Healthcare players must adapt to the digital patient journey

TOMORROW

We all see the digital health sector evolving quickly , with the digitalisation of the patient journey at its centre . It ’ s driven by new players entering the market to push innovation and challenge traditional stakeholders to react .

Moving to a data-driven care system will take the patient journey to the next level , where improved triaging , access and precision care are becoming a reality . However , today , the patient journey is often disjointed with no smooth transition between the individual phases . The good news is that patients themselves are the driving force behind the evolution of their journey , increasingly demanding more convenient and higher-quality services from medical care providers .

We ’ d like to shed light on the patient journey and its potential for optimisation – focusing on the German healthcare market . Why is Germany lagging behind ? What does the future hold and what are the consequences for the various players ?

Is the healthcare system finally evolving into a patient-centric system ?

An uncomfortable journey

Currently , within the different phases of the patient journey , communication between doctors and patients is poor . Patients are relying on a practitioner ’ s treatment recommendation provided during a brief , rushed in-person visit .

The possibility to switch from synchronous , analogue conversations with the doctor to asynchronous chats in a hybrid setting , with the option to provide remote support for the patient , is a game changer . Consequently , treatments will become more personalised and precise with data from wearables and bolstered by AI , diagnostic kits for home use and continuous support from healthcare providers .

Telemedicine support ( e . g . via teleclinic , kry , etc .) will simplify diagnoses , follow-up and treatment adherence ( e . g . Liva Healthcare ) and novel platforms are developing ecosystems for all patient concerns ( e . g .

Wellster Healthtech , gesund . de ), while VIMPROs ( Vertically Integrated Micro- Providers ) offer indication-specific , end-toend therapy . In short : a new era of diagnosis and care is developing , but has not yet been implemented .

Spot on : Germany

In 2019 , a Digital Health Care Act ( DVG ) was passed with the aim of improving the system through digital innovation . Since then , the German healthcare system has played a crucial role and acted as an internationally recognised pioneer in the field of digital therapeutics ( e . g . by introducing Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen [ digital health applications ]). Furthermore , the DVG enhances the development of secure digital infrastructures and permissions for telemedical consultations .

Despite this new legislation , we have to say that Germany still lags behind North America and China in digitising the patient journey . From our perspective , this is due to three key circumstances that are different in the three countries :

AWARENESS DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT ADHERENCE & MONITORING

CURRENT PATIENT JOURNEY

Not aware of treatment options

?

No remote support possible ; support only via infrequent in-person HCP * appointments

Difficult to find the right specialist , dependent on GP recommendation

In-person HCP * visits necessary during all stages of treatment

Further potential hurdles e . g . difficult to afford long-term treatment

A lack of interaction with HCP * hampers adherence to & continuation of treatment

Loss of motivation due to lack of support

HYBRID PATIENT JOURNEY Patients receive continuous support via asynchronous communication with HCP *