Digital health developments in 2020 and beyond: What to expect

You don’t have to go far to hear patient experience horror stories, and more than a few would likely name clunky or insensitive tech as the major culprit of their tale. New tools and consumer-minded organizations are promising a change, meaning that hospitals must start moving faster to meet patients where they live, work and play — or risk losing market share to competitors that put their users first and foremost.

This month, our coverage will continue a special focus on the patient experience. We'll talk to the thought leaders and first-movers reimagining the how and where of patient-friendly tech, and report on ways to activate, if not delight, the people they treat.

As digital health puts power in the hands of patients, the nature of their role is shifting toward that of a healthcare consumer. What does this mean for patients? And how should industry stakeholders evolve to accommodate them?

For the month of April, we'll look at this trend from a variety of angles, including how hospitals, pharma organizations and payers can treat patients as customers, and how these healthcare consumers are cutting out traditional intermediaries through new D2C health and wellness businesses.

Now that the healthcare system is digitized, the table is set for a whole raft of innovation: Apps, devices, digital health software and services, APIs and information that is exchanged and actually useable.

But innovation doesn't just happen for technology's sake.

Instead, health IT executives must craft strategies to create a culture of innovation, absorb and operationalize ideas, determine which to pursue, fail or succeed, and deliver on high-level strategies. During June, Healthcare IT News and MobiHealthNews will interview experts, talk to thought leaders and glean insights about how to harness the cutting-edge, ideas in every corner of your healthcare organization.