who want to see more money spent on expanding hospitals or related institutional projects. Economy, efficiency and personalization are the elements of the new kind of care.




Edited by Blaise McNamee
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