Health Technology Predictions for 2025: Progress, Partnerships, and Patient Experience
December 19, 2024
The healthcare industry, despite its complexities and regulations, is poised for significant transformation in 2025 fueled by technological advancements. Unlike attempts by major consumer brands to improve healthcare through consumer strategies which often fail because patients are not products. The focus must remain on saving lives and improving health status, as opposed to selling consumer goods.
Three key health technology developments could redefine the sector:
Promise #1: Technological Advancements
Building on advancements in 2024, AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation are expected to drive significant improvements in staff productivity, diagnosis speed, and administrative processes. According to TruBridge consultant and health IT services provider executives, AI-powered automation in the healthcare revenue cycle alone could save $9.8 billion.
In 2024, AI has already reduced manual processes and battled payer denials. Another study by Sage Growth Partners indicates that AI will be used by 67% of respondents to prevent denials, 65% to automate clinical coding, and 51% to improve charge capture.
Real-time dashboards and data visualization analytics will further enhance these capabilities, and clinical AI will continue to be the top priority for most healthcare executives. For instance, one vendor, AdaptX, increased surgical capacity by 150,000 operating room minutes without additional staffing, and cardiologists at UCSD used AI to identify previously undiagnosed cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Promise #2: Strategic Health Partnerships
Mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations are anticipated to rise in 2025, driven by a business-friendly administration and the belief that no single company can do it all in the health sector. Providers are expanding and vendors are pursuing partnerships to fill capability gaps, leading to a surge in strategic alliances.
A notable example is the 2024 partnership between CereCore, a health IT management services firm, and FinThrive, a revenue cycle technology platform company, to evaluate technology adoption, identify investment needs, and benchmark performance in the healthcare revenue cycle. CereCore provides consulting expertise, while FinThrive focuses on technology selection and implementation.
Partnerships between large technology companies and rural healthcare providers are also expected to address traditional challenges. Microsoft and Google initiatives to help rural hospitals defend against cybersecurity attacks are valuable examples of these partnerships.
Promise #3: Enhanced Patient Experience
Health systems in 2025 will intensify their focus on improving patient experiences by mirroring consumer expectations. They are working diligently to mimic the consumer experience during every healthcare encounter. This includes front-end scheduling and registration, in-room conveniences, and post-discharge online payment options.
The 2024 Digital Health Most Wired Trends Report from CHIME reinforced the importance of patient experience and engagement. Smart room technology offers features like content streaming, video calls, and access to educational materials to give patients more control over their stay.
Virtual nurse support and evolving patient portals further support these improvements. Examples include TruBridge’s patient engagement solutions, MRO’s partnership with Banner Health and CereCore’s patient portal support services.
Hope for 2025: Will the Promises Come True?
While advancements promise significant improvements in cost reductions, operational efficiency, and patient outcomes, the realization of these promises remains to be determined.
To follow the developments and progress, please check out the FINN Voices podcast, with regular episodes available on the website and Healthcare NOW Radio.
