The Health System of the Future: How Digital Health Technology is Transforming Care

It might seem that health care systems and challenges are local and unique, but there are more similarities than differences.¹ Throughout the world, health care systems struggle with affordability, inequitable health care access, uneven outcomes, and increasing demand for services from growing populations with longer life spans.

Health information and digital technologies can help meet these challenges, support population health goals, improve consumer experience, and drive insights into health conditions. We found examples of public and private programs with demonstrated results that offer creative approaches to common problems or lessons for others. In doing so, we begin to see some of the possible features and capabilities for a health system of the future.

Our research found support for Deloitte’s view of the future of health,² that health care of the future will be different from today in three distinct ways:

• Focus on prevention and well-being. With improvements in early diagnosis, technologies to fix health care problems even before they become problems, and the application of behavioral economics to motivate engagement, care will shift to prevention and well-being. We will move away from the concept of “health care.” Instead, health will be seen as a broader notion that incorporates related concepts of mental, financial, and spiritual well-being. Furthermore, care will be organized around consumers’ needs (as opposed to health care organizations’ needs) and most care delivery will take place outside of health care facilities, in people’s homes, work, school, and in the community.
  • This theme is particularly prominent in case studies from India (ReMiND project) and Chile (AccuHealth). A basic mHealth application has elevated community health worker performance and contributed to significant improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes in India’s rural communities. And a combination of remote monitoring, artificial intelligence (AI), behavioral nudging, and nutritional and psychological support has improved quality of life for people with chronic conditions in Chile.
• Interoperable data and platforms. This will give patients, clinicians, and caregivers real-time insights to help with decisions about prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Decision-support tools will improve care efficiency and effectiveness: Technology will relieve clinicians of most administrative tasks, aid with diagnosis and treatment, and provide additional safety checks.
  • We have included five promising examples of data and platforms. National health information technology (HIT) platforms in Estonia, the Netherlands, and Australia have laid the foundation for patient control over their health information and for interoperable and secure data exchange among providers. Two examples hospital systems, from the United States (Geisinger) and Israel (Sheba), boast large improvements in quality and efficiency through traditional analytics and AI.
• Consumer engagement and empowerment. We expect a shift in consumer attitudes and behaviors toward greater engagement in one’s health. With full visibility into and control over their health information, consumers will be able to perform many activities that today require a clinician’s involvement. And technological tools tailored to consumers’ health goals, life stages, and lifestyles will help them look after themselves and their families.
  • Three case studies showcase the potential of consumer engagement in improving outcomes. The CANImmunize app enables Canadian consumers to manage vaccination schedules for their families and navigate complex vaccination requirements across provinces. Israel’s emergency response service (MDA) has built a suite of apps to match a user in an emergency with emergency response teams, trained volunteers able to reach the scene before the ambulance, and with other people who carry emergency medicines the consumer in emergency may need. And gamified e-therapy app (SPARX) helps improve emotional resilience among New Zealand youths with depression by teaching them how to apply learnings from the game to real-life situations.

Download the full report for access to case studies that inspire what the future of digitally enabled health care may look like, how organizations should prepare, and the role they can play in this future.

Innovation starts with insight and seeing challenges in a new way. Amid unprecedented uncertainty and change across the health care industry, stakeholders are looking for new ways to transform the journey of care. Our US Health Care practice helps clients transform uncertainty into possibility and rapid change into lasting progress. Comprehensive audit, advisory, consulting, and tax capabilities can deliver value at every step, from insight to strategy to action. Our people know how to anticipate, collaborate, innovate, and create opportunity from even the unforeseen obstacle.

Learn more at www.deloitte.com/future