Health

7 Things to Know About the Future of Healthcare Post-Pandemic

Global healthcare systems have undergone irreversible change due to the COVID-19 outbreak. We transition into the post-pandemic era. There will be several major developments that will influence the future of healthcare. This article will examine seven noteworthy innovations. Innovations that will reshape healthcare in the years ahead.

These developments deal with the quick uptake of telemedicine. It covers the increased attention on public health infrastructure. And it shows a paradigm shift in the way we approach and provide healthcare. This will have a tremendous effect on patient care and medical research. It will influence the general health and well-being of communities around the world. It will become clear as we examine them in more detail.

healthcare telemedicine

The Rise of Telemedicine

The COVID-19 epidemic has led to an exponential increase in the use of telemedicine. Especially between 2019 and 2020, the number of virtual medical consultations increased 46 times. Telehealth was gaining popularity before the epidemic, although it encountered difficulties with deployment and reimbursement.

During COVID-19, laws and reimbursement guidelines were shortly relaxed. This allowed telemedicine to gain widespread popularity in healthcare systems. To maintain its benefits, addressing regulations and ensuring fairness is vital.

With the rapid growth of Medical CPT codes like 99453, 99454, and 99457 used for remote monitoring services, this indicates the rise of preventive digital health solutions. CPT code lookup tools now make it easier for both patients and providers to identify and utilize relevant virtual care codes.

Patients can get help from telehealth in many ways, including increased accessibility. It’s also known for its ease of use and can lead to reduced expenses. Furthermore, telehealth offers the capacity for patients to get high-quality care from the comfort of their own homes. It provides for more effective workflows, enables the ability to scale up care delivery, and allows for remote monitoring of chronic illnesses for physicians. Research indicates that patients of all demographics are very satisfied with telemedicine services.

But we now enter the post-pandemic age, and a few significant telemedicine-related issues still exist:

Payment Uncertainty: The COVID-19-introduced temporary waivers for telehealth coverage may expire, which could affect revenue. For widespread use, more precise reimbursement guidelines are essential.
Technology Gaps: In many areas, the infrastructure for telehealth is still underdeveloped due to a lack of broadband access and integration capabilities with electronic health records. Providers must make investments in telemedicine technologies that are easy to use and interoperable.
Obstacles to the User Experience: Poor virtual doctor-patient interactions can be problematic, and the absence of physical examinations is another concern. Additionally, technical issues can also have a detrimental effect on telehealth encounters. We must apply design thinking to improve engagement.
Difficulties with Care Coordination: Inadequate coordination may result in disjointed care between virtual and in-person services. Organizations must improve telehealth integration with broader care systems.

Healthcare organizations should focus on continuous improvement of their telemedicine capabilities, including the implementation of coordinated care models and bidirectional data flows. They must ensure the presence of skilled clinicians.

These steps, combined with the use of CPT code lookup tools to streamline remote monitoring services and billing processes, can enhance the quality and effectiveness of telehealth services, leading to better patient care in the evolving landscape of healthcare. The post-pandemic era adopts blended models, with one that combines in-person and virtual treatment likely to become the standard.

healthcare telemedicine

Healthcare Infrastructure and Preparedness

COVID-19 revealed flaws in the global healthcare system. Going forward, it will be imperative to make investments in surge capacity. And also consider supply chain resilience, and disaster preparedness. We need a strong system for exchanging data between the public and business sectors. This can improve readiness for pandemics. Governments must also address the socioeconomic determinants of health. They must increase access to healthcare, and lower costs. To withstand future outbreaks, healthcare systems must be egalitarian and resilient.

Shift Towards Preventive Care

The pandemic highlighted the value of preventive care. This was because postponed treatments had a negative impact on health. Wellness-promoting lifestyle adjustments, early screening, and immunizations will become more common. Including remote patient monitoring. For example, there have already been new vaccine campaigns. There are also cancer screening programs, and chronic illness management initiatives launched. Population health and prevention must also be top priority in healthcare systems.

There is a renewed emphasis on preventive care. It is also driving the adoption of remote patient monitoring technologies. These allow providers to track key health metrics like blood pressure, heart rate, etc. It enables early interventions when needed.

Mental Health Takes Center Stage

The pandemic’s effects on mental health have been profound. It has aggravated pre-existing issues and ignited brand-new ones. Frontline workers are struggling with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and fatigue. In all populations, social isolation has led to a rise in drug misuse and suicide thoughts. It has also increased domestic violence.

But even before COVID, mental healthcare facilities were beset by a lack of workers. They also struggled with insufficient funding. Although about 60% of Americans do not get treatment, and 1 in 5 suffer from mental illness. Shame is still a major obstacle. Since the epidemic has overwhelmed current services, there must be immediate action.

Going forward, healthcare policies must focus on mental wellbeing alongside physical health. Some strategies include:

Integrating mental health services into primary and community care settings
Promoting early screening, especially in high-risk groups
Expanding access to mental healthcare through telemedicine and community partnerships
Reducing stigma by raising awareness and promoting wellness conversations
Increasing mental health funding, workforce training, and supportive housing initiatives
Enabling employee wellness programs focused on building resilience

Addressing the pandemic’s mental health fallout requires a whole-of-society approach. An approach combining healthcare, government, nonprofit, and business efforts. Imagine a comprehensive public health strategy. One that integrates mental health promotion across social and institutional realms. This will be instrumental in managing this parallel pandemic.

Decentralization of Healthcare Services

Overburdened hospitals highlighted the need to diversify care settings. Ambulatory, home-based, and community care models will rise, improving access and outcomes. For instance, policy changes now enable more services to shift to retail clinics. They also shift to urgent care centers, and telemedicine. Decentralized care specialized services, alongside robust primary care networks, will define the future.

Innovations in Medical Technology

COVID-19 spurred healthcare innovation, accelerating telemedicine, vaccine development, and data analytics. Investments in emerging technologies like AI, IoMT, and robotics will continue growing. Precision medicine and genomic sequencing will enable personalized diagnoses and treatments. Regulations and interoperability frameworks must evolve in tandem to maximize these technologies’ impact.

Healthcare Policy and Universal Access

The pandemic showcased healthcare’s critical role as a public good. But it requires coordinated policy responses. It reinvigorated debates around universal healthcare. Policymakers must address coverage gaps, service access, and social barriers to seeking care. Comprehensive primary care and fair financing models are important. These including strong public health systems will be instrumental to democratizing healthcare access.

FAQs on the Future of Healthcare Post-Pandemic

How will the role of healthcare professionals evolve in the post-pandemic era?

Healthcare professionals will likely take on more diverse roles. They will emphasize preventive care and community outreach. There will be more focus on mental health support. All these concerns will add to their traditional responsibilities.

Will telemedicine replace in-person consultations?

Telemedicine will play a significant role. But in-person consultations will remain crucial for certain treatments, procedures, and patient populations.

How will the global healthcare community ensure better preparedness for future pandemics?

Enhanced global collaboration and investment in research will emerge. And robust healthcare infrastructures are some measures to prevent future healthcare crises.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an inflection point for global healthcare. It has prompted unprecedented changes and challenges. We now move into the post-pandemic era. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of international collaboration and data sharing.

The pandemic has shown us that health crises transcend borders. A collective response is vital to safeguarding global health. By continuing to work together we can share knowledge and navigate the current challenges. It can also prepare us for future health threats.

The lessons learned from this pandemic underscore the need for solidarity and cooperation. We need a resilient and patient-centric healthcare system. One that can withstand the uncertainties of tomorrow.

Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP