# The future of healthcare
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-06-14
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Empowering Patients Through Digital Healthcare Innovations
Meta Description: Discover how Cigna Europe is revolutionising healthcare with digital innovations, empowering patients to take control of their health and make informed
URL: https://financedigest.com/the-future-of-healthcarehtml

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1295902079-1736815644962-compressed.jpg)

**![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/dr-peter-mills-450x384-1736815644946-compressed.jpg)**

_By_ **_Dr Peter Mills,_** _Clinical Director at Cigna Europe_

We don’t use healthcare just for the fun of it, we use it when we need to fix something and to feel better. For [people who rarely need](https://www.financedigest.com/people-need-people-humanising-the-digital-banking-experience.html "People need People – Humanising the digital banking experience") to visit their GP, it’s likely they don’t give healthcare much thought. But people who have needed emergency care or are being treated for a chronic condition will know how [important](https://www.financedigest.com/the-importance-of-property-care-looking-after-your-business.html "The Importance of Property Care: Looking After Your Business") it is to have easy access to quality care.

Traditionally, we have had very little control over where, how and when we receive care. However, people are becoming more [aware of just how important access to healthcare is and they are taking control of their Whole Health](https://www.financedigest.com/kids-oral-care-products-market-sale-is-anticipated-to-boost-with-tremendous-growth-by-2030-due-to-health-awareness-of-kids.html "Kids Oral Care Products Market Sale Is Anticipated To Boost With Tremendous Growth By 2030 Due To Health Awareness Of Kids") more than ever before. As a result, we are becoming more empowered to make decisions about our own care. At Cigna Europe, we believe this is exactly the way it should be. As a healthcare provider, we always put the [needs of our customers](https://www.financedigest.com/you-dont-need-magic-to-anticipate-your-customers-needs-just-the-right-tech.html "You don’t need magic to anticipate your customers’ needs, just the right tech") – the patients – first. Digital healthcare innovations are improving access to healthcare, enabling patients to take control, giving them access to data and tools to make the right decisions about their care.

**Digital healthcare in practice**

Nothing can ever truly replace in-person, hands on care from a consultant or specialist, right? Not necessarily. Let’s take a look at what’s involved in managing the care of a chronically ill patient and see where digital healthcare can offer support.

In Europe, more than [one third of the population](https://euobserver.com/chronic-diseases/125636) are living with a chronic condition and around 70 to 80 percent of health care budgets – an estimated 700 billion euros – per year are currently spent on chronic diseases. As a result of high case numbers, there’s a significant burden placed on healthcare systems, society and the economy. Many patients regularly have to attend outpatient appointments to manage and review their care. This can be time consuming, often meaning they need time off from work or have to juggle childcare around these appointments. These appointments can be [stressful and are an added expense for personal finances](https://www.financedigest.com/4-reasons-your-finance-employees-are-showing-signs-of-stress.html "4 reasons your finance employees are showing signs of stress"). These [face to face appointments are also costly](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-euros-20-year-low-leaves-ecb-facing-costly-choices.html "Analysis-Euro’s 20-year low leaves ECB facing costly choices") for healthcare systems, especially when missed appointments can cost millions every year. These missed appointments can result in loss of productivity for the consultant, specialist or nurse. In the long run, this can also lead to increased hospitalisations and readmissions – all impacting costs.

So, where can digital healthcare step in and help to lighten the load? It begins with connecting patients and healthcare providers through mobile technology to improve healthcare outcomes, treatment efficiencies and increasing accessibility of existing or real-time data. Most importantly, [digital healthcare has the ability to empower the patient through education so they can better manage their health](https://www.financedigest.com/the-dark-chocolate-market-to-move-towards-digital-health.html "The Dark Chocolate Market To Move Towards Digital Health") themselves. Telemedicine is a great example. It makes healthcare services more accessible to patients, allowing them to minimise the frequency of their hospital visits – addressing the issue of time consuming appointments and their associated stress contributors whilst also reducing treatment [costs by keeping people out of hospital when a virtual appointment can do the job](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-global-banks-take-axe-to-jobs-as-cost-pressures-mount.html "Factbox-Global banks take axe to jobs as cost pressures mount") just as well.

Telemedicine also allows for [monitoring of patient](https://www.financedigest.com/the-remote-patient-monitoring-device-market-to-get-digitally-innovative.html "The Remote Patient Monitoring Device Market to get digitally innovative") behaviours, such as their physical activity, their nutrition and their adherence to medication – all critical factors when managing and reviewing care of a patient with a chronic condition.

Other virtual health tools, like health cloud technology can allow healthcare providers to [create personalised care plans and comprehensive](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-announces-agreement-to-acquire-risk-management-firm-creating-a-comprehensive-cyber-risk-management-advisory-group.html "Aon announces agreement to acquire risk management firm, creating a comprehensive cyber risk management advisory group") treatment and recovery pathways. With this, patient information is stored in a cloud that can be accessed by everyone involved in the patients’ healthcare. With this, the patients’ health data – information about upcoming surgery, medications and treatment plans can all be managed virtually. Their personalised care plan, complete with [next steps](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-leaders-to-discuss-next-steps-on-energy-ukraine.html "EU leaders to discuss next steps on energy, Ukraine") and accompanying guidance, setting recovery and education goals can all be stored and accessed on the cloud. For a patient living with a chronic condition, they are able to manage their condition remotely – putting them firmly in the driver’s seat.

**The secret is data**

Yes, these virtual [health tools are helping to transform the way patients receive care](https://www.financedigest.com/health-care-information-systems-market-growth-set-to-surge-significantly-during-2018-2026.html "Health Care Information Systems Market Growth Set to Surge Significantly during 2018 – 2026") and how care is accessed. But none of this would be possible without the data to back it up. By safely and securely gathering data,  healthcare providers are able to understand patient health needs from the outset, setting clear goals of what needs to be achieved and to measure success. Data can come from anywhere – health records, [fitness apps](https://www.financedigest.com/sales-forecast-of-mental-fitness-apps-market-analysis-and-forecast-report-till-2031.html "Sales Forecast of Mental Fitness Apps Market , Analysis, and Forecast Report till 2031"), wearable devices and mobile phones, subject to patient consent and confidentiality. This data can then be used for proactive and targeted care for the patient. Patients are then able to [access their personal care plan](https://www.financedigest.com/are-the-over-55s-accessing-their-pensions-early-failing-to-plan-for-later-life.html "Are the over-55s accessing their pensions early failing to plan for later life?"), take control of their own Whole Health and self-monitor their condition – and this data can be accessed and reviewed by their healthcare provider.

For healthcare providers, by leveraging the data of other patients with similar conditions, they are able to make better, faster diagnosis and treatment plans for patients in the future. Data can also help redesign better care pathways, [improve patient care and help to utilise healthcare resources more efficiently](https://www.financedigest.com/improved-patient-safety-efficient-dose-administration-and-seamless-interoperability-for-advanced-infusion-delivery-are-several-advantages.html "Improved patient safety, efficient dose administration, and seamless interoperability for advanced infusion delivery are several advantages").

Data is also an important component of the innovation processes. It can help create new predictive and innovative care solutions while making the patient experience more seamless, easier, and convenient. Through coordinated care, healthcare providers are able to share patient health information across a [network of providers to ultimately achieve safer and more effective](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-network-operators-monetise-television-quickly-and-effectively.html "How can network operators monetise television quickly and effectively?"), holistic, and personalised care.

[**Driving change and delivering healthcare innovations**](https://www.financedigest.com/crispy-innovation-to-drive-the-nano-healthcare-technology-for-medical-equipment-market.html "Crispy Innovation To Drive The Nano Healthcare Technology For Medical Equipment Market")

The healthcare industry is on the cusp of tremendous change. At Cigna Europe, we know that innovative health tools can make a difference when it comes to accessing care. As a health [service provider](https://www.financedigest.com/high-energy-shockwave-therapy-units-market-end-user-demand-by-types-regions-top-players-service-provides-regional-outlook-and-forecast-to-2028.html "High Energy Shockwave Therapy Units Market End-User Demand by Types, Regions, Top Players, Service Provides, Regional Outlook and Forecast to 2028") and champion of Whole Health, innovation is central to us in terms of delivering quality, patient centred care.

That’s why we’ve launched a Symptom Checker pilot, which helps members manage existing and new medical conditions. Developed in partnership with [Infermedica](https://infermedica.com/), a leading specialist in developing AI tools for triage and preliminary medical diagnosis, the online tool lets members input their medical symptoms, uncovers the possible causes of their symptoms, and signposts them to the right care by suggesting next steps, including recommendations for a specialist or doctor. Members can also use it to gather information ahead of a consultation, helping to put more information in their hands.

Our science-based voice detector [stress tool Cigna StressWaves Test](https://www.financedigest.com/what-to-make-of-the-headlines-brexit-and-bank-of-england-policy-eba-bank-stress-tests.html "What to make of the headlines? Brexit and Bank of England policy, EBA bank stress tests"), is designed to reveal how stressed users are – in just 90 seconds. It is currently the only tool on the [market that analyses stress through acoustic and semantic patterns and follows more than two decades of research](https://www.financedigest.com/consumer-electronics-and-automotive-industries-to-drive-demand-for-li-ion-pouch-batteries-persistence-market-research-study.html "Consumer Electronics and Automotive Industries to Drive Demand for Li-Ion Pouch Batteries: Persistence Market Research Study"). Created in partnership with Ellipsis Health, a medical technology developer and leader in AI health and vocal biomarkers, the ground-breaking technology listens to the pitch, tone, word choice, and [pauses in the user’s speech](https://www.financedigest.com/stocks-dollar-pause-ahead-of-powell-biden-speeches.html "Stocks, dollar pause ahead of Powell, Biden speeches") to give a measured reading of their current stress level.

[Digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/how-digital-is-transforming-finance-in-2023.html "How Digital Is Transforming Finance in 2023") is equipping healthcare providers not only to move to a proactive model of care, but to accelerate into a predictive model of care that provides preventive care and real-time health alerts.This is hugely important when it comes to connecting people with the best care, at the right time, and in the right place. After all, the real purpose of healthcare is to help people live better lives.

**Supporting [employee Whole Health](https://www.financedigest.com/why-investing-in-employee-health-can-be-good-for-business.html "Why investing in employee health can be good for business") through an internal culture transformation**

What are the key HR challenges you’re [facing at the moment](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-rocket-startups-face-adapt-or-die-moment-amid-investment-drought.html "Analysis-Rocket startups face adapt-or-die moment amid investment drought")? Is it the ever changing workplace dynamic? Or is it the need to create flexible and [hybrid working](https://www.financedigest.com/smart-working-versus-presenteeism-enabling-productivity-in-a-post-pandemic-hybrid-work-culture.html "Smart Working Versus Presenteeism: Enabling Productivity in a Post-Pandemic Hybrid Work Culture") models? Perhaps its [workplace stress and employee](https://www.financedigest.com/norway-wealth-fund-employee-sues-for-workplace-gender-discrimination.html "Norway wealth fund employee sues for workplace gender discrimination") well-being – or maybe it’s all of the above? And chances are, these challenges are keeping you awake at night. Which is hardly surprising given these topics have taken centre stage recently during boardroom conversations and between managers and their team.

If you’re asking yourself how best to manage all of the above, then you might be interested to learn that the solution lies nearer to home than you think. Let’s take a closer look…

**Consider the support you’re offering your employees**

Employees are looking for more support from their employers in every area of their Whole Health -from their [mental](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-maintain-physical-and-mental-health-while-working-from-home.html "How to maintain physical and mental health while working from home") health, to physical health, and everything in between. [Cigna’s 360 Well-being Survey](https://www.cignaglobal.com/static/docs/pdf/whole-health/work-report-2021-europe.pdf) highlights the gap between what employees want and what their employer is actually providing.

More awareness about mental health is [urgently needed](https://www.financedigest.com/ftx-collapse-shows-urgent-need-to-finalise-eu-crypto-rules-says-european-commission.html "FTX collapse shows urgent need to finalise EU crypto rules, says European Commission"). Employers have an [important role to play in preventing](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-seeks-deal-on-law-preventing-import-of-deforestation-linked-goods.html "EU seeks deal on law preventing import of deforestation-linked goods") mental health issues together with building and sustaining employee resilience. Cigna’s [research revealed](https://www.financedigest.com/non-finance-data-sets-increasingly-sit-at-the-heart-of-investment-with-over-70-of-decisions-impacted-by-esg-factors-bright-data-research-reveals.html "Non-Finance Data Sets Increasingly Sit At The Heart Of Investment With Over 70% Of Decisions Impacted By ESG Factors, Bright Data Research Reveals") 72% of people rank their mental health as the most important aspect of their Whole Health. So, it’s alarming to learn that 61% of people are stressed, with work related stress, [financial worries and uncertainty for the future](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-financial-services-tech-evolution-not-revolution.html "The future of financial services: Tech evolution not revolution ") the leading causes. Addressing the mental [health needs of employees now and in the future](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-how-the-world-health-organization-might-fight-future-pandemics.html "Explainer-How the World Health Organization might fight future pandemics") is essential. 40% of employees are looking for mental health support from their employer, yet only 24% of employers provide it.

There’s also a significant gap when it comes to flexibility in the workplace. Only 20% of people are keen to return to the office full-time, and the majority are happy to continue to work from home for at [least part of the working week](https://www.financedigest.com/80-of-brits-admit-to-feeling-hangry-at-least-once-a-week.html "80% of Brits admit to feeling “hangry” AT LEAST once a week"). Two thirds of Europeans would prefer some flexibility with their working arrangements yet only 37% of employers are actually offering it. Expectations have significantly changed and for employers looking to attract and retain [top talent](https://www.financedigest.com/5-steps-hiring-top-talent-youre-just-start.html "5 steps to hiring top talent when you’re just a start-up "), allowing hybrid working is essential.

Taking all of this into account – are you currently [providing the right support](https://www.financedigest.com/keysource-to-provide-critical-facilitiesmanagement-support-for-leeds-city-council.html "KEYSOURCE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL FACILITIESMANAGEMENT SUPPORT FOR LEEDS CITY COUNCIL") for your employees with an all-encompassing Whole Health offering?

**[Move towards](https://www.financedigest.com/investment-advice-moving-towards-a-new-model.html "Investment advice – moving towards a new model") a more strategic approach to employee Whole Health**

Employee well-being offerings need to be more than just a tick box exercise. They shouldn’t be geared towards getting unwell employees back to the workplace as soon as possible. Instead, they should be focused on empowering employees to take a holistic and preventative approach, and a proactive mindset when it comes to looking after their Whole Health. It’s not about getting employees back to physical wellness as soon as possible, it’s about creating healthy behaviours that can minimise the chance of physical or mental illnesses from occurring at all.

To roll this out effectively in the workplace, it’s fundamental that there’s a fully connected approach to Whole Health that involves everyone, rallies all teams and involves all leaders and managers.  In other words, the workplace may [need an internal culture transformation to truly be thriving](https://www.financedigest.com/10-secrets-every-entrepreneur-needs-to-thrive-in-2023.html "10 Secrets Every Entrepreneur Needs to Thrive in 2023"), vibrant and healthy.

A culture transformation begins by taking a four-phased approach:

- _Listen to your organisation_ – It’s important to listen to your employees and understand how they are feeling. Are they happy and productive? If not, why not? By gaining [insight into your organisation will help you identify key](https://www.financedigest.com/oxidized-starch-market-2022-assessment-and-key-insights-analyzed-till-2027.html "Oxidized Starch Market 2022 Assessment and Key Insights Analyzed Till 2027") areas for action that will make a real difference to your people,
- _Identify what needs to change_ – Once you know what the key issues are, you can plan how you’re going to address them. You might identify some quick wins while others will take time – and that’s ok!
- _Communicate and commit_– Share your internal transformation roadmap with all employees and commit to your objectives and wellness promises, updating them regularly on the progress.
- _Measure the outcomes_– Take time to pause and reflect on the [transformation journey](https://www.financedigest.com/the-road-to-transformation-raconteur-ceos-journey-from-near-bust-to-boom.html "The Road To Transformation: Raconteur CEO’s journey from near bust to boom") so far. Invest time in evaluating the success to date – have the objectives been met, or is further work needed?

**Look forward to improved employee Whole Health in the long-term**

The end goal of your [culture transformation is to adopt a strategic Whole Health approach in the workplace](https://www.financedigest.com/promoting-a-learning-culture-in-the-workplace.html "Promoting a learning culture in the workplace") – one that will become the backbone of the organisation and allow you to tackle the burning HR issues and challenges that you’re losing sleep over.

The workplace transformation will address the gaps between employee needs and employer support by providing them with access to quality tools that focus on looking after the body and mind _as well as_ support for all areas of life – from the [home environment to personal](https://www.financedigest.com/to-be-a-young-person-and-own-your-own-home-should-be-a-dream-that-everyone-has-the-right-to-fulfil.html "“To be a young person and own your own home should be a dream that everyone has the right to fulfil.”") finances and everything in between. This includes, but isn’t limited to, offering a robust health plan, access to virtual health solutions, mental health support, chronic condition [management programmes and physiotherapy services](https://www.financedigest.com/cyclic-innovation-to-drive-the-medical-case-management-services-market.html "Cyclic innovation to drive the Medical Case Management Services Market").

In addition, you’ll have created a workplace culture that is safe, supportive and caring and one that builds a [strong](https://www.financedigest.com/reckon-one-builds-momentum-with-strong-backing-from-accountants-joining-the-cloud-advisor-programme.html "Reckon One builds momentum with strong backing from accountants joining the Cloud Advisor Programme") support network within the company which forms the foundation for building a positive workplace where people are engaged, thriving and productive.

Undertaking an internal culture transformation isn’t for the faint hearted – it is exciting and it is ambitious. It’ll take time and dedication but the outcome for the workplace and for the employees will be worth the effort. Get ready to turn the Whole Health concept into a reality.

For further information about Cigna Europe’s Whole Health mental health solution please visit [Cigna Europe’s website](https://comms.cignaglobal.com/wholehealth-group-products?utm_source=press_release&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=whole_health-mental_health-phase1-organic-cigna-media-uk-en-articles-na).


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---