4 healthcare trends to watch

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Healthcare is a dynamic ecosystem, and patterns of practice have adapted to meet changing times as technologies and systems have evolved. Staying updated on top healthcare trends helps professionals continue their professional development, comply with legal requirements, and achieve better outcomes for patients.

To get a better idea about some of the recent changes in the healthcare system and how professionals can keep their knowledge current, we spoke with Ben Spedding, DHA, MA, Academic Program Director for Health Administration at Capella University.

An ever-changing industry

The major changes affecting the healthcare industry can be categorized into four areas.

    1. Healthcare technology and digital health: Advancements in telemedicine and the increasing adoption of wearable health devices, electronic health records, health apps and AI-driven diagnostic tools have helped transform healthcare and consumer behavior.

“The growing use of telemedicine represents a significant advancement in healthcare technology, demonstrating how digital solutions can improve patient care, increase healthcare accessibility and facilitate more efficient delivery of patient care,” Spedding says.

    2. Population health and preventive care: There’s a growing emphasis on population health management and preventive care strategies to address the root causes of illness and promote wellness.

According to Spedding, “Healthcare leaders and organizations across the continuum should continue to break down silos and partner with each other and their consumers in order to effectively navigate these important impacts on health.” Strategies include initiatives such as community health programs, vaccination campaigns, health education and lifestyle interventions.

    3. Healthcare access and equity: Improving access to healthcare services and addressing disparities in patient care delivery are a couple crucial areas of focus. “If there is anything we learned from the global pandemic, it is the wide disparities that exist for access to care,” says Spedding.

Efforts to enhance access include expanding healthcare coverage, increasing the availability of primary care services, reducing barriers to care for marginalized populations and addressing social determinants of health.

    4. Value-based care and healthcare delivery models: Another trend in healthcare is the growing shift from fee-for-service models to value-based care approaches. This involves incentivizing quality of care over quantity of services provided, promoting care coordination among providers, implementing accountable care in organizations and exploring alternative payment models like bundled payments and capitation.

“For example,” Spedding says, “Case rate payments reimburse provider organizations one time for the total cost of the procedure. This then incentivizes a collaborative partnership between the patient and clinician. These partnerships foster high-quality, cost-effective care to be delivered – no more, no less.”

Capella’s dedication to preparing students

Capella University is committed to maintaining current, relevant curriculum based on new developments in healthcare. Updates are made based on input from multiple stakeholders including scholar-practitioner faculty; the School of Business, Technology, and Health Care Administration Advisory Board; and healthcare employers.

“We have discussions about what types of skills they’re looking for when they hire staff,” says Spedding. “Then we work to build these skill levels and competencies into Capella’s healthcare curriculum. We also look to market trends to keep our curriculum relevant for students.”

The healthcare degree programs help students build competencies by using authentic assessments. These are course assignments modeled on real-world work products like executive summaries, strategic plans and compliance dashboards.

Some of Capella's healthcare courses are interdisciplinary. This means students have the opportunity to learn business, nursing, information technology and public health aspects of healthcare. Spedding believes this gives them the opportunity to hear a different perspective and allows them to build bridges, form collaborative partnerships and help increase positive health outcomes when they move from Capella into the healthcare field.

Staying informed and educated

In such a rapidly changing field, how can professionals remain educated and aware of the trends in healthcare? Spedding recommends the following:

• Acquire professional certifications in areas of interest.
• Join a professional organization – such as ACHE.
• Network at healthcare conferences and meetings.
• Read online journals, blogs and professional news outlets.
• Find an internship or fellowship in an interest area.
• Consider a master’s degree in health care management or administration.

Spedding believes a drive to continue learning about new advancements in healthcare and spending time networking with others in the industry will help professionals remain up to date as the industry continues to evolve and change.

Explore degrees from Capella University to learn healthcare policy and business skills:

• BS in Business, Health Care Management
• MBA, Health Care Management
• BS in Health Care Administration
• Master of Health Administration
• Doctor of Health Administration