The past couple of years have been disruptive for every industry, but the healthcare industry, in particular, has been forced to navigate a lot of changes and challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now, there are a number of healthcare trends that have since been put into motion that are poised to have a growing impact on the industry moving forward into the second half of 2022.
To help you position your healthcare facility for future success, let’s take a look at the top four healthcare trends of 2022 that you should be following.
Trend #1: Telehealth
Telehealth services were growing in popularity before the COVID-19 pandemic ever began, offering benefits such as making healthcare more accessible to underserved communities and allowing patients to choose whatever provider they wish regardless of their location. Once the pandemic began to necessitate the need for social distancing between providers and their patients, though, the popularity of telehealth started to surge.
In fact, an April 2021 survey revealed that 64% of US households used a telehealth service at least once during the past twelve months. As patients and providers alike begin to realize the advantages of telehealth services, it doesn’t appear that the trend toward telehealth is going to slow down anytime soon. This means that tackling the challenges associated with telehealth such as securing confidential information that is shared online, preventing fraud, and optimizing telehealth technology will be key goals for the healthcare industry moving forward.
Trend #2: Continued Emphasis on Combating COVID-19
To the average person, the COVID-19 pandemic may feel all but over. The healthcare workers who have seen the worst of its destruction since the beginning, though, know that this is not true.
There was a time when we hoped that COVID-19 could someday be completely eradicated much like the poliovirus was in the 1970s. However, the rate at which COVID-19 mutates has since made it clear that complete eradication might never be possible.
While vaccines have gone a long way to reduce death and hospitalizations due to the virus, combating COVID-19 will remain an important healthcare focus throughout 2022 and into the foreseeable future beyond.
Trend #3: An Increased Focus on Mental Health
More and more, the medical community has come to embrace the idea that mental health and physical health are ultimately inseparable. This increased focus on the importance of mental health comes at a time when the country is, by all definitions, in the midst of a mental health crisis.
Numerous studies have showcased the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the United States, and the results are concerning. According to data from KFF, for example, 40% of US adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic – up 10% from pre-pandemic figures. Loneliness and boredom due to social distancing combined with fear and worry about the virus and its impact on society have created the perfect recipe for depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders at a time when mental illness was already on the rise. This makes it more important than ever before for the healthcare industry to treat mental illness with the seriousness it deserves.
Trend #4: Clinical Burnout Will Continue to be an Issue
Between increased demand for healthcare professionals combined with labor shortages that have affected every industry, nurses and physicians in 2022 continue to work longer and longer hours just to keep up. These factors have made clinical burnout a real issue, with 42% of physicians reporting feeling burned out according to a 2021 Medscape report. In the future, technological solutions designed to reduce a provider’s administrative burden will play a key role in mitigating clinical burnout.
How Bikham Healthcare is Preparing Practices for Future Healthcare Trends
At Bikham Healthcare, we understand the numerous challenges that healthcare providers and facilities continue to face in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we are proud to partner with healthcare facilities across the country to offer services designed to help them overcome these challenges. With Bikham Healthcare’s industry-leading enrollment, credentialing, and RCM services, you can reduce your staff’s administrative burden while at the same time improving your practice’s bottom line. To learn more about how Bikham Healthcare can help ensure that your practice is prepared for all the future holds in store, be sure to contact us today!
