Opportunities and Obstacles of Digitization in Healthcare

Owing to the constantly increasing population and a paucity of hospital beds, digitization of healthcare is emerging as an instrumental alternative means to prevent and manage diseases in the comfort of their homes. Extending the existing technology and data towards the healthcare sector can lead to convenient communication between the patient and the healthcare professionals, by utilizing the tools of video technology, text messages and health monitoring. Although the major concerns posed by the idea constitute of privacy and security apprehensions, merits overweigh the demerits. It is beneficial in short-term prevention, near-term chronic disease management and long-term chronic health. It offers a huge potential for the improvement of health outcomes and care processes that have reverberations for both patients and providers. Digitization of healthcare will also play a significant role in diagnosis and self-management of diseases, detection of healthcare frauds quichly and effectively, given that the barriers are circurnented, and the challenges are overcome.