Accenture Report: Internet Healthcare Is Transforming Patient Experience

This week, Accenture released its “2015 Accenture Technology Vision Survey Report,” which incorporates questionnaire responses from more than 1,000 executives across various industries in both developed and emerging markets, including over 100 respondents from life sciences companies.

Approximately 70% of life sciences company executives indicated in the survey that next-generation internet healthcare platforms will be led not by technology companies, but by healthcare and life sciences firms.Approximately 60% of respondents indicated that they plan to establish partnerships with new technology companies within the next two years. In developed markets, 45% of respondents stated that they have already leveraged industry platforms to share data with internet-based business partners, while 26% reported that they are currently piloting such initiatives.

Accenture points out that the number of wearable device users is expected to double next year.Meanwhile, 73% of surveyed life sciences company executives stated that they are using or piloting the use of wearable devices and “smart gadgets” to engage customers, employees, or partners. Seventy-five percent of respondents said that personalized customer experience has become one of their top three priorities today, while 25% indicated that it is the top priority for their business.

Approximately 85% of respondents indicated that they believe greater adoption of smart hardware, sensors, and other connected devices will help life sciences companies transition from merely peddling various products to delivering measurable medical outcomes.

Accenture also cited a study that estimated the potential cost savings of certain internet technologies: “Using internet access and remote monitoring to diagnose and treat type 2 diabetes can save at least $697 per patient annually, with total annual savings reaching up to $19.2 billion.”

Accenture’s report also includes extensive recommendations for life sciences researchers, including the following three: participate in the health revolution, personalize the patient journey, and establish and maintain a trusted digital safe haven.

“There is a significant opportunity to engage in disease prevention, monitoring, and treatment through digital means,” Accenture wrote. “Apps and wearable devices are being leveraged to promote public health, reduce delays in seeking medical care, and prevent diseases... The nature of access points is evolving as the focus shifts to the patient journey and how to help patients create enjoyable digital experiences. Correspondingly, digital health channels are continuously developing—from the internet to mobile networks, and then to the Internet of Things (IoT)—becoming increasingly personalized and more beneficial to patients... To succeed in the transformation toward creating highly personalized experiences, life sciences companies must build a bond of trust with patients, thereby driving broader adoption of their services.”

Click here for the full report→_→Here

Compiled by Chen Xin
Edited by | Mo Renying