The world of medical technology (MedTech) is continuously evolving. The innovations give healthcare organizations and patients access to higher-quality, cutting-edge advancements that simplify treatment, improve outcomes, and support better patient management. As with any technical field, new trends regularly emerge, often with surprising speed. Additionally, a substantial number become incredibly relevant in the healthcare field in surprisingly short order. Whether you’re a medical professional who wants to stay up-to-date or a medical interpreter or translator aiming to remain current in the field, here’s a look at the 2023 MedTech trends to watch.
2023 MedTech Trends to Watch
The Continued Rise of Telemedicine and Hybrid Care
During COVID-19 lockdowns, healthcare facilities had to find alternatives to traditional patient care to support the broad needs of patients while reducing risk. While telemedicine wasn’t technically new, its use expanded dramatically. By connecting with patients remotely, it was possible to provide care without running the risk of spreading or contracting COVID.
While most people are returning to a more normal way of living, telemedicine remains part of the equation. It’s particularly popular for treatments that don’t require a person’s physical presence to diagnose, as well as for mental health counseling.
However, there’s also a shift in the equation. Hybrid care combines in-office and remote elements. It makes face-to-face appointments part of the solution while adding the convenience of phone or video conferencing for times when in-person appointments aren’t necessary. Along with working well for busy patients, hybrid care reduces costs and increases efficiency for healthcare providers, so expect these strategies to remain popular in 2023 and beyond.
Increase Used of Home-Based Monitoring Devices
Thanks to the continuing development of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) medical devices, home-based monitoring is increasingly popular. Generally, these solutions involve wearables that connect to smartphones via Bluetooth, rely on Wi-Fi connectivity, or use similar data service-related approaches to relay information to healthcare providers.
The benefit of home-based monitoring is multi-fold. First, it’s convenient for patients where long appointments in healthcare facilities are disruptive, and the approach is often more comfortable than staying in a facility. Second, it supports monitoring patients as they go through typical days, providing data that isn’t always capturable due to the conditions of office visits. Finally, they can help keep healthcare facility costs down and could create space for additional patient appointments, leading to improved efficiency.
IoMT devices also support long-term monitoring. For patients with chronic conditions that require a degree of vigilance, that can assist them with determining the effectiveness of treatment or effectively using immediate intervention medications. Additionally, healthcare providers are alerted to every relevant incident, and are able to review ongoing data to track patient progress, ensuring treatments are working as intended and more.
As wearables become more advanced, the number of use cases for them will likely rise. As a result, expect home-based monitoring to grow in popularity in 2023.
Rapid Adoption of 3D Printed Solutions
Initially, 3D printing wasn’t viable due to the high cost of acquiring the printers. However, in the years since their development, the price of 3D printers has fallen into more reasonable ranges. Additionally, the reliability of outputs improved, leading to a greater exploration of how the technology could benefit the medical community and patients.
With 3D printers, medical professionals can create custom solutions for specific patient needs on the spot. One example is splints, as many are made of plastics. However, the possible applications go far beyond that, potentially becoming practical for the development of orthotics, prosthetics, surgical implants, or other devices where custom fits make a difference.
A benefit of 3D printing is that it can alleviate supply chain issues. As long as the correct filaments are available, healthcare facilities can create the medical devices they need on demand. Plus, it’s often more cost-efficient than some traditional manufacturing approaches, which can lead to a significant savings for providers and patients alike.
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When you have the right medical interpreters and translators by your side, you receive exceptional results at all times. If you need a top-tier language services provider, Acutrans is a dependable, professional solution. Contact us for a free quote today.