For nearly two years now, the world has experienced the effects of an unanticipated global emergency crisis. While pandemics have happened before, none in recent memory have led to such devastating consequences, not only in terms of health, but also economic, social, and political. The events brought on by COVID19 have been a wake up call for citizens across the world about the importance of working together to face global challenges, as well as using technical ingenuity to solve these problems.
One positive aspect of the global pandemic was the rise of digital technology in health care, especially for data analytics and remote patient care. Because social distancing requirements prevented many patients from visiting actual hospitals, telehealth has surged in popularity. This has made it possible for patients to get basic care and advice from doctors, without running the risk of infecting others.
Advancements in data analytics and collaborative software were also incredibly important for scientists working on vaccines and treatments for COVID19 in distant parts of the world. And thanks to advancements in networking, important updates about the nature of the virus were able to get out nearly instantly, helping citizens recognize symptoms of illness and pinpoint warning signs.
We can only hope another pandemic never reaches the same levels of hysteria as the COVID19 outbreak, but we’re lucky enough to know we have the technological resources to survive if it happens again. If we managed to make it through the worst of the pandemic on the fly, how would the pandemic have turned out if the world was adequately prepared? Leaders in the health sector need to increase the role of digital technologies to create a safer, healthier world for global citizens.
Whether its multinational research campaigns, public health notification services, AI-based medical testing/research, or telehealth capabilities, the healthcare industry needs to be more open to embracing digital innovations to avoid problems in the future.
Edited by
Maurice Nagle
