Why the Tech Industry Needs 15–30 Years to Achieve Healthcare Literacy
The integration of technology into healthcare promises to revolutionize patient care, operational efficiency, and medical research. However, the journey for the tech industry to become truly literate in healthcare is a complex and extended process, likely spanning 15 to 30 years or more. This timeline reflects the intricate and multifaceted nature of healthcare systems, as well as the substantial differences between the tech and healthcare industries.
1. Complexity of Healthcare Systems
Healthcare is an exceptionally complex field, encompassing a wide range of disciplines including medicine, pharmacology, biology, and public health. Understanding these areas requires a deep, nuanced comprehension that goes beyond basic technological proficiency.
- World Economic Forum emphasizes that healthcare systems are not only intricate but also constantly evolving. The integration of new technologies must align with regulatory standards, ethical considerations, and the diverse needs of patients and healthcare providers.
2. Regulatory and Ethical Considerations
Healthcare is one of the most regulated industries, with stringent guidelines to ensure patient safety and data privacy. Technologists must navigate regulations such as HIPAA in the U.S. and GDPR in Europe, which govern the handling of patient data.
- McKinsey’s analysis of scalable healthcare solutions highlights the necessity for tech professionals to understand and comply with these regulations to develop solutions that are both effective and legally compliant.
3. Educational and Professional Development
Becoming literate in healthcare requires extensive education and training. Many healthcare professionals spend years gaining the necessary qualifications and experience to practice safely and effectively.
- USC’s Health Administration Degree program underscores the depth of knowledge required to manage and innovate within healthcare settings. For health tech companies, similar levels of experience, education and training in healthcare-related fields will be essential.
4. Cultural and Operational Differences
The cultures of the tech and healthcare industries are fundamentally different. Tech industries often prioritize rapid innovation and disruption, while healthcare prioritizes safety, efficacy, and patient welfare.
- World Economic Forum points out that successful integration of technology in healthcare will require a cultural shift within tech companies to prioritize patient outcomes and align with the slower, more cautious pace of healthcare innovation.
5. Integration of Interdisciplinary Knowledge
Effective healthcare solutions require an interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from technology, medicine, biology, and public health. Developing this integrated knowledge base is a time-consuming process.
- McKinsey notes that scalable healthcare solutions must be built on a foundation of interdisciplinary collaboration, which takes time to develop and refine.
6. Building Trust and Credibility
Trust is paramount in healthcare. Patients and providers need to trust that new technologies will improve outcomes without compromising safety or privacy. Building this trust takes time and consistent, proven knowledge.
- USC emphasizes that trust and credibility are built over years of reliable, ethical practice and are crucial for the acceptance of new technologies in healthcare.
Conclusion
The tech industry has a long road ahead to achieve true healthcare literacy. This journey, spanning at least 15 to 30 years, will involve significant investments in education, regulatory compliance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cultural adaptation. By understanding the complexities of healthcare and working closely with healthcare professionals, healthcare native tech companies can develop solutions that are both innovative and deeply attuned to the needs of patients and providers.
Call to Action
For all companies, the path forward involves:
- Tech native companies should limit their work and focus on where they can win for healthcare clients, only in the specific 6 areas outlined here.
- Only healthcare native companies specifically should engage with healthcare regulations and ethical standards.
- Only healthcare native companies specifically should build interdisciplinary teams that include healthcare experts.
- Only healthcare native companies specifically can and should continue prioritizing patient outcomes and safety in all technological innovations.
The ideal path to building a company where tech works for healthcare involves strategic planning, integrating innovative technology, and ensuring scalable operations, as supported by industry best practices and expert analyses. McKinsey’s analysis on scalable healthcare solutions and the World Economic Forum’s insights on digital health transformation emphasize the importance of these elements in achieving success in the healthcare technology market .
By following this path, companies can significantly reduce the time needed to achieve operational efficiency and market readiness. Medigram, by meticulously planning and preparing in these areas can save own organization and client organizations operational time and resources compared to companies that do not follow this kind of approach. This efficiency allows Medigram to focus more on innovation and patient care, aligning with the optimal practices for successful healthcare technology development.
About Sherri Douville: Sherri Douville is a recognized leader at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Ranked among the top 0.00105% on Crunchbase, placing her at 788 out of 75 million profiles. Her strategic insights and leadership are shaping the future of healthcare IT and digital health, emphasizing patient-centric innovation and market leading AI and full stack regulatory strategy.
Sources:
- World Economic Forum, “Digital Transformation in Healthcare”
- McKinsey & Company, “The Future of Healthcare: Scalable Solutions”
- University of Southern California. “Health Administration Degree.”
