The medical trend includes changes in the unit costs of medical services or procedures, changes in the prices of medical providers, changes in utilization (other than those due to old age), changes in medical costs, and new medical procedures and technologies. Health policy, the way doctors can provide care to patients, and the use of technology in all aspects of medicine have been completely transformed in the past two years. For a long time, technology has paved the way for fewer routine in-person and slow interactions with a care provider, but, with the onset of the pandemic, it has become omnipresent in checkups, consultations, and even mental health treatments. Just a few decades ago, it wasn't possible to make video calls with your doctor.
Now, most doctor offices offer telehealth options for patients who prefer to meet by video or phone call. It's one of the fastest-growing integrations in the health landscape and won't go away immediately after COVID. AI and healthcare searches increased by 360% in the last 5 years. And while 23andMe has reported a drop in sales, it probably has more to do with those kits becoming a basic product than a lack of interest in the product.
In fact, the number of monthly Google searches for the phrase DNA kit has increased by 186% in the last 10 years. Searches for Oura Ring have grown rapidly (by 2433% in 5 years) as more people adopt wearable technology. With more than 100 million active Apple Watch users, Apple also had access to incredible amounts of medical data. With more than 400,000 participants, the study was the largest of its kind.
While 23andMe shared genetic data on 5 million of its customers with the drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. Telehealth searches increased at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is still higher than pre-pandemic levels. The same survey revealed that 57% would like a remote monitoring option for current health problems.
And that 52% would choose virtual care for routine appointments. Even for diagnosing diseases, 42% of consumers would definitely or probably choose a virtual option if given the opportunity. With 71.6 million members of the baby boomer generation in the United States retiring or about to retire, the demands on the health system will undoubtedly increase. Global Google searches for forest bathing increased by 106% in 5 years.
There are approximately 9,300 urgent care centers in the U.S. UU. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. This trend is becoming an increasingly visible trend, as retailers such as Walmart, Amazon and CVS offer health care services, such as blood tests, vaccines and medical checkups, which have traditionally been offered by hospitals, clinics or doctors' offices.
While technology (such as automation, analytics and EHR) puts more power in the hands of consumers, it optimizes medical device supply chains and makes medical professionals more effective. These walk-in medical clinics offer after-hours medical care for issues that are urgent but not life-threatening.
