A human-centric vision for the future of healthcare in New Zealand

SECTOR UPDATE – Fujitsu

Key take outs:

• The New Zealand healthcare sector faces significant challenges and opportunities highlighted by COVID-19.
• Healthcare providers need to put the patient at the centre of everything they do.
• Technology such as artificial intelligence, big data, and wearable sensors connected to the Internet of Things will play a significant role in putting the patient at the centre of the experience.
• Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand has explored these themes in depth in its latest whitepaper titled A human-centric vision for the future of healthcare. The full whitepaper is available for download at: https://www.fujitsu.com/au/imagesgig5/Whitepaper_A_human-centric_vision_for_the_future_of_healthcare_FINAL.pdf

The COVID-19 outbreak has brought the preparedness of New Zealand’s healthcare sector into sharp focus. As the immediate disruption from the pandemic recedes, the New Zealand healthcare sector will continue to face significant challenges and opportunities. Healthcare providers will need to gain a clear understanding of the landscape to determine where they sit and how they will compete in a rapidly changing environment, according to Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand.

Dave Lennon, executive sponsor, healthcare industry, Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand, said, “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry was facing a shakeup. The increasingly competitive nature of healthcare has meant that patients have more choice and control over their journey. This means healthcare providers need to put the patient at the centre of everything they do in a marked contrast to past models.”

Streamlining healthcare for individual patients is increasingly important as New Zealand’s population continues to age, with greater pressure on hospitals and aged care providers to help people maintain a good quality of life. By 2036, around one in 4.5 New Zealanders will be aged 65-plus. (1) A boy born in 2014 is likely to live to the age of 90, while a girl born in the same year is likely to live to see 93, and New Zealand’s regional cities and districts are aging quickly. (2)

Conversely, New Zealand has a relatively low number of medical practitioners per head of population. With potentially too few doctors to adequately care for an aging population, healthcare providers will need to consider innovative ways to deliver treatments. This could include increased availability of telehealth, improved teaching aids such as augmented reality to get more doctors qualified sooner, or artificial intelligence applications that automate the process of diagnosing patients.  

Dave Lennon said, “Patient expectations are growing and, at the same time, advances in technologies and healthcare techniques are providing new ways to deliver enhanced healthcare outcomes. For example, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and wearable sensors connected to the Internet of Things will contribute to a new healthcare model with the patient at the centre and various clinicians stepping in as appropriate.

“Telehealth services were scaled up rapidly in response to the COVID-19 challenge and will continue to benefit people enormously in the years ahead. There are many more emerging technologies that have the potential to revolutionise the patient experience from first contact to discharge and ongoing maintenance.”

Patients aren’t the only stakeholders set to benefit from a human-centric vision of healthcare supported by new technologies. Clinicians and administrators will also find their jobs made much easier by technologies that streamline processes and help them rapidly scale their experience to benefit more people, faster.

For example, artificial intelligence systems can help speed up diagnoses and improve their accuracy, so clinicians can refer patients for the most appropriate treatment sooner. Improved working environments will include intelligent lighting, air conditioning and security systems, as well as smarter operating equipment. Predictive analytics and automation will help reduce the costs of providing healthcare while improving outcomes and reducing the risks associated with various procedures.

Dave Lennon said, “While New Zealand has done an outstanding job of practically eliminating COVID-19, the pandemic has underlined the importance of a healthcare system that can respond effectively and quickly to shifting conditions. There is a whole world of opportunity already available for healthcare providers and the next decade and beyond will drive more innovation and development. All of these developments will share one thing in common; they will put the patient at the centre of the conversation.

“Whether it’s about making medical records instantly and securely available, giving practitioners more support with diagnosis and treatment options, or managing hospital resources more efficiently, the healthcare industry is on the cusp of making the patient experience far more pleasant, less stressful, and, crucially, more successful in terms of health outcomes.

“Co-creation of the technologies that underpin this approach is a key success factor. By working closely together with a strong focus on the human factor in healthcare, organisations can transform the way they deliver services and address key challenges.”