Top Healthtech Trends and How They Are Affecting the Jobs Market

One of the biggest impacts technology has made is in the healthcare sector. New technology has contributed to significant change in patient health, effective care services and contributed to influential research. Alongside this, Healthtech has a growing demand for tech specialists to join these projects and help drive transformation forward.

In this article I explore the current trends within Healthtech and the tech specialist roles that have grown within these key areas: 

• Big Data & AI (Artificial Intelligence)

• AR and VR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality)

• Digital transformation

• Preventative Healthtech 

• Cyber security

Big Data & AI (Artificial Intelligence) 

AI is shaking things up in the technology landscape, with its endless capabilities, so there’s no surprise that organisations are wondering how they can utilise it. As a part of Big Data, this area of technology is influencing organisations in making data-driven decisions usingaccurate and reliable data insights. 

This year, the UK government announced that £13 million will go towards funding AI health research, including multiple public sector organisations, to revolutionise healthcare treatment. One example is how the University of Surrey received funding towards radiologists developing AI technology to improve the mammogram analysis process.

• Drug discovery & production

Big Data and AI has particularly made change in drug discovery and production, identifying patterns in the generation of insights, and uncovering new recommendations for treatment. Alongside this, administrative tasks led by AI paves a way for automated process, improving diagnosis, accuracy and turnaround time. Tempus Labs has been leading the way in transforming cancer treatment with AI –  their programme can identify personalised patterns and trends that may not be apparent to the human eye, identifying the most effective course of treatment.

• Data insights

AI has made changes in Healthtech by introducing automation, create effective algorithms and increasing data accuracy. Data analytics can lead to cost-saving decisions, quicker diagnosis, better communication between health departments which all lead to better quality patient care. For instance, Abacus Insights offers data management solutions forhealthcare organisations to transformand leverage their data capabilities. 

Healthtech jobs in AI: AI specialists and clinical informatics specialists

Whilst AI and Big Data brings excitement to healthcare organisations and how they might use their data, AI is argued to still be in its infancy. AI Specialists are in higher demand on the jobs market to assist organisations in their AI prospects and see the development of these programmes, as shown by an increase in AI-related jobs by 250% from 2021 to 2023.Clinical Informatics Specialists have also been on the rise to translate, transform and make sense of clinical Big Data.

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Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Healthtech has taken a creative and futuristic turn, with AR and VR. ARallows users to still have the visual image of the real world in front of them, with enhanced virtual details. VR holds a fully-immersive experience where users are taken into a completely virtual visual environment. 

• Assisted procedures

AR and VR has seen development of Healthtech programmes and products such as headsets and glasses allowing for greater efficiency, accuracy, personalisation and safer care.AR has shaped how we can use this form of technology when performing surgeries or wound assistance. 2021 saw neurosurgeons perform the first AR surgery for a spinal fusion procedure with use of a headset that projected images of the patients internal anatomy for ‘x-ray’ vision. Similarly, VR can train surgeons on future procedures where they can practice in a safe virtual environment. 

• Education and training

VR also plays on its immersive advantage by allowing medical professionals to learn more about their patients, i.e. mimicking a patient’s sight loss for doctors to understand its affect.

AR can providea more educative purpose for patients to understand their diagnosis, or even assist in the diagnosis where patients can compare their symptoms to conditions they might visualise on AR glasses. Alongside this, AR can also provide training through live-streamingwhere trainees can visualise patient consultations or surgeries for a more immersive experience. 

Healthtech jobs in AR/VR: Software Developers (AR/VR Developers)

Whilst software developers have been on the rise from 2021, the AR/VR Developer niche specialist roles have been growing in demand, with the European AR/VR market expected to grow at an average annual rate of 35% each year. 

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Digital transformation

Covid-19 made a significant impact to Heathcare, with organisations making huge efforts early in the pandemic for healthcare accessibility through Telehealth. As part of a wider digital transformation, healthcare organisations are seeing a huge benefit to digitalising their services for further accessibility. 

• Digital accessibility tools

Telehealth services have been developed for remote consultations and patient portals. A particular example was the NHS app during the pandemic, allowing the public to book appointments, viewhealth records, order repeat prescriptions and general support without the need for calling a local GP or pharmacy.Patients could still be diagnosed, health monitored and receive follow ups after treatments, with the support of healthcare providers such asDoctor Care and AccuRx. 

Healthcare-provider Cera is Europe’s largest provider of digital-first home healthcare, which home visits from Cera’s nurses and carers update patients' health data via the Cera App. Last month, Cera is predicted to save the NHS £100 million through the reduction of hospital wait times. Telehealth post pandemic ultimately offers a better-quality patience service experience.

• EPR (Electronic Patient Records)

Healthtech has also seen the digitalisation of databases and medical records in healthcare, with NHS trusts currently ahead of its target of 90% of trusts having an EPR by December 2023. EPR systems provide a quick and easy, and paper-less access to patient data, reducing administrative tasks. In the long term, improving the speed and accuracy of diagnoses whilst giving accurate and up-to-date patient data.

Healthtech jobs in digital transformation: IT Engineers 

Currently, there has been a general increase of IT Engineers working with healthcare providers to develop digital systems, monitoring and upgrading platforms. Cloud Engineers are also advantageous in assisting in digital transformations and have been in demand for cloud migrations in EPR projects. As one of the fastest growing jobs, Cloud engineers currently have a growth in demand by 30% year on year.

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Wellbeing technology

Wellbeing technology reflects preventative Health Tech methods, that can personalise care through nutritional, dietary and blood monitoring. The aim is to improve long term health, preventing patients from future diseases or medical conditions

• Personalised Health

Some recent companies that have grown in Healthtech include ZOE, a personalised nutrition company which analyses unique gut, blood fat and blood sugar responses, as well as Oviva; a trusted NHS provider using digital tools to create a personalised healthcare programme. 

• Mental health

Other than physical wellbeing, there has also been a wider impact and importance placed in mental health wellbeing, where Healthtech has also placed a focus on wellbeing programmes such as MyMynd for personalised wellness tools and 1-1 support services. 

Healthtech jobs in wellbeing technology: Software Development and UX/UI Designers

Many of these tools look at a personalised experience which places value on apps which people can access through their mobile or laptop devices. As we have discussed, Software Developers are in demand to support the development of these applications. Although with applications, UX/UI has seen a huge rise in demand for designers. UX/UI designers improve customer satisfaction and experience and making sure applications are user-friendly, especially for older users. 

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Cyber security 

Across this blog, it's clear to see that Healthtech has been massively embraced in digitalisation, innovation, automation, and improvement of patient service access. With the growth and development of these areas, cyber security plays a high importance in protecting patient data, protecting the technical landscape, with disruption also affecting patient care. The wider relianceh on technology only means a wider risk in cyberattacks. There are multiple ways as to how organisations can place further control in preventing attacks. 

• Policies - There are a number of policies or mechanisms that organisations are required to implement, such as GDPR, Cyber Essentials and the DSP Toolkit, as a standard to demonstrate that they have security control in place. 

• Security procedures - Organisations are required tomonitorand implement best practice,with particular processes or controls to monitor security and develop resilience of systems. This can include penetration testing to find weaknesses in the system.

• Training - A common threat for organisations is phishing, where hackers have the potential to trick users through clicking links. Training is implemented in healthcare organisations where employees can feel confident when using systems, devices and accessing servers. 

Healthtech jobs in cyber security: Cyber Security Engineers and Information Security Analysts

Healthcare organisations have been developing in-house teams for monitoring and response such as Cyber Security Engineers and Information Security Analysts. As one of the most targeted sectors, these roles are highly valuable and in demand for healthcare organisations to ensure protection of patient data and technical infrastructure.

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Considering working in public sector and healthcare organisations?  

At Gravitas, we work with a number of NHS trusts and healthcare organisations. Explore our current public sector organisation jobs here.