Health has dominated the headlines for the past year, and there has never been more interest in the way we access healthcare or look after our minds and bodies. Healthcare is one of the most intriguing industries, and it evolves continuously. In this guide, we’ll take a glimpse at what the future holds.

Virtual appointments

Many people have already experienced virtual appointments and consultations due to the pandemic. With clinics closed for periods as a result of Covid-19 and restrictions still in place in many countries, doctors, nurses, dentists and other health professionals switched from in-person appointments to video calls, phone calls and interactive consultations via tablets, laptops and phones. While many patients and professionals would agree that there are instances in which it is essential to meet in person, there are several benefits to virtual appointments. They can be less daunting for anxious patients, they are quicker and often more efficient than conventional systems, and they enable people to seek advice or get help without worrying about traveling anywhere. Trends indicate that virtual appointments will become more popular and commonplace in the years ahead, with clients and patients having more control over when and where they engage with healthcare professionals.

Technology and research

Technology has never been more influential in the field of medicine and dentistry. Not only has tech enabled patients to continue receiving treatment and seeking advice through a pandemic, but it is changing the way professionals treat and manage diseases and conditions. From developing new technology to assist with surgery and training, such as robotics, to cutting-edge research performed by companies like Thermo Fisher Scientific, healthcare professionals have an ever-growing range of treatments, solutions and therapies at their disposal. As technology advances and evolves and researchers develop new ways of treating or reducing the severity of symptoms, survival rates for some diseases are likely to increase and there could be cures for conditions that were previously deemed terminal or life-limiting.

A focus on prevention and self-care

The pandemic has shone a spotlight on personal and collective health and wellbeing. Many of us have devoted more time and energy to our health in the last year and paid more attention to what we can do to boost mental and physical wellbeing. The adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ is well-known but it has previously been linked more frequently to physical health rather than mental health. Today, mental wellbeing is firmly on the agenda, and more and more people are investing in self-care and self-help techniques, including meditation, regular exercise, hobbies and creative activities, and time management. It is not possible to prevent every illness or disease but being aware of preventative measures could lead to a fitter, healthier, happier population in years to come.

The subject of health has been ever-present in the news headlines for over a year now, and many of us have taken stock of our own health and wellbeing as a result. The future is uncertain in many ways but it is highly likely that technology and scientific research will continue to shape the way professionals work and the treatments they provide. It’s also probable that there will be a shift towards preventing poor health and a focus on boosting and protecting health and wellbeing.