The following text is based on the GDI study "Next Health", that can be downloaded free of charge on our website.
COVID-19 has given telemedicine a boost. Medical treatment became mobile. It was no longer tethered to a medical practice, hospital or pharmacy. It could take place anywhere: at home, at the supermarket, at work, at the airport or at school. It is becoming easier and easier to collect data in a decentralised manner, consult medical specialists online and order medications directly. In more and more cases, an in-person visit to a medical practice is being reserved for severe illnesses and emergencies.
Thanks to smart technology, telemedicine could increasingly be used even in emergencies in the future. It is even possible that more and more health-related irregularities will be detected without the affected person feeling unwell. For instance, cardiac arrhythmias could be identified based on photos or on biodata from a smart watch.
There will be a shift in the distribution of tasks among service providers and patients. Digitalisation will make it possible for patients to undergo even complex diagnostics and treatments from home in a decentralised manner. They could carry out the necessary diagnostics or treatments by themselves or with the help of relatives or nurses. For patients, a DIY approach means more self-determination, but also more responsibility. This often goes hand in hand with uncertainty and a feeling of being overwhelmed.
Telemedicine works. It is practical and benefits patients and doctors, who thus have more capacity and can treat more people.
Study, 2020 (free download)
Languages: German, English, French
Format: PDF
Commissioned by: sminds AG
What if? Infographic: vegan society 2050
By 2050, we might no longer be consuming any animal products. A GDI infographic of plant-based protein producers suggests that ways will be found for people to eat a purely vegan diet without having to give up anything.
Future Skills: Gig Economy Precariat
What must a digital day labourer be able to do in an uncertain world? Which skills are required?
Future of work: the office is in the cloud
From a technical point of view, the future of work has long been here, writes GDI researcher Stefan Breit in an article. Due to the corona pandemic, the mind-shift is now following. Remote is becoming the standard, on-site the exception. An information graphic shows how and where we will work in the future.