Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning are two of the most important technologies redefining the MedTech industry. Thanks to vast amounts of medical data, AI can be used to leverage techniques like Machine Learning in favor of healthcare systems through powerful apps. As a result, AI is having a powerful impact on traditional medicine. This comes as great news to both physicians and patients.
Although many concerns exist around the growing dependence of medicine on technology, the possibility to use HiTech tools like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning opens up many possibilities to improve healthcare. These tools, paired with powerful apps, are redefining the word health.
In this post we discuss what the impact of AI in medicine is, its implications, and some of the opportunities that lie ahead.
Medical Technology and the Future of Healthcare
Healthcare has seen an important development in the past years thanks to MedTech. With new business models popping up everywhere and cutting edge technologies being developed, this comes as no surprise. After all, if there’s an industry that’s prone to innovation, it is MedTech.
This is a diverse industry where many different branches exist. In our blog, we’ve discussed some of them. In general, they all use the power of apps to deliver to users a powerful healthcare experience. Some of the most powerful MedTech apps offer solutions like digital therapeutics, Virtual Reality (VR) for healthcare, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD).
The MedTech Market
There are many opportunities for existing and new technologies within the MedTech industry. As BCG points out, fragmentation exists in terms of the overall industry, as no single company or players control the majority of the market. Instead, important players are consolidated in terms of specific segments.
Although there is not a clear and homogenous path for MedTech, there seems to be a powerful trend: digital health. Thanks to powerful MedTech apps, the industry is finding new and interesting ways to connect with users. This allows for a better understanding of their needs, and at the same time, it allows for better ways to solve problems.
As a result, medical app development will gain importance. Medical apps have the potential to help all types of users meet their medical needs in ways that are currently impossible. They have the power to bring down barriers, not only in terms of distance but also in terms of cost, making healthcare widely available for everyone.
Looking into the Future
As new technologies make their way into the healthcare market, we can expect existing technologies to evolve, and new ones to establish themselves in non-existing markets. The latter is the case of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Through digital medical technologies and apps, AI and ML have the potential to create new opportunities. In particular, they can reshape the patient experience. Additionally, they can contribute to solving some difficult scientific problems.
MedTech, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are revolutionizing a number of industries in many different ways, and MedTech is no exception. Thanks to potent algorithms and the availability of large amounts of data, it is now possible to automate key processes and tasks. This becomes very valuable for medical personnel, as they tend to spend a considerable amount of their time in bureaucratic tasks that distract them from what really matters: taking care of patients. Thus, medical institutions can gain in efficiency and productivity, all while improving the services provided to patients.
Additionally, AI in medicine has the power to contribute to the science behind healthcare. Such is the case of AlphaFold; this revolutionary idea has made incredible progress in protein research. Through the use of powerful AI techniques, it has helped scientists understand how the protein folding process occurs. Although this sounds like a minor thing, it can help scientists understand how proteins are formed, and since proteins are an important building block of life, this, in turn, can help understand better how diseases are formed.
We can expect technologies like this to become more and more common.
AI MedTech
The key to a powerful AI MedTech experience is having the ability to integrate it into a product that users love. That’s why web and mobile apps become so important. They have everything to engage users in a way that helps solve some of the most pressing medical problems.
Even a solution like a simple medical chatbot has the potential to help patients that live in faraway places with limited access to medical services. Others, like x-ray scanning Machine Learning algorithms can help detect diseases with a high degree of precision.
There is still a long way to go before these solutions become widely accepted. Ultimately, it will require a lot of innovation, and more importantly, large amounts of data.
MedTech Data
Whatever the AI-based solution is, large amounts of data will be necessary; only with it is it possible to build robust AI systems. However, it is important to keep patient medical data secure. Complying with HIPAA requirements helps make sure patient data is managed in a proper way.
As more AI-based medical solutions hit the market, patient data will become more valuable. Securing it is a must for any company that wishes to develop products around it.
Will AI take over doctors?
A major concern that doctors have is whether AI will take over their jobs. This is a fair concern, and the answer isn’t a straightforward one. The reality is that some tasks will undoubtedly be assigned to computers, while others will remain in the hands of humans. This means that some jobs will disappear, while new ones will be created.
Only time will tell how this process of AI in medicine will evolve. Whatever the result is, medical institutions need to make sure that their personnel is fully prepared to work with new technologies. Only by doing that will they provide quality jobs for their personnel. Thus, the ability to learn and stay up to date with medical technologies becomes more relevant than ever.
Digital Health
Whatever the outcome is for AI in medicine, you can rest assured that apps will play an important role. At the end of the day, they are the way in which patients interact with technology-based medical solutions.
A successful MedTech app development process is the key to build a digital medical product that patients love. To do so, the best alternative is to pair up with an experienced MedTech app development company.
At Koombea we’ve been building world-class MedTech apps since 2007. Our team is highly committed to excellent results, always complying with HIPAA requirements and the highest ethical standards of the medical profession.
If this sounds like something that works for you, contact us for a free consultation.
