Digitalisation in the healthcare sector – great white hope or a hopelessly complex project?

Digitalisation is revolutionising healthcare. Thus, doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies have the opportunity to rethink health. The faster exchange and cross-linking of patient data provides the basis for new, innovative types and successes of therapy. Nevertheless, digitalisation of medicine also entails risks. Taking into account opportunities and risks in equal measure and developing appropriate solutions will be one of the mammoth tasks of the coming years.

Digitalisation not only changes industries – it also changes us.

We expect a lot from the opportunities and simplifications that the advancing digitalisation of the healthcare system will bring: Leaner processes, more transparency and better communication between health care protagonists and patients.

In order to meet those expectations, however, a fundamental reorientation of the supply chain must be considered, according to the Mutaree Change Barometer for the healthcare industry, that was carried out in cooperation with Dr. Martina Oldhafer, Head of Change-Management at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein. The study “Challenges of the Healthcare Industry 2017 – 2021” records the greatest challenges facing the industry: Growing cost pressure (95 percent), dealing with increasing regulatory and legal requirements (93 percent), digitalisation (89 percent) and increasing demands on the retention of talent (84 percent).

According to respondents, those challenges will intensify significantly by 2021. “The industry needs comprehensive change processes that go far beyond the implementation of conventional measures. We have to change our views fundamentally and turn several adjustment screws simultaneously, otherwise our personnel- and cost-intensive industry will fail due to its financial viability or lack of professionals,” explains Dr. Oldhafer. Although rising cost pressure is a major factor, the study states that cost reduction alone is not enough. Accordingly, there is a need for action in other areas as well. This includes the need for professionals in all medical sectors. Thus, 36 percent of the study participants are of the opinion that they are by no means prepared for the increasing demands and the retention of talents. Many institutions also feel inadequately prepared for the growing needs of patients. Cost reduction programmes alone are not enough to ensure sustainable health care.

On the contrary, the health sector will, in future, also require the ability to change and agility. “Traditional mindsets and thinking patterns still dominate the industry,” says Claudia Schmidt, Managing Director of Mutaree GmbH. “But now it is more than urgent to tackle the necessary changes in order to establish a sustainable healthcare system.“

Patients are key drivers of digitalisation and offer additional opportunities for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals

A recent survey conducted in cooperation between Statista and the Deutsche Apotheker- und Ärztebank shows that 72 percent of patients inform themselves about symptoms online. Almost one third visits the doctor’s website before their first visit, in the so-called Generation Y the figure is 44 percent.

Referenz für die Grafik: https://de.statista.com/infografik/14053/digitalisierung-im-gesundheitsmarkt—was-patienten-sich-wuenschen/

If the protagonists succeed optimally in responding to the wishes of patients, there will be a multitude of promising opportunities to reposition and assume a leading position in the markets. 

360 degrees – Holistic changes without going round in circles

In order for digitalisation to be used successfully as the great white hope and not to end up as a hopelessly complex project, it is necessary that we move – internally and in terms of content – and also rethink our approaches to projects.

Processes, corporate structures, management styles and approaches must become more agile. The aim is to change, reflect and further develop perspectives. Sound project management, continuous executive and personnel development, task-compliant, individually assembled teams and skills provide the basis for effective solutions and answers to the questions and topics of digitalisation in the healthcare sector.

Find out more about this and the individual implementation options – let us talk about it.

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