The opportunity for connected devices to transform the healthcare experience for all
Nicole Mather, Life Sciences Lead Partner, IBM Consulting
Putting patients at the centre of a care ecosystem will enable a transformation in the way devices are integrated into care pathways. This can be achieved by designing the digital experience and devices for patients and carers, rather than being restricted by technology functionality or existing processes.
In the future, connected devices will be a central part of healthcare provision, transmitting real-time data that can deliver a range of benefits from monitoring patient health and making informed real-time treatment recommendations, to enabling smarter appointment scheduling and sharing information with manufacturers. For example, triggering preventative maintenance.
In this future vision, the gains are significant and could benefit all users – patients, healthcare providers and manufacturers. Patients will have the opportunity to engage in their treatment more closely, healthcare providers will have options to deliver more personalised and efficient care, and manufacturers will be able to optimise operations whilst extending their solutions to offer value-added services.
Underpinning this vision is data. Capturing, integrating, and managing data effectively is key to achieving a patient-centred healthcare ecosystem and its associated benefits. Making care more personalised and participative will be enabled by data drawn from connected devices to generate insights, which form a continuous feedback loop to enhance care. Any connected device efforts should be underpinned by a robust approach to transparency and data governance.
Now is the time to make a step change to the way care is delivered — previous barriers to achieving a connected healthcare ecosystem are being overcome and governments are streamlining regulation to accelerate the introduction of digital technologies. Data is becoming more available with further work underway. Healthcare is dealing with a significant global workforce shortage which means the opportunities for automation and self-service care models have become an operational imperative.
Successful delivery of this change will be dependent on a user-centred design which enables effective business change, so the workforce embraces new ways of working and additional capacity is created rather than requiring “double-running” services or processes. This has been proven through the pandemic as we witnessed citizens taking control of their healthcare – ordering tests, attending appointments and recording results which help them take care decisions – through a national digital interface.
This is the time for the MedTech industry to begin to take steps to leverage this opportunity, including:
- Taking a patient-centred view to understanding the patient journey and wider clinical pathway;
- Working with patients and carers in an agile way to develop a patient engagement experience;
- Choosing the right platform to accelerate the integration of data to enable insights and support experience; and,
- Supporting engagement and collaboration across the ecosystem.
As the healthcare ecosystem becomes more connected, we are excited to continue to understand and increase the benefit for all users.
Recognising the importance of fostering this complex ecosystem, techUK has formed a new Life Sciences workstream. If you are actively involved or interested in this collaborative work, please get in touch with [email protected].
Robert Walker
Robert Walker
Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.
Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.
Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!
- Email:
- [email protected]
Viola Pastorino
Viola Pastorino
Viola Pastorino is a policy, governance, and strategic communication specialist.
She joined techUK as the Junior Programme Manager in the Health and Care Team in April 2024.
She has obtained a Bachelor of Sciences in Governance, Economics, and Development from Leiden University, and a Master's programme in Strategic Communications at King's College London. Her academic background, leading up to a dissertation on AI policy influence and hands-on campaign development, is complemented by practical experience in international PR and grassroots project management.
She is skilled in qualitative and quantitative analysis and comfortable communicating findings to varying stakeholders. Above all, she is deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and government, especially how technology and global discourse shape one another, the processes that lead to belief polarisation and radicalisation of communities, and crafting strategic narratives that steer public discourse.
Outside of work she loves reading, live music light operation, and diving.
Clara Hewitt
Clara Hewitt
Clara joined techUK in October 2023. She brings experience across a range of domestic and global health issues, with particular focus on digital health, HIV/AIDS and climate change and health.
Clara holds an MSc in Global Health and Development (University College London) and a BSc in Psychology (University of Birmingham).
Tracy Modha
Tracy Modha
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
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- [email protected]
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- 02073312000
- Twitter:
- @TracyModha,@TracyModha
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- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
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- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83,https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83
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