Top 7 Healthcare Trends for 2023: Stay Ahead in the Industry

The winds of change are blowing through healthcare, transforming the landscape at a breakneck pace. The ground is shifting beneath our feet, the rules are being rewritten, and innovations hurt forward with force and fury. Sticking to the current state of affairs is no longer a viable choice.  

How we approach healthcare today will define our reality tomorrow.    

Each discovery and disruption presents limitless possibilities if only we have the vision and courage to realize them. What does the future hold? Advancements we’ve scarcely dreamed of and challenges we’ve yet to conceive. But therein lies the beauty. The future remains an unpainted canvas, and our brush stands ready.  

How will we shape it? Charge ahead, tending to the healthcare trends arising on the horizon and seizing unseen opportunities.  

The time for action is now. What will you create?   

Multi-Omic Technologies Are Enabling New Approaches to Drug Discovery and Development

One of the most exciting healthcare trends for 2023 is using multi-omic technologies to accelerate drug discovery and development.  

Multi-omic technologies analyze multiple types of biological data, such as genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, microbiomics, and phenomics. These technologies provide a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of human health and disease by revealing the molecular changes or characteristics that can impact health, cause disease, or guide clinical decisions.  

Multi-omic technologies are fueling the next precision medicine wave and enabling new drug discovery and development approaches, such as phenotypic screening and synthetic biology. These are some healthcare industry trends transforming the pharmaceutical industry and creating new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.   

Phenotypic screening is a method that tests potential drugs on living cells or organisms to observe their effects on various phenotypes or observable traits. Synthetic biology is a field that designs and constructs new biological systems or devices by engineering DNA sequences or biological components. These innovative approaches significantly advance healthcare trends, facilitate the development of more effective drugs, and foster breakthroughs in biological research and medical technology.  

Per prevailing healthcare trends, these approaches can help overcome some limitations of traditional drug discovery and development methods, such as high costs, long timelines, low success rates, and lack of specificity or efficacy. Using multi-omic technologies, researchers can identify novel targets, pathways, biomarkers, and mechanisms of action for new drugs and optimize their safety and performance.     

Some examples of how multi-omic technologies, in line with current healthcare trends, are being utilized to expedite drug discovery and development include:  

• The Accelerating Therapeutics for Opportunities in Medicine (ATOM) consortium, a collaboration between public and private entities, aims to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), High-Performance Computing (HPC), and multi-omic data to develop a drug discovery platform capable of reducing the time it takes to identify a target and produce a clinical candidate from six years to just one year.  
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund’s Illuminating the Druggable Genome (IDG) program is an initiative that uses multi-omic technologies to explore the functions and interactions of understudied proteins that are potential drug targets. 
• The Broad Institute’s Center for the Development of Therapeutics (CDoT) is a renowned research center that actively leverages multi-omic technologies to discover and develop new therapeutics for various diseases. Their focus areas encompass cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, infectious diseases, and rare genetic diseases, catering to the diverse healthcare trends and pressing medical needs.  

Digital Health Solutions Are Converging with Other Technologies to Create More Secure, Scalable, and Seamless Experiences

Among the healthcare trends of 2023, the second is the convergence of digital health solutions with other technologies, such as blockchain, 5G, and edge computing. Digital health solutions use digital technologies to facilitate virtual healthcare delivery and access.     

Some examples of digital health solutions include telehealth, remote patient monitoring (RPM), at-home testing, prescription delivery services, digital therapeutics (DTx), and electronic health records (EHR). 

Digital health solutions have revolutionized many patients’ ability to receive high-quality care and manage their health. However, they encounter certain challenges, such as: 

• Data security and privacy issues include hacking, data breaches, identity theft, and unauthorized access or use of personal health information. 
• Data interoperability and integration issues include a lack of common standards, protocols, and formats for exchanging and sharing health data across different platforms, systems, and devices. 
• Data quality and reliability issues, such as incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent, or outdated health data, can affect the validity and usefulness of the data for clinical or research purposes. 

To address these challenges and align with current healthcare trends, digital health solutions strategically integrate with other innovative technologies that enhance security scalability and seamlessness. Some noteworthy examples of these healthcare industry trends include:  

• Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that can store and verify transactions or records securely, transparently, and immutable. It can create decentralized and trustless networks for sharing and managing health data among various stakeholders, such as patients, providers, payers, researchers, and regulators. Blockchain can also enable smart contracts that automate processes and transactions based on predefined rules and conditions.  
• 5G, as a part of emerging healthcare trends, represents the fifth generation of mobile network technology, delivering faster speed, lower latency, higher bandwidth, and greater connectivity compared to previous generations. Its capabilities enable real-time transmission and analysis of large volumes of health data from diverse sources like sensors, wearables, medical devices, and imaging systems. Furthermore, 5G facilitates remote healthcare delivery and access through high-quality video conferencing, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) applications. 
• Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that can process data at the network’s edge, closer to where it is generated or consumed. It can reduce the dependency on centralized servers or cloud platforms for data storage and processing. Edge computing can also improve digital health solutions’ performance, efficiency, and security by reducing latency, bandwidth consumption, and data transmission costs. In line with current healthcare trends, edge computing is becoming an increasingly important technology for enhancing digital health solutions. 

These technologies are among the healthcare trends transforming the digital health landscape in 2023. Some examples of how digital health solutions are converging with other technologies include:  

• Cloud-based EHR platforms use blockchain technology to create secure and interoperable networks for sharing health data among providers and patients. These platforms integrate with other digital health solutions, such as telehealth solutions, RPM devices, DTx apps, and patient portals. In line with current healthcare trends, these platforms are leveraging advanced technologies to enhance the security and interoperability of health data. 
• Teladoc Health is a telehealth platform that uses 5G technology to provide high-quality virtual care services to patients across various specialties and settings. Teladoc Health also leverages AI and analytics to enhance clinical decision support and patient engagement. 
• Philips is a health technology company that uses edge computing to enable real-time monitoring and analysis of patient data from various sources. Philips also offers edge-enabled solutions for remote ICU care, sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, cardiac care management, and stroke prevention. 

Improving Access to Health Data Is Empowering Patients to Take More Control Over Their Own Health and Wellness  

Among the diverse healthcare trends of 2023, the third significant trend is improving patient access to health data. Health data is any information that relates to a person’s physical or mental health or condition. Health data can include: 

• Medical records, such as diagnoses, treatments, prescriptions, lab results, and medical images.  
• Personal health records, such as health history, allergies, medications, immunizations, and family history.  
• Patient-generated health data, such as vital signs, symptoms, activity levels, sleep patterns, and mood states collected from sensors, wearables, apps, or self-reports.  
• Social determinants of health data, such as income, education, occupation, housing, transportation, and environment, can affect health outcomes and behaviors. 

Improving access to health data for patients aligns with the latest healthcare trends and can bring about various benefits, such as:  

• Enhancing personalized care delivery and prevention strategies by enabling providers to tailor their interventions and recommendations based on individual preferences and needs. 
• Empowering patients to take more control over their health and wellness by enabling them to access, manage, and share their health data with their providers or other parties. 
• Supporting patient engagement and satisfaction by enabling them to communicate with their providers more effectively and conveniently through digital channels or platforms. 
• Facilitating patient education and empowerment by enabling them to access reliable and relevant health information and resources that can help them make informed decisions about their health. 

However, in line with ongoing healthcare trends, improving access to health data for patients also presents certain challenges, including:  

• Ensuring data security and privacy by protecting patient data from unauthorized access or use and complying with relevant laws and regulations, such as the HIPAA or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  
• Ensuring data interoperability and integration by enabling patient data to be exchanged and shared across different platforms, systems, and devices in a seamless and standardized way. 
• Promoting data quality and reliability by ensuring patient data is complete, accurate, consistent, and up-to-date. 

Various solutions are being developed or implemented to address these challenges to improve patient access to health data. These solutions are part of the healthcare trends shaping the future of patient-centric care in 2023. Some examples of these solutions include:   

• Cloud-based EHR platforms enable patients to access their health data anytime and anywhere through a secure patient portal. These platforms allow patients to manage their appointments, prescriptions, billing, and insurance online. These platforms integrate with other digital health solutions, such as telehealth, RPM devices, DTx apps, and patient portals.  
• Apple Health Records, aligned with prevailing healthcare trends, allows iPhone users to access their health records from participating healthcare organizations through a centralized and secure app. This feature lets users view their lab results, medications, allergies, immunizations, and other health information in a user-friendly format. Moreover, Apple Health Records integrates with other apps that assist users in tracking their health metrics or achieving their health goals. 
• Google Health Studies is a platform that allows Android users to participate in health research studies by sharing their health data with researchers. Google Health Studies also allows users to learn more about the studies they join and how their data contributes to scientific discoveries. Google Health Studies also ensures that users have control over their data and can opt out of any study at any time. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Is Creating New Ethical and Regulatory Challenges That Need to Be Addressed

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare trends, the fourth noteworthy development for 2023 emerges as the emergence of new ethical and regulatory challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to improve healthcare and medicine worldwide, but only if ethics and human rights are at the heart of its design, deployment, and use.    

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines or systems to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence or judgment. It rapidly changes trends in healthcare by streamlining operations, accelerating research discoveries, improving risk and disease identification, and facilitating more informed clinical decisions. Some examples of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare include computer vision, natural language processing, pattern recognition, machine learning, and deep learning.  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare has various benefits, such as: 

• Improving efficiency and productivity by automating repetitive or tedious tasks like data entry, billing, scheduling, or reporting. 
• Enhancing accuracy and quality by reducing human errors, biases, or inconsistencies, such as misdiagnosis, medication errors, or adverse events. 
• Expanding access and affordability by providing low-cost or free services, such as chatbots, symptom checkers, or diagnostic tools. 
• Enabling innovation and discovery by generating new insights, hypotheses, or solutions, such as drug candidates, biomarkers, or treatment protocols. 

Keeping up with current healthcare trends, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has played a significant role in driving advancements in the industry.  

However, Artificial Intelligence (AI) also presents certain challenges for healthcare, which need to be addressed in alignment with current healthcare trends: 

• Ethical challenges include ensuring fairness, accountability, and transparency of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and outcomes. For example, how can we ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) does not discriminate against certain groups or individuals based on race, gender, age, or other factors? How can we ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is accountable for its actions or decisions and can be corrected or overridden, if needed? How can we ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transparent about its data sources, methods, assumptions, and limitations and can provide clear and understandable explanations for its results or recommendations? 
• Regulatory challenges include ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations that govern using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. For example, how can we ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) meets the safety, efficacy, and quality standards required for medical devices or drugs? How can we ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) respects the rights and privacy of patients and providers and follows the principles of informed consent and data protection? How can we ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) adheres to the codes of ethics and professional conduct that apply to healthcare practitioners? 

Various solutions are being developed or implemented to address these challenges and stay in line with current healthcare trends to create ethical and regulatory frameworks for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Some examples of these solutions include:   

• AI-enabled EHR platforms use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance clinical decision support and patient engagement. These platforms also ensure that their Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are ethical and compliant by following relevant authorities’ and organizations’ guidelines and best practices.     
• The Partnership on AI is a multi-stakeholder organization that aims to promote the responsible and beneficial use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for humanity. The Partnership on AI also develops and shares best practices and standards for ethical and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various domains and sectors.  
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency that regulates the safety and effectiveness of medical products and devices. The FDA provides guidance and oversight for developing and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. For example, the FDA has issued a regulatory framework for software as a medical device (SaMD) that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) or machine learning. 

Businesses Are Reimagining Their Business Models and Value Propositions to Adapt to the Changing Market Dynamics and Customer Expectations

In the realm of healthcare trends for 2023, the fifth captivating development revolves around healthcare businesses reimagining business models and value propositions. Business models describe how companies create and deliver value to their customers. Value propositions are the benefits or outcomes customers expect or desire from using a product or service. Business models and value propositions define a business’ competitive advantage and differentiation in the market.  

Business models and value propositions constantly evolve and adapt to changing market dynamics and customer expectations. Some of the factors that influence these changes include healthcare trends such as: 

• The shift from fee-for-service to value-based care models that reward providers for delivering high-quality care and improving health outcomes rather than for performing services or procedures. 
• The rise of consumerism and personalization increases customer demand for more choice, convenience, transparency, and engagement in their healthcare decisions and experiences. 
• The emergence of new competitors and disruptors that offer innovative products or services that challenge the status quo or create new markets or segments. 

To adapt to these changes in healthcare trends, healthcare businesses must reimagine their business models and value propositions to create more value for their customers and stakeholders. Some examples of how healthcare businesses are reimagining their business models and value propositions include: 

• Electronic health record (EHR) platforms offer a subscription-based model that allows providers to pay only for what they use and need. These platforms have a value proposition focusing on improving clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and patient satisfaction by providing an integrated and intuitive platform supporting various digital health solutions. For example, cloud-based EHR platforms can integrate with telehealth to enable virtual consultations, with Remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices to remotely monitor patients’ health, DTx apps to deliver digital therapeutics, and patient portals to improve communication and engagement. 
• CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company that offers a hybrid model that combines retail, pharmacy, and healthcare services. CVS Health also offers a value proposition that focuses on providing convenient and accessible care to customers by offering various services, such as walk-in clinics, home delivery, chronic care management, and health insurance plans. 
• As part of the evolving healthcare trends, Amazon Care introduces a virtual primary care service with a direct-to-consumer model. Customers can access care conveniently and remotely through an app or website. Amazon Care delivers personalized and seamless care, offering features like chat or video consultations, prescription delivery, in-person visits, and referrals. This value proposition aims to provide customers with accessible, individualized healthcare experiences tailored to their needs. 

Healthcare Workforce Is Becoming More Diverse, Flexible, and Collaborative

The healthcare workforce will experience a major shift in 2023, making it the sixth trend among leading healthcare trends that will profoundly impact the direction and quality of healthcare services and outcomes. This trend focuses on the emergence of more diverse, flexible, and collaborative teams of healthcare workers who will leverage technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, telehealth, and wearable devices to enhance patient  experience. By embracing these advancements, healthcare professionals can effectively navigate new challenges and seize opportunities within the healthcare industry and society. 

The healthcare workforce is becoming more diverse regarding demographics, skills, roles, and backgrounds. Some of the factors that contribute to this diversity include healthcare trends such as:  

• The aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases create a higher demand for healthcare services and professionals.  
• The shortage of healthcare professionals and the uneven distribution of healthcare resources create a gap between supply and demand for healthcare services and professionals.  
• The globalization and migration of healthcare professionals and patients create a more diverse and multicultural healthcare environment. 

The healthcare workforce is becoming more flexible regarding work arrangements, locations, and schedules. Some of the factors that contribute to this flexibility include healthcare trends such as:   

• The advancement of digital health solutions that enable virtual healthcare delivery and access, such as telehealth, RPM, at-home testing, and prescription delivery services. 
• The emergence of new work models and platforms that enable alternative or flexible work arrangements, such as gig economy, freelance, or contract work. 
• The preference of healthcare professionals and patients for more choice, convenience, and autonomy in their work and care experiences. 

The healthcare workforce is becoming more collaborative in communication, coordination, and teamwork. Some of the factors that contribute to this collaboration include healthcare trends such as:  

• The shift from fee-for-service to value-based care models requires providers to collaborate to deliver high-quality care and improve health outcomes.  
• The complexity and diversity of healthcare needs and challenges require multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation.  
• The availability of digital tools and platforms that facilitate communication, coordination, and teamwork among healthcare professionals and stakeholders, such as EHRs, telehealth platforms, patient portals, and social media. 

Some examples of how the healthcare workforce is evolving to embrace current healthcare trends, becoming more diverse, flexible, and collaborative, include:  

• Cloud-based EHR platforms support a diverse, flexible, and collaborative healthcare workforce by providing an integrated and intuitive platform that supports various digital health solutions, such as telehealth platforms, RPM devices, DTx apps, and patient portals. These platforms also enable providers to work remotely or flexibly by allowing them to access their health data anytime and anywhere. They also facilitate collaboration among providers and patients by allowing them to communicate and share health data securely and easily. 
• Knowing the importance of current healthcare trends, Kaiser Permanente has established itself as a healthcare organization that values diversity, flexibility, and collaboration within its workforce. They have implemented programs and initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging among their employees. To support work-life balance and accommodate different needs, Kaiser Permanente provides various benefits and resources that facilitate flexible work arrangements. These include telecommuting, flexible schedules, part-time work, job sharing, and various leave options. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente fosters employee collaboration by offering tools and platforms for effective communication, coordination, and teamwork. These include video conferencing, instant messaging, online forums, and project management software, enabling employees to collaborate seamlessly and efficiently. 
• Mayo Clinic is a healthcare organization that employs a diverse, flexible, and collaborative healthcare workforce by offering various opportunities and incentives for learning, development, innovation, and research among its employees. Mayo Clinic also provides various options and support for flexible work arrangements such as telework, compressed workweeks, flexible hours, and remote work locations. Mayo Clinic encourages employee collaboration by providing various platforms and networks that enable knowledge sharing, problem-solving, and innovation, such as online communities, innovation hubs, and research centers. 

Healthcare Organizations Are Adopting a More Holistic and Human-Centered Approach to Designing and Delivering Healthcare Services and Experiences

The seventh among the emerging healthcare trends for 2023 is adopting a more holistic and human-centered approach to designing and delivering healthcare services and experiences. This trend reflects the recognition of the importance of considering the whole person, including their physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects, as well as their unique needs and preferences. By engaging and empathizing with healthcare service users or customers, healthcare professionals can better understand their problems, goals, motivations, and expectations. This understanding enables effective, satisfying, and meaningful healthcare solutions tailored to individuals.  

A holistic and human-centered approach, aligned with current healthcare trends, offers several advantages for the healthcare industry, including:  

• Improving health outcomes and quality of life by addressing the root causes and underlying factors of health problems rather than treating symptoms or manifestations. 
• Enhancing patient satisfaction and loyalty by providing personalized, convenient, and meaningful healthcare services and experiences that meet or exceed their expectations. 
• Increasing efficiency and effectiveness by reducing waste, errors, costs, and risks associated with healthcare delivery and operations. 
• Driving innovation and differentiation by creating new or improved healthcare services and experiences that solve unmet or latent needs or create new value for customers or stakeholders. 

However, embracing a holistic and human-centered approach in line with current healthcare trends also presents some challenges for the industry, such as: 

• Changing healthcare organizations’ and professionals’ mindsets and cultures to embrace a more holistic and human-centered perspective rather than a more traditional or siloed one.  
• Developing healthcare organizations’ and professionals’ skills and capabilities to apply a more holistic and human-centered methodology to design and deliver healthcare services and experiences.  
• Measuring the impact and value of a more holistic and human-centered approach to healthcare services and experiences. 

Numerous solutions are being developed or implemented to address these challenges to align with current trends in the healthcare industry to embrace a more holistic and human-centered approach to healthcare services and experiences. Some examples of these solutions include:  

• Cloud-based EHR software adopt a more holistic and human-centered approach to designing and delivering healthcare services and experiences by providing an integrated, intuitive platform that supports various digital health solutions, such as telehealth platforms, RPM devices, DTx apps, and patient portals. These platforms also empathize with their users and customers to understand their needs and expectations and provide personalized, convenient, and meaningful healthcare services and experiences.  
• Innovation centers within healthcare organizations adopt a more holistic and human-centered approach to designing and delivering healthcare services and experiences using various tools and methods, such as design thinking, ethnography, prototyping, and testing. These centers collaborate with multiple stakeholders, such as patients, providers, researchers, and partners, to co-create new or improved healthcare services and experiences that address unmet or latent needs or create new value. 
• The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) aligns with current healthcare trends by promoting a holistic and human-centered approach to healthcare services and experiences. The IHI employs frameworks and models such as the Triple Aim, the Quadruple Aim, and the 10 Principles of Good Design to guide its initiatives. By providing resources and programs, the IHI supports healthcare organizations and professionals in implementing a more holistic and human-centered approach to their services and experiences.   

As we navigate through 2023, the healthcare industry is experiencing innovation and transformation. Change is inevitable, and it is up to us to embrace it and shape the future. The leading healthcare trends present opportunities and challenges requiring bold action and visionary thinking. By leveraging multi-omic technologies, converging digital health solutions with cutting-edge technologies, improving access to health data, and addressing the ethical and regulatory considerations of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we can reimagine our business models and value propositions to meet the evolving needs of our customers. Let us work together to create a present and future of healthcare that is patient-centered, technologically advanced, and ethically grounded. The time for action is now. 

Conclusion

The healthcare industry is undergoing rapid and profound changes driven by various factors, such as technological innovations, market dynamics, customer expectations, and societal challenges. These changes create opportunities and challenges for healthcare providers and organizations that must adapt and innovate to stay ahead of the curve.  

In this article, we have explored seven of the most important and leading healthcare trends for 2023 that you need to know about. These trends are: 

• Multi-omic technologies are enabling new approaches to drug discovery and development. 
• Digital health solutions are converging with other technologies to create more secure, scalable, and seamless experiences. 
• Improving access to health data is empowering patients to take more control over their own health and wellness. 
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating new ethical and regulatory challenges that need to be addressed. 
• Businesses are reimagining their business models and value propositions to adapt to the changing market dynamics and customer expectations. 
• The healthcare workforce is becoming more diverse, flexible, and collaborative. 
• Healthcare organizations are adopting a more holistic and human-centered approach to designing and delivering healthcare services and experiences. 

We hope this article has provided useful insights and information that can help you prepare for the future of healthcare. If you have any questions or feedback on this article or want to learn more about how CareCloud can help you stay ahead of the curve with its cloud-based EHR platform that supports various digital health solutions. Please feel free to contact us anytime. We would love to hear from you.