Life expectancy has shot up around the world in recent years, thanks to a greater understanding of personal health and a wider availability of cures for acute disease.
While longer lifespans are undoubtedly a good thing, an ageing population has created some unforeseen challenges in the healthcare space, due to an increase in patient demand.
Here are some of the most significant challenges currently facing the healthcare industry, and the much-needed solutions.
1. Efficiency
More patients mean the need for more pharmaceutical innovation. It sounds simple enough, but with an already burnt-out workforce, the time and funding needed for healthcare innovation are seriously lacking.
The more stretched healthcare professionals are, the less efficient and productive they’ll be at aspects of the job, including research and development.
The solution?Outsourcing. Outsourcing your biotherapeutics manufacturing process to a CDMO biologics company, for example, frees up the time of healthcare providers to get on with the other important aspects of their roles, and leaves the manufacturing to the pros.
2. Cybersecurity Threats
Cybersecurity threats are on the rise, with 66% of companies expecting cyber budget growth in the upcoming year. Healthcare is one of the most important sectors to protect, especially given the sheer volume of personal data that can be found in healthcare systems.
The solution is an interesting one. One of the best ways companies can test their cybersecurity systems is by having professional developers try to hack them – in a test system of course.
Although it sounds counterintuitive, the more the system gets tested, the more robust it can be. By investing in testing, you can identify holes in your security system and direct funds towards filling them.
3. Staffing Shortages and Burnout
One of healthcare’s most significant challenges in the post-pandemic world is staff shortages – especially as a result of burnout. Burnout is a physical and psychological state of exhaustion, that often results in professionals having to take time off work and seek professional help.
Because of the added pressures of COVID-19, burnout in the healthcare industry increased, which led to a growth in the already significant staffing shortages.
To reduce turnover rate, help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, through initials such as flexible schedules and more paid time off. Hiring an occupational therapist to work in your company can also prove helpful, as well as having regular mental health check-ins with your team.
4. Telehealth Implementation
Telehealth boasts tons of advantages, including an increase in efficiency and the ability for patients to reach healthcare providers beyond their immediate location.
However, the mass implementation of telehealth has proved challenging for some healthcare professionals, especially those without the budget to spend on new technology.
The best approach to this novel method of healthcare provision is a steady one, in which initial funds are prioritized for the patients who need it most. Patients with mobility issues – who find it difficult to attend face-to-face sessions – should be at the top of the priority list for telehealth before any sort of mass rollout can happen.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
