The role of Cloud Computing and Identity & Access Management in Medical Engineering
The healthcare sector is one of the most promising industries and will be even more interesting in the future. The demands and needs of patients or customers are becoming increasingly important. The healthcare sector, like many other industries, is evolving into personalized instead of standardized services. Thereby, keywords such as patient-centered care or personalized medicine are mentioned frequently. In this context, digitalization is seen as a major milestone from the fix-it-with-a-pill mentality, towards personalization. Digitalization is driven primarily by information technology and therefore demands sophisticated IT services.
Let us have a closer look at the technology and IT Trends in the healthcare and MedTech sector in 2021.
Trend # 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is triggering a major shift in many industries and is also having a massive impact on healthcare. On the one hand, the use of artificial intelligence leads to an increase in productivity and thus also to a reduction in the workload of medical staff and a reduction in costs. This takes place through (partial) automation and optimization of various processes, as well as intelligent support in daily processes and daily work. Artificial intelligence can take over more and more, and more complex everyday tasks. In the context of the growing demand and the increasing challenges in treating a larger number of patients, this is elementary for high-quality healthcare.
Even more important than the expected increase in productivity is the improvement in care itself. Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening new and efficient ways to track, diagnose and treat patients and their condition. For example, AI can help in the detection of diseases, but also in the research and development of new diagnostic procedures. Artificial intelligence is also able to help with a proper medication of diseases, also in view of the patient’s personal history, thus enabling targeted and personalized treatment and healthcare for the patient. Here, both the processing of huge amounts of data, as well as the at least partially autonomous use of this data, especially in real-time, is a decisive factor.
Trend # 2: 5G Capability
5G technology is a game-changer in overcoming borders, be it environmental, geographic or societal. A stable, high-quality and, above all, fast network makes it possible to operate in Asia from Germany or vice versa. Considering that the global impact of 5G in healthcare is critical to provide fast, reliable healthcare in rural areas, or hard-to-reach areas.
Furthermore, 5G is also the entry point for connecting the various devices and components in medical technology, be it mobile devices or sensors and actors in medical devices. Thereby, 5G makes it possible to create a high-quality network and establish an ecosystem for medical technology.
Thus, the 5G technology is the foundation for telemedicine and further evolutional changes in healthcare.
Trend # 3: Robotics
Robotics technology will impact healthcare in several ways, for example by assisting medical staff in the treatment or follow-up care of patients. In this way, medical staff will be relieved, costs will be reduced, and the quality of healthcare will be improved.
Microrobotics can lead to a significant boost in healthcare; for example, it can make previously impossible or risky surgeries possible or perform existing medical procedures in a more targeted manner.
In addition, the field of prosthetics and the long-term treatment of e.g., chronic patients are also promising. More sophisticated prostheses can lead to significantly enhanced living conditions of patients. Previously incurable damages can be partially replaced by novel prostheses. And chronic treatment can be refined through targeted monitoring with robotics technology.
Trend # 4: 3D Printing
3D Printing will change the way of manufacturing, customizing, and prototyping in healthcare and medical engineering. As in many industries, 3D Printing allows to rapid development and manufacture of prototypes, and thus speed up the development of new products and components as well as support the early testing. Moreover, 3D Printing enables batch size one manufacturing, thereby allowing the manufacturing of individual and personalized prosthesis, which is not only focusing on the custom fitting of prosthesis but also enabling the manufacturing of unique parts for a special and precise purpose.
Going further, 3D printing can also have a massive impact on the manufacturing structure in MedTech. A move away from centralized manufacturing of medical devices to decentralized production is possible. Especially considering remote or difficult to access areas, where local manufacturing with 3D printing.
Trend # 5: CIAM – The power of Identity & Access Management
Now that we have highlighted 4 current IT trends and innovations in the healthcare industry, let us divert our attention to the 5th trend, Identity & Access Management. Identity & Access Management takes a key function in the healthcare industry and medical technology. In a connected industry, the exchange and collaboration between the various players are fundamental. In the context of identity & access management, the administration of users and user groups, as well as the associated roles and rights, are the corresponding basis. Even more, functionalities such as single sign-on and authentication, e.g., via password-less authentication, ensure convenience for users. The area of security and access management, e.g., through multi-factor authentication and API security, is essential for sensitive data and applications such as those in the healthcare industry.
However, many innovations are also being developed in the area of identity and access management, which in turn pave the way for innovation in medical technology. For example, the developments in the area of Internet of Things with Device Authority and Real-World Identification, which has a great influence in robotics, but is also exciting in the interaction with 5G.
Considering the feature set a modern Identity & Access Management can deliver out of the box for digitalization in the healthcare sector as well as the feature set and “feature set to come” paving the way for new innovations, Identity & Access Management is a game changer IT trends in healthcare and MedTech.
Summary – Rising Innovations and how Identity Management enforces them.
Technological advances are creating promising solutions to the challenges that we are facing in the healthcare and MedTech sector today. Artificial Intelligence, 5G capabilities, robotics, or 3D printing are some of the technological advancements that we can anticipate in the coming years.
Companies are also leveraging digital platforms to communicate with patients and doctors. Consumers, be it patients, doctors, or other parties, have become ever more tech-savvy and are constantly on the lookout for convenience. Investments in remote diagnostics, online prescriptions, and treatment support solutions are expected to increase, with digital health solutions at the forefront to deliver excellent medical services in the new normal.
A modern Cloud Identity & Access Management like cidaas can be a driver on both dimensions. On the one hand, it can drive innovation and digitization, and on the other, it can enable secure access and consent management for data management and processing.