Minding the patient’s mind in 2022

With the year 2020 well behind us, Covid-19’s presence continues to linger world over. Of all the industries that have been forever changed by the impact of the global pandemic, healthcare arguably has grown by leaps and bounds. If 2021 was a bellwether for the coming years in healthcare, the demand on providers and other stakeholders in the medical industry will continue to accelerate. I believe, the theme of 2022 will be patient safety and empowerment.

In the last two years we’ve seen that the challenges created by the pandemic resulted in a number of patients shying away from visiting the hospital or delaying much-required medical treatment. The biggest challenge for us this year will be winning back the confidence of patients as we transition from pandemic response to pandemic recovery. The healthcare industry will need to rededicate itself to build a system where patients believe that high-quality, safe, equitable, high-value care is what they receive every time they walk into a hospital.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” This quote by Arthur C. Clarke pretty much sums up the future of surgery. It offers fantastic cooperation between humans and technology, which could elevate the level of precision and efficiency of surgeries so high we have never seen before. 3D and 4D laparoscopic systems, surgical robots and new imaging methods will continue to improve clinical outcomes this year.

Although the healthcare industry has made great strides in recent years toward a new evolution in healthcare delivery, we can’t rest on the progress we have made. As we look to 2022, a critical goal every major player in the industry will share is the expansion of healthcare technology. Bold plays in digital will help solve a range of clinical and operational challenges. The focus will be on improving performance, productivity, efficiency, and patient outcomes without sacrificing reliability or accessibility.

This is exactly wherein our latest acquisition falls in place. In a strategic tie-up with Varian Medical Systems, we are soon to launch the Ethos linear accelerator making us the first hospital in India to have acquired this machine. The advanced radiation oncology technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create customised cancer-fighting treatment plans in minutes – a process that traditionally takes days to develop. This machine will add to our gamut of existing cancer-fighting linear accelerators – TrueBeam and Halcyon.

While medical science is currently being transformed by scientific discoveries that have dramatically advanced the way we diagnose and treat different diseases, why should infrastructure be left behind? When it comes to traditional brick and mortar, in addition to our existing three hospitals, we’re looking to open a new 200-bedded centre at Amanora Park and another 200-bedded hospital in Satara this year.

Moreover, we’re also expanding our services in the form of diagnostic centres. This year we’re all set to launch our new centre at Warje with a host of diagnostic and health check facilities. These new facilities will provide individuals and families living in these neighbourhoods with excellent access to the same high-quality services for which Ruby Hall Clinic is nationally and internationally recognised.

The year 2022 will continue to be about how we adapt to the rapidly changing healthcare needs due to demographic and epidemiological factors, the advent of technology-enabled healthcare systems, and the changing expectations of both healthcare workforce and, crucially, patients.

As healthcare providers, our priority will remain to continue to mind patient minds – making them feel secure and safe, every step of the way.

The author is Chief Executive Officer, Ruby Hall Clinic.