The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Digital Transformation of Healthcare - Part 1

Prompting digital transformation

Entire workforces who suddenly have to work from home. Students who are no longer allowed in their class rooms. Shopping when all stores are closed. Digital solutions have seldom been as strong and in demand in so many areas of our lives as they were in 2020. This also includes healthcare. It goes without saying that digital transformation of the healthcare system has not just started since the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is accelerated by it as shown by a KPMG study. Decisions are made faster and financial resources are discussed more quickly. One study participant said that the work of two years was completed within two months¹. Statements from the KPMG study are also confirmed by Alfred Angerer, Professor of Health Economics. The health expert believes that digitalization in the Swiss healthcare system was advancing at a snail's pace until recently, but everything is now running faster².

Digital transformation required from all sides

Due to the pandemic, more and more patients are demanding digital solutions³. As a result of the pandemic, digital technologies are promoted and in greater demand in communication between healthcare providers. When communicating with laboratories, for instance, faxes have largely been replaced by a uniform data exchange format. Although this transition was initiated years ago, the pandemic has now greatly accelerated it. Digital transformation is also being promoted politically. With the Health 2030 Strategy, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) intends to tackle digitalization in the healthcare system. The Digital Transformation Division has been specially created for this purpose since April 2020⁴

Video consultations instead of doctor's office

The KPMG study shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has made telemedicine and video consultations in particular much more important⁵. The increasing demand for video consultation solutions is also noticeable at Medicosearch. Medicosearch offers the customers its own tool for video consultations, MedicoVideo. The number of consultations via MedicoVideo has increased rapidly since the beginning of the pandemic. Beat Burger, Founder of Medicosearch, says the COVID-19 pandemic has urged healthcare providers and patients to lose their fear of contact with video consultations. Demand remained high even after the spring lockdown. He is convinced that both sides have now recognized the advantages of video consultations and will not want to do without them even after the pandemic