There are five "megatrends" in healthcare that promise to disrupt the industry in 2018, according to Gallup.
Here are the five deciding trends Gallup analysts believe are shaping the contemporary healthcare environment.
1. Chronically sick patients, such as those with diabetes, must receive greater attention. The disease is a population health crisis that is very costly for providers.
2. Aging baby-boomers and millennials are demanding more from their providers. Demand for talent in fields such as nursing far outpaces the supply, and this problem will only grow more exaggerated unless providers take action.
3. With increased digitization, providers must harness the power of predictive analytics. Providers have never before had access to this level of patient information and using it can not only revolutionize care but also patient education.
4. Technological and biological fusion will have a dramatic impact on patient care. This means that all sorts of tech companies will now be entering the healthcare space, greatly changing the environmental makeup of the industry.
5. Workforce disruptions, aggravated by mergers and acquisitions, are taking a dramatic toll on employee engagement. Cultural changes that come from merging with a new system can greatly disconnect clinicians from their organization, which systems must be mindful of moving forward.