Healthcare is evolving faster than ever – powered by health tech innovation, digitalisation, and a renewed focus on patient experience in healthcare.
Models like blended care, remote monitoring, and value-based care are reshaping how patients and providers interact, shifting the focus from treatment to long-term wellbeing.
At recent Health Tech Forward, one message stood out from the conversation: stop building products that just look “cool” and start building solutions that matter to patients. “Value is always in the eye of the beholder,” said Arturo Loaiza-Bonilla, Co-Founder of Massive Bio, emphasizing that digital transformation must prioritize patient needs above all else.
According to Deloitte and McKinsey insights, improving patient experience drives nearly 80% of global digital health initiatives – far ahead of cost reduction or operational efficiency.
Health Tech Innovation: Where the Industry Is Focusing in 2025
As the conversation around digital health matures, the priorities are becoming clearer. The majority of global initiatives now focus on improving patient experience rather than cutting costs or boosting efficiency. According to Deloitte and McKinsey insights, improving patient experience drives nearly 80% of global digital health initiatives – far ahead of cost reduction or operational efficiency.
Another key piece in ending the one-size-fits-all model came from Michelle Carnahan, President of Thirty Madison.
She highlighted the power of customizable care – accessible to everyone and tailored to the unique needs of each patient. We need to forget textbook treatments and make it more about creating care plans that fit the individual, not the other way around.
Watch the full panel discussion here.
Rebooting digital healthcare through patients
As experts dig more into the role patients play in the digital healthcare revolution, they underline how patient advocacy and digital health need to join forces to build a more effective healthcare system.
The “Ctrl + Alt + Heal: how patients can reboot digital healthcare” panel took a deep dive into all things patient-centric and digital health. One major takeaway? The importance of community inclusion.
At the heart of the conversation was the inclusion of patients in healthcare systems and business models, giving them a voice to share their opinions on key issues. This approach isn’t just about engagement, it’s about building trust between healthcare providers and patients. Patricia Ripoll Ros, a seasoned Patient Advocate and Health Advisor, and Chief Patient Officer at Fundación VISIBLE, called out the big elephant in the healthcare room:
You can find the full panel discussion here.
Empowering patients to be the owners of their health journey
Patients often get overwhelmed by medical jargon and struggle to make sense of all medical data thrown their way. Digital tools are stepping up to simplify things – letting patients track nearly every aspect of their health and daily routines, from steps taken to sleep patterns. Data-tracking apps could be the real game-changer for overburdened providers too, shifting some responsibilities away from them.
Apps can make it easier for patients to not just understand their health data, but to actually feel like they own it, encouraging them to take an active role in their care journey. As Larra Petersen-Lukenda, COO at CyncHealth Foundation, put it, when it comes to getting patients involved:
More insights from Larra Petersen Lukenda and other industry leaders were shared in the panel discussion “How to empower patients to be the CEO of their health”.
Tell us your thoughts in the comments: What’s the major forgotten factor in patient-centric healthcare approach?
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