Health trends for 2018 infographic

Health Trends for 2018 To say that 2017 has been a tumultuous year for the healthcare industry is an understatement. Federal policy changes and recent transactions involving large insurers, health systems and retailers will affect providers, payers and patients alike. Here are some of most emerging trends we need to pay close attention to in 2018.

1. Post-EHR healthcare The gravy train of meaningful use (MU) is over. The effect of MU was a significant, artificial, driver of adoption for a few EHRs. Today, digital health records are the standard. As we move through 2018, keep an eye on EHRs and how they justify their ROI once massive capital expenditures are written down. Likewise, you’ll want to consider how clinicians adjust to this brave new world that we live in.

2. A New Workforce The new business plan seems to be providing easy access to consumers by managing their healthcare in one accessible place, whether it is a CVS, network clinic, or surgical center. The necessity for primary care doctors are on the decrease, which has been the case for years. Medical students are opting for the higher salaried positions in more specialty medicine.

The up-and-coming profession of coaching has created personnel that can replace the time spent by an MD with a patient who needs simple advice, screening, or education about their condition and the medications prescribed. Health coaches are becoming certified and gaining status in hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Nurses are now becoming certified health coaches and will likely fill positions in these retail health clinics.

3. Social Determinants Come to the Forefront The US spends more on healthcare than any other nation, but lags in outcomes. To improve health while saving money, the industry needs to expand the borders of healthcare. This means thinking beyond the four walls of the hospital and looking at the full profile of a patient, beyond their specific health issue.

4. The Real Cloud HIMSS 2018, the largest health technology conference on the planet, will for the first time see booths of EHR vendors challenged by the equally massive booths of public cloud service providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. This is a spectacular moment for healthcare, not just for the adoption of the real cloud over simple virtualization, but also in the fragmentation of infrastructure and services managed by third parties for healthcare delivery organizations.

5. Price Transparency Moves to the Statehouse With no clear legislative path for federal action on health reform, states are starting to take matters into their own hands. Over 30 states are now considering legislation that would directly control drug prices. It is important to watch what happens at the state level, as past state healthcare reform efforts have been brought to the national stage.

6. Blockchain to the Rescue Blockchain has made its way into healthcare. Smart contracts, immutability, and a clear audit trail hold much promise for healthcare data and exchange. The problem is that technology, especially when it comes to data sharing and interoperability in healthcare, is not the dominant roadblock. Layering in new technology, like blockchain, leaves the fundamental organizational and political problems unsolved. Post-EHR healthcare is finally ready and incented to start making the necessary changes that will align with the triple aim. Massive organizations will vie for their place in this new healthcare world. Those who win will be the providers and the patients.

7. Medicare Advantage swells in 2018 Medicare Advantage is projected to cover nearly 21 million people in 2018, a 5% increase over 2017, providing a new competitive opportunity for health insurers. However, many consumers don’t know these plans exist, so insurers must work to raise awareness of options, and change those options to best meet patient needs.

Doctors, hospitals and health companies now have insight into all factors that can affect patient health, from lifestyle and income to genetics. And they are using that information to connect people to a wide range of health and social services within their communities. These healthcare trends will certainly rule the healthcare industry in 2018.