How COVID-19 Drove the Digital Transformation of Australia’s Healthcare Sector — and Future
Welcome Change, One Code Line At A Time. What does this mean for Australia’s Healthcare Scene?
It’s not how COVID-19 has changed the way we worked, but how COVID-19 changed the way we work in the future of healthcare. With years of advancement and ongoing improved healthcare systems in Australia, today is no different. The events of COVID-19 have propelled Australia to restructure and innovate their health systems.
In times like this, adaptation is key. For the longest time and proven by the scientific theory of Darwinism, adaptation is the key to survival. The COVID-19 event is no stranger. Australia’s healthcare system, known to be the slowest industry to adopt new technologies, has lifted from this situation, embracing technology in all sorts.
We often ponder on technology as an emerging industry, capable of immense digital transformation and disruption across all ways of working.
However, technology cannot simply disrupt the roots of the healthcare industry. As it isn’t just about disrupting the industry. In healthcare, it is deeply personal to many and rooted in complexity in the heavily regulated environments, as it should be.
There are a number of reasons at play to the complexity of the digital transformation of healthcare. Some reasons include the preference of seeking health treatment in person, data compliance, hospitals, each healthcare center all have their unique needs, as well as the risks involved in utilizing software. Yet, slow is better than never.
Digital Health Technology
Prior to this, there were a handful of digital apps that have gradually emerged and made its way into the digital health scene. Since COVID-19, we have witnessed theacceleration in the health tech scene across various verticals.
To name a few, these include:
- Online and mobile booking platforms,
- Telehealth
- Online medical subscription services
- Imaging services
- Dental
- Pharmaceutical
- Mental health
The emergence of digital health in Australia stands more significant than ever.
Evidently, we perceive the importance of the role of technology in healthcare. Technology is not merely a tool, but now a part of our lives. It is a lifestyle that we have learned to thrive on. And in a time where we are to be mindful of our distance in public, our senses heightened to prevent the spread of germs, technology has improved our healthcare experiences.
This can include efficient bookings over the phone, filling in our information remotely reducing waiting time, and connected patient data from different providers e.g. X-ray results being electronically transferred to theDoctor’s patient database.
From this situation, our healthcare systems and the way we work has been reborn. Despite Australia’s Healthcare sector to respond quickly on their feet to continue providing medical care, COVID-19 has also exposed higher demands in other areas of the healthcare sector.
Aged Care
The challenge does not end here. The challenges continue not only in the digital transformation space but in terms of accessibility to all. Aged care in assisted homes is one such example. With the elderly currently distanced from their support network, their physical and mental health are highly challenged. While telehealth, digital calls over the phone and messaging apps have been beneficial in healthcare, some aging Australians may lack the digital information or accessibility of these streamlined processes.
Australia’s community has been utterly transparent about the expected healthcare services before and after COVID-19. A healthcare system that focuses on transparency, control, autonomy, and excellent healthcare experiences. Not only is there a demand for improved access to digital health but the secure and confidential information to be protected at all costs.
While we are feeling the pinch of the COVID-19, it has unquestionably shaped the future of how we shall perceive Healthcare services. It was a test of how we utilized technology to continue business and even better, embracing technology to drive change of doing things better. So what does the future hold for Australia’s health-tech and healthcare systems?
Data Privacy & Blockchain
Some of the biggest challenges lie in the maintenance of patient records at the highest level of security, providing new models of care, and embracing changes in both the workforce and our lives.
Data is the crux of the healthcare industry. With the innovation of My Health Record it is also facing questions with privacy. My Health Record is part of a centralized system, meaning information can be viewed by anyone, as long as they have access to login details.
The solution to this is Blockchain technology. Blockchain is a decentralized system, linking together digital records by cryptography. Blockchain as a secure public ledger is the essence of what healthcare needs.
For international markets, blockchain is currently trialed and researched for secure transactions. A health insurance company in Singapore, Metlife is trialing this initiative. It is promising to see international organizations adopting blockchain technology.
While there is a long way to go for the Australian Health Industry, the community is more open to embracing digital health solutions than before. Slowly, moving towards the future, one code line at a time.
For more information regarding Australia’s Healthtech landscape see below the following links:
Further Reading:
Australia’s National Digital Health Strategy
https://conversation.digitalhealth.gov.au/australias-national-digital-health-strategy
Can Blockchain Revolutionise Healthcare in Australia?
https://www.healthcareit.com.au/article/can-blockchain-revolutionise-healthcare-australia
All Digital Health Links:
