Apr 18, 2023

Healthcare informatics leaders: new care delivery models essential to solving today’s challenges and foundation for tomorrow’s growth

Estimated reading time: 3-5 minutes

Process automation, AI, and virtual care will play key roles in long-term solutions to care delivery

The recently published Future Health Index (FHI) 2023 global report – an independent survey commissioned by Philips featuring perspectives from nearly 3,000 healthcare leaders and younger healthcare professionals across 14 countries – highlights the increasing view among healthcare informatics leaders that new care delivery models are not only the answer to immediate challenges, but also unique opportunities for growth.

The results of the FHI 2023 report confirm that healthcare informatics leaders are currently focused on collaborating with clinical-facing organizations to solve immediate challenges such as staff shortages and dealing with high demands of increasing patient numbers. In addition, many informatics leaders are already investing in automation to improve productivity and better utilize staff time. 38% of the informatics leaders surveyed stated their organization was streamlining patient processes to address financial pressures. A similar number (35%) said they were investing in automation to streamline internal processes.

Improving workflows with digital technology is top priority for new care delivery models

45% of the informatics leaders surveyed cited workflow technology including PACS, digital health records, and patient flow automation, as the number one technology they are either already using or planning to use to help reduce the impact of staff shortages. With the increasing use of specialist (external) treatment facilities and the shift in care delivery to non-hospital settings, standards-based interoperability within these distributed infrastructures continues to also be front and center for informatics leaders. When asked about the solutions they are currently undertaking to combat the financial pressures on their hospital/healthcare facility, 41% of the healthcare informatics leaders surveyed said sharing functions with other facilities is a top priority for the success of new care delivery models.

Leveraging AI and predictive analytics to address workforce shortages

Next to workflow technology, the next most important technology (43% of respondents) healthcare informatics leaders said they are either using or planning to use to help reduce the impact of workforce shortages is critical decision-support technology, including predictive analytics and AI in clinical settings. With more 83% of the informatics leaders surveyed saying they plan to invest in AI technology three years from now, AI clearly continues to be a key focus for future investments.

Healthcare informatics leaders are putting their trust in digital technologies and data to achieve their hospital or healthcare facility’s goals. They are also acutely aware that healthcare systems haven't always used data in a meaningful way that optimally benefits patients and staff. The fact that more than 80% plan to invest in AI to achieve patient and staff benefits is a clear indication of the technology’s transformative potential.

Shez Partovi

Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, Philips

Virtual and distributed care models enabling better care for more patients

When it comes to extending healthcare beyond hospital walls, the top three services healthcare informatics leaders said they would provide in three years’ time include health literacy/patient education programs (52%), surgery centers (42%), and office-based labs (38%). In terms of whether these new care delivery models will enable better care for an increased number of patients, healthcare informatics leaders appear more optimistic than their peers. 69% believed they would, compared to only around a half of the cardiologists and radiologists surveyed.

Healthcare informatics leaders understand that better use of data, new data technologies, closer collaboration, and data sharing across care settings is key to making high-quality, affordable healthcare accessible to more patients. But they also know we need to demonstrate evidence and cost benefits of things like AI and digital technology which will help reduce the barrier to adoption. This is where partnerships, and area where partnerships are hugely important.

Shez Partovi

Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer, Philips

To achieve distributed care that improves patient access, healthcare informatics leaders surveyed said they are working with a range of external organizations including diagnostic imaging/screening centers (36%), health technology companies (31%) and retailers/pharmacies (27%). Other organizations they plan to partner with three years from now include IT or data providers (29%), emergency medical centers (28%), and educational institutions (25%). When it comes to the environmental sustainability of new care delivery models, Informatics leaders reported a lack of specific regulation (42%), a lack of standardization across the healthcare industry and a lack of means of measuring improvement/success (both 38%) as challenges that need to be addressed. To overcome these challenges, healthcare informatics leaders responded their hospitals are creating a business case (39%), sharing best practices (39%), and working with or consulting third parties (39%) to help overcome barriers in addressing environmental sustainability.

Since 2016, Philips has conducted original research to help determine the readiness of countries to address global health challenges and build efficient and effective health systems. For details on the Future Health Index methodology and to access this year’s report in its entirety, visit the Future Health Index 2023 site.