Drivers and trends

for Internet of People

The emerging paradigm shift in healthcare environments, driven by societal changes, advanced technology and digitalization, is transforming healthcare from doctor-centred to person-centred and from hospital to home care. The lines of boundaries between home, formal healthcare institutions and after care are blurring, making room for integrated healthcare systems with higher quality standards. Reduced funding is necessitating novel business and care delivery models. This is supported by faster internet connections, smartphones, emerging platforms and evolving payment models. Volumes of data and information flows between all participants are rapidly increasing, as are the numerous internet-enabled personal and medical devices. For example, personalized electronic health records have been a vital tool to reduce errors, and technology has to be embedded into simpler processes in order to underpin the new healthcare regimes 18.

Based on a review of documents, papers, and reports of large global consulting organizations and academia 5, 19-25, we conclude that the following trends are likely to help the Internet of People disrupt healthcare delivery in the next years to come:

Rebooting healthcare
Change Description

Change

Ubiquitous sensors

Description

Cheap, wearable and online sensors, devices and software applications enable us to monitor and analyse our own health in greater detail, gathering increasing amounts of personal health data and analytics.

Change

New digital ecosystems

Description

New configurations of product and service providers jointly offer new value to the market.

For example, various technology platforms in liaison with device providers, “app” providers and medical experts are offering new value in the health and well-being market.

Change

Self-service and personalization

Description

People and organizations prefer self-service if they can get access to more personalized services at the time and location of their choice. With improvements in user experience, the threshold of using advanced self-service systems is lowered.

Change

Blurring of traditional segment boundaries

Description

Companies and organizations are seeking new opportunities outside their traditional market segments.

Personal device suppliers are investing in the health and well-being market, healthcare providers may offer their own “apps”, computer manufacturers are offering diagnostics by artificial intelligence, and so on.

Change

Automation

Description

More diagnostics, decisions and advice will be provided by “intelligent” systems based on personal and group-related health data and analytics.

Change

Connectivity 24/7

Description

Mobility, connectivity and cloud-based services enable the collection and centralized processing of individual and population-based data.

Change

Digital trust

Description

The increasing amount of sensitive, personal data in the hands of new and existing actors will grow demand for cyber security and regulations.

Change

Technology induced behavioral change

Description

New technology is inducing behavioural changes faster than regulatory bodies are able to react with new legislation and rules to protect consumers and prevent big international actors from establishing a monopoly-like market dominance.

Change

Network-based business models

Description

Digital services such as social media, search engines, online auctions and advertisements are available free of charge. The business model of these companies is to offer access to the data trail generated by their users to other organizations.

Healthcare in DNV

We will develop assurance roles in healthcare helping organizations preserve health.

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