Drivers and trends

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: