Healthcare technology in 2024 was an inflection point of digital transformation, telehealth, and generative AI. The developments offer fixes to some of the biggest problems in the industry, but they also underscore the challenges of rolling out new technology during a faltering global economy.
With the healthcare landscape constantly changing, it is important for organizations to prepare by keeping track of innovations that will shape the future of the industry. Below, we delve into Top 6 Healthcare Technology Trends to Watch in 2025, exploring their potential to transform patient care, operational efficiency, and sustainability.
How can healthcare organizations stay ahead of emerging technology trends?
As healthcare continues to evolve, organizations need to focus on innovation, digital transformation, and adaptability as key differentiators in a constantly changing landscape to remain competitive. Legions of healthcare professionals who choose to engage with and adopt transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearables, and blockchain will elevate patient care, improve operational efficiencies, and solve future healthcare problems. It’s also important to adopt these technologies with addressing issues of security, data privacy and access.
Top 6 Healthcare Technology Trends to Watch in 2025
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The use of AI in healthcare is gaining traction, and generative AI is increasingly being included into routine procedures. Leaders in the healthcare industry are aware of its potential to solve important issues like enhancing health equity, cutting wait times, automating claims procedures, and preventing employee fatigue. There is no denying AI’s revolutionary influence on healthcare delivery.
More and more real-time patient data is being provided by large language models (LLMs), which facilitate accurate diagnosis, effective treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes. AI-driven technologies are currently used in the majority of healthcare settings to glean valuable insights from massive volumes of data.
Even if clinical prediction models are still evolving, we may anticipate a wider usage of AI in non-clinical applications in 2025, such as care documentation and administrative duties.
2. IoT-Enabled Wearable Devices
Patients typically go to clinics for yearly physicals or to address certain health issues. But as consumer-driven healthcare has grown, people now demand real-time health updates and preventive care.
In order to remotely monitor high-risk patients and identify any health problems early, healthcare organizations are making significant investments in wearable technology. By 2029, the market for wearable medical devices is expected to have grown from $41.8 billion in 2024 to $86.2 billion.
Popular gadgets that facilitate remote communication and care delivery include fitness trackers, smart wearables, glucose meters, ECG monitors, blood pressure monitors, and fitness trackers. It is anticipated that by 2025, virtual hospitals will be used more frequently, with a focus on preventive care rather than the treatment of chronic illnesses.
3. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
Although AI has been the talk of 2024, AR and VR technologies are subtly changing the medical field. AR/VR has the potential to revolutionize patient care, surgical techniques, and medical education when gadgets like Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Oculus III become more widely available.
By 2025, the worldwide AR/VR healthcare industry is projected to grow to a value of $5.1 billion. Pain management, surgical visualization, medical simulation, and mental health therapy are a few examples of applications. Notwithstanding privacy and security problems, AR/VR has the potential to become a significant trend in healthcare, possibly overtaking the current emphasis on generative AI.
4. Blockchain Technology
Since 2005, more than 11.5 billion medical records have been compromised, making patient data security more and more difficult. The efficiency and security of the current data storage and exchange systems are frequently compromised.
A decentralized, safe method of storing and exchanging medical data very instantly is provided by blockchain technology. Blockchain guarantees data security, access management, and fraud prevention, in contrast to conventional systems that are susceptible to hacking.
Blockchain-based medical record management solutions are already being tested in nations like Australia and the United Kingdom. Although widespread implementation is now restricted by strict U.S. rules, current research indicates that blockchain will eventually play a crucial role in enhancing electronic health records (EHRs).
5. Data Equity
Data equity is anticipated to become the primary focus of healthcare in 2025. Organizations must gather, evaluate, and apply data in an ethical and impartial manner as AI’s role in healthcare grows.
Health equity is now a top focus in the healthcare sector, which has moved from the Triple Aim to the Quintuple Aim. Businesses are striving to advance the moral use of AI and enhance data privacy.
Healthcare providers must adopt open ecosystems that dismantle data silos and guarantee interoperability in order to do this. Organizations can improve clinical workflows and results by addressing gaps in care quality and access. Additionally, open-source healthcare technologies will proliferate, fostering resilient and easily accessible healthcare systems.
6. Sustainability in Healthcare
About 30% of the world’s data is produced by the healthcare sector, which is expected to rise in volume by 36% annually until 2025. As a result, much like in other sectors like food and transportation, consumers are calling for more sustainable practices in the healthcare sector.
Healthcare institutions are incorporating waste management and decarbonization into their operations. Eco-friendly technology and carbon-free cloud solutions are examples of sustainable digital infrastructures quickly becoming crucial parts of long-term plans.
To improve health outcomes and lessen the environmental effect of healthcare, governments and health institutions will need to implement greener practices by 2025.
Conclusion
Healthcare organizations must embrace these innovations to stay competitive and deliver better care, but addressing issues like data equity, security, and sustainability will be crucial to fostering a more inclusive, efficient, and environmentally friendly healthcare environment. As we approach 2025, the healthcare industry is poised for remarkable transformation, driven by transformative technologies that promise to improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and create more sustainable practices. These innovations include the continued integration of artificial intelligence, wearable devices, augmented reality, and blockchain.
The adoption of these technologies will not only reshape healthcare delivery but also pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable world for everyone. Healthcare leaders can improve patient experience, unlock new growth opportunities, and create a future-ready industry by staying ahead of these trends.