77% of healthcare leaders believe they need to go digital to succeed: Microsoft : Page 2 of 2

 

Clear priorities for digital transformation but true transformation lacking

 

77% of healthcare leaders believe they need to go digital to succeed: Microsoft : Page 2 of 2

 

Microsoft has defined what it means to transform in four key pillars:

1. Engage patients: Healthcare providers today need to enable more efficient access to care, effective and continuous engagement with patients to improve patient experience.

Healthcare providers can enable new ways of connecting with patients before, during and after their interaction with caregivers.

2. Empower care team: Healthcare needs are infinite, but resources are not. Thus, healthcare providers need to improve clinician experience and care team productivity. This allows care workers and clinicians to be connected securely to information and people they need, wherever they are.

Quality and outcomes of health services can also be improved by enabling clinicians and consumers to access and analyse information so they can make more informed choices at the point of decision.

3. Optimise clinical and operational effectiveness: Healthcare providers need to accelerate the responsiveness of their business, improve service levels and reduce costs with intelligent processes by coordinating people and assets more efficiently, respond to issues in real time and solve them pre-emptively.

This will enable better asset management, clinical and operational analytics, and cybersecurity in health.

4. Transform care continuum: The opportunity to embed software and technology directly into products and services is evolving how organisations deliver value, enabling new business models, and disrupting established markets.

Healthcare providers can raise the quality of care and lower per capita costs by providing new models of care.

The Study shows how business leaders in the healthcare sector are prioritising their digital transformation strategies:

 

77% of healthcare leaders believe they need to go digital to succeed: Microsoft : Page 2 of 2

 

Said Rijpma: “76% of business leaders agreed that new data insights could allow healthcare providers to benefit from higher operating income. However, it is concerning to see that while there is widespread acknowledgement on the need to transform, they are doing so incrementally.

“Along with the evolving industry, healthcare providers in Asia Pacific must constantly transform and leverage on the opportunity to embed technology into the care continuum, in order to evolve how healthcare providers, add value to patients, or even disrupt the manner in which services can be delivered.”

Emerging technologies in demand

Cloud computing and the decreasing cost of devices have made it more affordable for organisations to transform digitally, according to 73% of healthcare business leaders surveyed.

The majority (73%) also regarded cloud computing as essential in their digital transformation strategy.

In the next 12 to 18 months, business leaders in Asia Pacific’s healthcare sector are interested to explore a range of emerging technologies to accelerate and achieve digital transformation. The top technologies identified by business leaders as being relevant to them are:

• Artificial intelligence (AI): Intelligent machines or software that can learn and perform tasks independently. These are solutions that can see, hear, speak and understand needs and emotions, using natural methods of communication which is enhanced by vast amount of data from various sources;

• Quantum computing: Next-generation computers using different computation systems to solve data equations much faster than traditional computers;

• Wearable technologies: Advanced computing and electronic technologies that are embedded into clothing, devices or bodies. Examples include continuous glucose monitoring devices;

• Nanotechnology: Molecular-scaled systems that can reside in materials, devices and even living organisms. Examples are nano-robots and nano-materials;

• Next-generation computing experiences: Computers and software that can process natural languages, gestures and visuals. Examples include chatbots and Cortana;

• Internet of things: Network of sensors embedded into devices that can collect data or be remotely controlled. Examples are remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and smart hospital buildings;

• Virtual/ augmented or mixed reality: Technologies enabling the merging of real and virtual worlds into new and immersive experiences. Examples are Microsoft HoloLens, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and 3D video gaming.

Rijpma added: “Emerging technologies, specifically, cloud, analytics and new capabilities like AI and IoT will give organisations new capabilities to transform. But real transformation only happens when they bring their people along with them. Equipping employees with the right tools to enable them to be part of a solution to be more responsive, data driven and customer centric is also key.”

Barriers to digital transformation in Asia Pacific

While there is no doubt that digital transformation will bring significant benefits for both businesses and employees, the path to digital transformation has been slow, given that only 25% have a full digital strategy in place.

According to healthcare leaders in the study, the top barriers to digital transformation faced by Asia Pacific’s healthcare industry are, in order of priority:

 

77% of healthcare leaders believe they need to go digital to succeed: Microsoft : Page 2 of 2

 

Increasing security threats in today’s digital economies are real and cannot be ignored. There is a continued perception among business leaders that the cloud is less secure. However, they may be less privy to the advances being made in the cloud on security and privacy and need more exposure on how, with the current threat environment, it will be safer being in the cloud than relying on traditional forms of IT.

In fact, a recent Microsoft Asia Pacific survey of 1,200 IT leaders conducted in September 2016 found that 87% believe that in the longer term, the cloud will be safer.

“People don’t use technology that they don’t trust. This is a golden rule that applies to organisations and individuals alike as we live in a mobile-first and cloud-first world. Ensuring security, privacy, and compliance are key to enabling healthcare providers to carry out digital transformation with confidence. As such, protecting sensitive data requires a new and integrated approach, all of which we have invested in significantly,” said Rijpma.

 

Related Stories:
 
MyDoc raises US$5.2mil led by UST Global
 
A tale of two industries
 
Global BioLife initiates advanced research of a new universal therapeutic drug platform

 

For more technology news and the latest updates, follow us on Facebook,Twitter or LinkedIn.

 
Keyword(s) :
 
Author Name :
 
Download Digerati50 2020-2021 PDF

Digerati50 2020-2021

Get and download a digital copy of Digerati50 2020-2021