2024 outlook: Experts on the hot topics that will shape health IT in the year ahead
“Pay attention to genAI to analyze an individual's clinical history.”
“Digital prior authorization will take center stage as expectations for 24-hour approvals become a reality.”
“Intelligent automation is poised to drive efficiencies across the board.”
“We could likely see burnout of patients and of the healthcare systems trying to fend off cyber threats without the resources to do so.”
These are just some of the 2024 predictions from four information technology experts collected by Healthcare IT news to give their key thoughts on the year ahead.
Joe Gagnon, CEO of 1upHealth
Joe Gagnon, CEO of 1upHealth, provider of an FHIR platform for collecting, exchanging and calculating claims and clinical data, is optimistic about new process improvements.
“We will reach an inflection point in 2024 when CMS compliance initiatives begin to drive value realization in the areas of process automation and improved decision making. We will see a significant increase in the combination of claims and clinical data used to help close gaps in care and overall improved risk management.
“Next year we will see more connections to EHRs become available, and the industry will leverage the cloud for real-time access and transfer of health data.”
Sonia Singh, Chief Insights Officer at AVIA
Sonia Singh, Chief Insights Officer at AVIA, a market intelligence and advisory services company working with 50 healthcare systems to drive digital transformation sees a big future for AI-based automation.
“Automate everything you can. As healthcare systems face the disconnect between existing workflows and the changing demands of modern healthcare, pursuing automation capabilities becomes a necessity.”
Automation, meanwhile, will drive efficiency, from AI-driven diagnostics and robotic process automation in patient intake to smart scheduling systems that optimize staff allocation. Tangible ROI and better workforce utilization will drive adoption of these technologies.”
Venkatgiri Vandali, president of healthcare and life sciences at Firstsource
Venkatgiri Vandali, president of healthcare and life sciences at Firstsource, a transformational technology and services provider for healthcare and other industries, sees more progress from generative AI.
“Healthcare organizations will create intelligent new stakeholder experiences using generative AI capabilities to drive greater utility from their data stores. AI’s ability to identify trends and patterns for individuals will result in personalized recommendations.”
GenAI, meanwhile, will be able to analyze clinical history and demographic and social determinants data, “and recommend health plans tailored to the person's likely needs,” he added. “Expect healthcare organizations to use genAI to make patient and member surveys more fluid, with questions changing in real time based on answers.
“Look for organizations that can use genAI to create personalized care plans and patient education plans based on that data. More comprehensive and accurate data should lead to earlier interventions and better health and process outcomes.”
Brad Marsh, executive vice president of government health security and technology at First Health Advisory
Brad Marsh, executive vice president of government health security and technology at First Health Advisory, a digital health insurance company, sees fundamental shifts in where patients receive care.
“The continued increase in ransomware and other hacking events impacting healthcare systems has created an untenable reality for healthcare organizations and patients themselves.
“We often hear about burnout among doctors. But in 2024, driven by the perception of better care, the fatigue of the past decade will push patients to pay more for healthcare, to the healthcare systems that are able to pay for effective cybersecurity. This The migration of patients and funds will widen the already large gap between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots'.”
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