Patients are more involved with their healthcare than ever before. There are many factors behind this increased involvement, including the increasing use of mobile and telehealth tools as well as other healthcare communication technologies. By improving collaboration among patients, providers and clinicians, these solutions improve patient engagement and outcomes, all while streamlining care.

For many years, technologists and healthcare providers have made great strides in applying IT to patient care. The healthcare industry has successfully deployed solutions ranging from large-scale electronic record systems to personal, connected devices that monitor people’s vital signs. But until recently, the industry hadn’t gotten far in applying technology to improve the in-person patient experience. For most of us, sitting in an exam room waiting our turn with the doctor, for example, has been the same throughout our lives.

Increasingly, healthcare companies are using VR for multiple purposes, including to treat anxiety and even manage pain — here’s how.

It’s no secret that the U.S. population is aging. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau notes that by the year 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65. At that point, 1 out of every 5 U.S. residents will be of retirement age. This trend poses serious challenges for healthcare providers, who will be…

I’m currently working with a healthcare organization that is attempting to design the “hospital of the future.” It’s no surprise that this organization is adopting IT solutions to optimize patient care, but the hospital is spending just as much time and energy on improving the clinician experience. Why? For one, the hospital is trying to…

When patients are hospitalized, doctors track their blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen level and half a dozen other metrics. Some hospitals do a better job than others of using this data to arrive at real-time medical insights, but at least the information is available. When patients leave the hospital, however, their doctors often receive…

Collaboration offers tremendous benefits to healthcare. Healthcare is, after all, inherently collaborative. Doctors, nurses and other clinical staff all constantly collaborate to ensure that patients receive proper care. When this goes well, patients get quality care at a lower cost. When it doesn’t, care suffers and costs go up.