In a recent interview with MobiHealthNews, Julia Strandberg, executive vice president and chief business leader of connected care at Royal Philips, discussed key healthcare trends in 2024 and provided insights into the industry’s future.
Strandberg emphasized the significant advancements in home-based care technologies, which aim to extend high-quality care outside of traditional hospital settings. While these innovations have shown promise in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare facility strain, challenges remain in scaling care delivery. Questions around infrastructure, incentive structures, and workflow efficiency need to be addressed to support widespread adoption of home-based care models.
Another major trend highlighted by Strandberg was the progress in digital health reimbursement. Digital health tools are increasingly seen as essential components of patient-centered care models, with Medicare expanding coverage for Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM). This shift signals a growing acceptance of digital health tools in mainstream care delivery and the importance of integrating them into reimbursement policies.
Looking ahead to 2025, Strandberg discussed two significant developments from 2024 that will shape the healthcare landscape: evolving healthcare policy discussions and the rise of cybersecurity threats. The transition to a new presidential administration has sparked debates on patient-centered care models and reimbursement system reforms. Additionally, the industry faces increasing cybersecurity challenges, prompting the FDA to tighten requirements for digital health technologies to protect health systems and patients.
Regarding digital health funding in 2025, Strandberg anticipates continued growth and investment in the industry. The focus on delivering care where patients are located remains a priority, with sustained investments expected to drive innovation. Recent updates to reimbursement policies, such as CMS payment for Digital Mental Health Treatment devices, are paving the way for broader adoption of digital health services.
When asked about the role of mergers and acquisitions in the digital health space in 2025, Strandberg predicted a continued trend of partnerships among clinical technology vendors and providers. These collaborations aim to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the availability of digital health solutions and expanding access to care for patients.
Finally, discussing the changing landscape of AI in healthcare in 2025, Strandberg emphasized the technology’s role in streamlining data analysis and decision-making for clinicians. AI-enabled remote patient monitoring can provide actionable insights and recommendations, empowering clinicians to make informed decisions about patient care.
Overall, the future of healthcare in 2025 looks to be shaped by advancements in home-based care, digital health reimbursement, cybersecurity measures, continued investment in digital health, strategic partnerships, and the increasing integration of AI technologies to streamline clinical workflows and enhance patient care.
