Recently there have been significant transformations in the healthcare industry. As a physician, you must adapt to this rapidly changing landscape influenced by technological advancements, enduring pandemics, and emerging healthcare trends.
From groundbreaking innovations in telemedicine to a renewed focus on public health, healthcare providers have been compelled to embrace new strategies and adapt to evolving patient needs.
In this article, we will share the top 10 physician trends shaping the medical profession in 2023. We will also show how these developments revolutionize healthcare delivery, patient care, and the medical landscape. So, let’s get started!
1. Telemedicine and Virtual Care
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the widespread adoption of telemedicine, transforming the way healthcare is delivered. Telemedicine has not only bridged the gap between patients and physicians, especially in rural and underserved areas but has also offered a convenient and efficient way to provide non-emergency care remotely.
In recent years, integrating telemedicine platforms into healthcare systems has become increasingly smooth, allowing physicians to offer virtual consultations, monitor patients’ conditions, and deliver timely care from the comfort of their offices.
2. Technological Advancements and AI in Healthcare
Driven by the relentless pursuit of innovation, technology has emerged as a vital tool for physicians, thus, revolutionizing healthcare delivery.
From artificial intelligence and machine learning to robotic-assisted surgeries, physicians are now using the power of technology to improve diagnoses, treatment plans, and patients’ health.
AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of data, assist decision-making, and improve patient outcomes. Physicians now also use electronic health records and wearable devices to give personalized care and monitor patients from far away. This helps them manage diseases that last a long time and get better results.
3. Patient-Centric Approach
The patient-centric approach in the healthcare industry means the patient is the center of all healthcare decisions and actions. This includes understanding social determinants of health, improving health literacy, and promoting shared decision-making.
Physicians are now working in multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with nurses, therapists, and social workers to ensure comprehensive and personalized patient care plans.
This approach makes the hospital experience less expensive and overwhelming by not asking outpatients to visit multiple doctors, numerous labs, and imaging centers at separate places and times, hoping that someone else will handle their case efficiently.
Dr. Richard E. Anderson, CEO of The Doctors Company in California, says,
“When medical professionals talk about ‘patient-centric care,’ we mean it. We must adopt a customer-service-oriented approach similar to companies like Amazon, Nordstrom, or FedEx.”
4. Growth of Retail Medicine
Retail medicine is now an important part of primary care in the United States and is expected to become even more significant soon.
Traditional healthcare systems are forming strong partnerships with large pharmacy chains, allowing data collection from millions of people to expand the retail medicine database. Amazon has recently launched its online pharmacy and is preparing to acquire and manage provider networks.
Retail medicine and private payment options will continue to grow. Many organizations have recognized and addressed long-standing issues that patients face within the healthcare system and are working on these problems.
5. Health Equity and Diversity
There is a growing recognition of the importance of health equity and diversity in healthcare. In simple terms, health equity means everyone should have a fair and equal chance to be as healthy as possible. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that some people had better healthcare access than others for several reasons.
According to a report by Forrester, people living in rural areas will be affected by health disparities twice as much as those living in cities. About 57 million people in rural and tribal communities will face higher chances of death because of social inequalities, multiple health problems, high rates of suicide, not enough doctors, and many hospitals closing down.
Physicians are actively working to reduce healthcare disparities, improve access to care for marginalized populations, and promote inclusivity within the healthcare workforce.
6. Enhanced Cybersecurity
As healthcare systems become increasingly digitized, cybersecurity has become a critical concern.
Physicians are proactively implementing strict security measures to protect patient’s sensitive medical information and protect against cyber threats. This includes employing encryption, utilizing secure networks, and adopting stringent data storage and transmission protocols.
7. Concerns Over Physicians’ Well-being
Burnout and physician stress have received increased attention in recent years. Before COVID-19, healthcare organizations knew physician burnout was a problem among their care teams. However, the global pandemic has made the situation even worse.
According to Forrester’s predictions for 2022, there will be a significant shortage of healthcare workers. A 2021 Medscape report found that 42% of physicians reported feeling burned out, and 21% said their burnout symptoms started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthcare organizations are implementing initiatives to prioritize physician well-being, including promoting work-life balance, addressing mental health needs, and reducing administrative burdens.
8. Providing Value-Based Care
There is a growing need to find ways to make healthcare more affordable for doctors and patients. The healthcare industry is now focusing on finding new ways to provide cost-effective and value-based care.
Traditionally, many people go to the emergency room for medical care because it is always open. However, a shift is happening where barriers to accessing various levels of care are being broken down. Patients now have more options for healthcare than ever before, so they don’t have to automatically choose the emergency room for every medical issue.
To address the need for lower healthcare costs and better accessibility, there will be more emphasis on nontraditional care delivery methods. This includes things like telehealth, virtual care services, and walk-in hours that are widely available.
9. Transition to Home-Based Care
The provision of inpatient care at home, typically only done in hospitals, has become the greatest advancement in healthcare. Thanks to improvements in patient monitoring and changes in how healthcare costs are covered, some less severe cases can now be treated at the patient’s home. This allows people to stick to their usual routines, avoid hospital visits, and potentially save money.
The main goal of at-home healthcare is to make patients feel comfortable with their medical treatments and help them stay healthy.
10. Practice Consolidation and Outsider Investments
In the coming year, there will be a lot of consolidation among medical practices, which means that smaller practices will join or partner with larger ones. Private equity firms will play a role in this process by providing financial support to help these practices grow and improve their operations.
One focus area will be outpatient care, where medical services can be provided at lower costs compared to hospitals. This means that more investments will be made in outpatient services. Additionally, hospitals will have more opportunities to collaborate with physician groups to develop outpatient initiatives together.
There will also be increased investments in group medical practices and management services organizations (MSOs). Since some states have regulations preventing investors from directly owning physician groups, investors will purchase the operations of MSOs. The investors’ goal is to improve efficiency in billing, collections, and human resources, while physicians can focus on providing patient care.
What’s Next for Physicians?
2023 has brought forth many physician trends reshaping the healthcare landscape. These trends reflect not only medical technology advancements but also patients’ evolving needs and expectations. Physicians are embracing new tools and approaches to enhance patient care and outcomes, from telemedicine and AI-assisted diagnostics to personalized medicine and value-based care. As we move forward, it is crucial for physicians to continuously learn these emerging trends to provide the best possible care to their patients. By learning these top 10 physician trends of 2023, healthcare professionals can pave the way for a brighter and more patient-centric future.
References
- Fix, G. M., VanDeusen Lukas, C., Bolton, R. E., Hill, J. N., Mueller, N., LaVela, S. L., & Bokhour, B. G. (2018). Patient-centered care is a way of doing things: How healthcare employees conceptualize patient-centred care. Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 21(1), 300–307.
- Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Singh, R. P., & Suman, R. (2021). Telemedicine for healthcare: Capabilities, features, barriers, and applications. Sensors international, 2, 100117.
