4 Glimpses into the Future of Healthcare

^{The future of healthcare depends on which technologies will enter clinician workflows.}

The future of healthcare could go in many different directions, depending on which forces shape the clinical, administrative and innovative arms of the industry. Tech companies, in particular, are eyeing healthcare, looking for ways to disrupt medicine and decide how that future may look.

Just last week, we at Healthcare Analytics News™ covered two big news stories with wide-ranging implications for healthcare. We also published two columns about the present and future of healthcare technology, describing the challenges and potential benefits that decision makers must prepare for. Together, these articles illustrate which technologies are shaping healthcare and what they mean for health systems, providers and patients.

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These four stories — from IBM and 23andMe to blockchain and medical device security ­­— most engaged our C-suite audience. And every week, we assemble our top stories in one convenient article to help healthcare decision makers navigate the forces that are changing the industry, for better or worse. Consider this your ticket to our top news and views from healthcare’s digital transformation.

Do you have thoughts on these articles? Or perhaps we missed your favorite article from the past week? Reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

1. IBM’s $34B Acquisition of Red Hat and Its Healthcare Implications

When IBM bought Red Hat, the story was mostly about two things: the historic $34 billion price tag and the idea that this represented IBM’s shift to the cloud. But there was a healthcare angle, too. The gist: IBM’s transition to primarily focus on cloud computing comes at a time when healthcare is rapidly adopting the technology but still has much ground left to cover. Meanwhile, IBM Watson has been battling reputational problems for years, especially in healthcare, where reports of overhyped marketing and problems plagued the technology. Perhaps IBM’s purchase of Red Hat, then, offers something of a reset for the company’s place in health tech.

2. 23andMe Secures FDA Approval for First DTC Genetic Test for Medication Metabolism

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing giant 23andMe won authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market a new assessment that’s designed to show how patients may respond to certain kinds of medication. But the FDA approved the test with special controls and the qualification that the product was meant to help spur conversations between patients and physicians. It is not a diagnostic, and its results alone are not reason to change a medication regimen. But what does pharmacogenetic testing mean for the future of healthcare?

3. Wearable Technology Can Raise Issues for Healthcare Professionals

Wearable technology benefits patients, providers, insurers and other healthcare stakeholders in many ways. But wearable technology also has its downsides, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities and data privacy questions. But how else might wearables negatively affect patients and providers? And how can healthcare leaders defend against looming crises?

4. 5 Emerging Technologies that Will Change Healthcare

Our monthly columnist João Bocas, also known as the Wearables Expert, analyzes five technologies that could transform healthcare. What’s more, he says these innovations will forever change the industry — the only question is when. But whether healthcare decision makers will adopt blockchain and the rest of these technologies soon remains to be seen.

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