[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":375},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-what-does-virtual-first-mean-in-healthcare":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":165,"relatedBooks":286},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":32,"project_category":36,"contact_email_category":37,"yst_prominent_words":38,"class_list":48,"better_featured_image":59,"acf":92,"yoast_meta":109,"_links":112},54951,"2026-04-08T16:57:24","2026-04-08T14:57:24",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=54951&_wpnonce=688a1f4341&status=auto-draft&type=post","2026-04-08T16:57:25","2026-04-08T14:57:25","what-does-virtual-first-mean-in-healthcare","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-does-virtual-first-mean-in-healthcare",{"rendered":17},"What Does Virtual First Mean In Healthcare?",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>In recent years, the term “virtual first” has been gaining traction in the healthcare space. Health insurance companies have been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Farticle-abstract\u002F2786666\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">adopting such approaches\u003C\u002Fa> and there’s even the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fimpact.dimesociety.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IMPACT consortium\u003C\u002Fa> from the Digital Medicine Society that was formed to support virtual first initiatives. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, the novelty of the concept and similarities with terms such as “telehealth” or “virtual visits” indicate the need for a proper introduction. This is what we aim to do with this article that gets us acquainted with the concept, compares it with other similar approaches and considers some of its challenges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>What is virtual first healthcare?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Originating from the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wheel.com\u002Fcompanies-blog\u002Fwhat-is-virtual-first-healthcare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tech industry\u003C\u002Fa>, “virtual first” refers to experiencing a service primarily virtually or remotely rather than through a traditional centralised physical location. This approach gained popularity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F13\u002Fsuccess\u002Fdropbox-virtual-first-future-of-work\u002Findex.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">companies like Dropbox\u003C\u002Fa> adopting such an ethos and this trickled into healthcare delivery as well. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In healthcare, a \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wheel.com\u002Fcompanies-blog\u002Fwhat-is-virtual-first-healthcare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">virtual first approach involves\u003C\u002Fa> accessing medical care first through virtual means, which can then be supplemented by follow-up in-person visits as necessary (for example, to perform radiological scans). This relies on the functionality and interoperability of digital tools such as video conferencing software and personal health sensors for remote data capture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"335\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F02\u002FIMPACT-Virtual-First-Infographic-768x335.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54953\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F02\u002FIMPACT-Virtual-First-Infographic-768x335.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F02\u002FIMPACT-Virtual-First-Infographic.png 1489w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Virtual first care characteristics. Source: https:\u002F\u002Fimpact.dimesociety.org\u002F\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>How does it differ from telehealth and virtual visits?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This approach can sound similar to other terms such as telehealth, virtual or remote care but there are some differences. Telehealth is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wheel.com\u002Fcompanies-blog\u002Fwhat-is-virtual-first-healthcare\" target=\"_blank\">the broader term\u003C\u002Fa> involving the provision of care remotely via communication technologies and includes services ranging from administration to consultation scheduling. Virtual visit itself is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wheel.com\u002Fcompanies-blog\u002Fwhat-is-virtual-first-healthcare\" target=\"_blank\">a component of telehealth\u003C\u002Fa> that involves the virtual doctor-patient interaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1-768x432.png\" alt=\"How COVID catalyzed healthcare trends\" class=\"wp-image-30821\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002Ftelemed-covid-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, virtual first healthcare represents more of \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wheel.com\u002Fcompanies-blog\u002Fwhat-is-virtual-first-healthcare\" target=\"_blank\">a hybrid model\u003C\u002Fa>. It focuses on the first interaction being virtual and combines it with supplemental in-person services to optimise the care delivery as appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Virtual first care in practice\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Currently, virtual first healthcare approaches have been mostly adopted \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedcitynews.com\u002F2024\u002F01\u002Fvirtual-healthcare-payer\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in the US context\u003C\u002Fa>. Companies such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wheel.com\u002Fcompanies-blog\u002Fwhat-is-virtual-first-healthcare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wheel\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fireflyhealth.com\u002Fpost\u002Ffirefly-launches-health-plan-for-employers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Firefly\u003C\u002Fa> provide such plans via their virtual care platforms. The UPMC in Central Pennsylvania \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthcareitnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-upmcs-virtual-first-healthcare-model-works\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">has also launched\u003C\u002Fa> such an option. Their virtual-first, full-service primary care clinic ranges from consultations and diagnostics to coaching and nutrition. Their offering has been met with high satisfaction rates among users.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Virtual-first primary care provides patients with digital access to medical care, as they can consult with a healthcare provider from the comfort of their own home,” \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthcareitnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-upmcs-virtual-first-healthcare-model-works\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said Dr. Salim Saiyed\u003C\u002Fa>, vice president and CMIO at UPMC Central Pennsylvania. “This is particularly beneficial for individuals such as busy professionals or those in rural or underserved communities, who may face challenges in accessing in-person medical care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_391-768x432.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-53653\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_391-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_391-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_391-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_391-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cp>Consultancy group Mercer also \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mercer.com\u002Fen-us\u002Finsights\u002Fus-health-news\u002Fvirtual-first-health-plans-explained\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">identifies advantages\u003C\u002Fa> to virtual first care models. These can improve access to care, reduce associated costs, and deliver better quality of care while providing better convenience. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Despite such approaches being mostly adopted by US-based health insurers, the benefits of virtual first healthcare apply to other regions as well. By eliminating associated costs such as transport and improving access to quality care, such models can make healthcare more accessible. This indicates the potential for a more global rollout of such plans or even the adoption of similar strategies by digital health companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The growing pains of virtual first healthcare \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As a relatively new concept, virtual first care approaches are not devoid of their own challenges. Researchers highlight that virtual first plans \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Farticle-abstract\u002F2786666\" target=\"_blank\">are more likely to be adopted\u003C\u002Fa> by younger and healthier people. This means less health care expenditures and more profit for insurers, rather than bringing meaningful improvements and accessibility of care to those who need it. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“If we choose the universal “everybody in nobody out” system, the virtual-first visit must be made consistent with the values of that patients-first system, and only then, if eventually shown to help rather than to harm, should it be a “virtual-first option”,” \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Farticle-abstract\u002F2786666\">said\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Farticle-abstract\u002F2786666\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjama\u002Farticle-abstract\u002F2786666\">Dr. Robert Vinetz\u003C\u002Fa> of the California Physicians Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This valid concern indicates the need for policymakers to better get acquainted with such novel care approaches. In doing so, they can set up the proper guardrails to ensure that for-profit, virtual first health insurance models don’t perpetuate the accessibility divide. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These signs of growing pains for a novel approach are to be expected. But considering the benefits that virtual first models can bring to patients, the challenges should be addressed in a timely manner. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Written by Dr. Bertalan Meskó & Dr. Pranavsingh Dhunnoo\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Exploring ‘virtual first’ healthcare: a hybrid approach blending digital-first access with in-person care, aimed at enhancing accessibility and efficiency\u003C\u002Fp>\n",16,47901,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31],7079,[33,34,35],7909,7911,7913,[],[],[39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47],2987,4763,1571,1613,1681,1683,1711,2613,2847,[49,14,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58],"post-54951","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tmf","tag-virtual-first-healthcare","tag-virtual-first","tag-hybrid-care",{"id":24,"alt_text":27,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":60,"media_details":61,"post":90,"source_url":91},"image",{"width":62,"height":63,"file":64,"sizes":65,"image_meta":87},6667,3750,"2022\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_338-01.png",{"medium":66,"large":72,"thumbnail":77,"medium_large":81,"1536x1536":82},{"file":67,"width":68,"height":69,"mime-type":70,"source_url":71},"tmf_article_338-01-370x208.png",370,208,"image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_338-01-370x208.png",{"file":73,"width":74,"height":75,"mime-type":70,"source_url":76},"tmf_article_338-01-768x432.png",768,432,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_338-01-768x432.png",{"file":78,"width":79,"height":79,"mime-type":70,"source_url":80},"tmf_article_338-01-150x150.png",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_338-01-150x150.png",{"file":73,"width":74,"height":75,"mime-type":70,"source_url":76},{"file":83,"width":84,"height":85,"mime-type":70,"source_url":86},"tmf_article_338-01-1536x864.png",1536,864,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_338-01-1536x864.png",{"aperture":88,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":88,"copyright":27,"focal_length":88,"iso":88,"shutter_speed":88,"title":27,"orientation":88,"keywords":89},"0",[],47875,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F11\u002Ftmf_article_338-01.png",{"cta_type":93,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"key_takeaways":94,"related_books":101,"related_posts_footer":105,"related_posts":20},"subscribe",[95,97,99],{"title":96},"\u003Cp>Virtual first” healthcare refers to prioritizing remote or virtual access to medical services before in-person visits, leveraging digital tools for initial consultations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":98},"\u003Cp>While related to telehealth and virtual visits, virtual first represents a distinct hybrid model that emphasizes optimizing care delivery by using both virtual and physical resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":100},"\u003Cp>While virtual first healthcare presents accessibility and cost-saving benefits, its adoption faces challenges, including potential disparities in care access for different population groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",[102,103,104],30419,31417,24761,[106,107,108],54887,54811,54819,{"yoast_wpseo_title":110,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":111,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"What Does Virtual First Mean In Healthcare? - The Medical Futurist","Exploring 'virtual first' healthcare: a hybrid approach blending digital-first access with in-person care, aimed at enhancing accessibility and efficiency",{"self":113,"collection":119,"about":122,"author":125,"replies":128,"version-history":131,"predecessor-version":135,"wp:featuredmedia":139,"wp:attachment":142,"wp:term":145,"curies":161},[114],{"href":115,"targetHints":116},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F54951",{"allow":117},[118],"GET",[120],{"href":121},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[123],{"href":124},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[126],{"embeddable":26,"href":127},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F16",[129],{"embeddable":26,"href":130},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=54951",[132],{"count":133,"href":134},11,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F54951\u002Frevisions",[136],{"id":137,"href":138},55015,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F54951\u002Frevisions\u002F55015",[140],{"embeddable":26,"href":141},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F47901",[143],{"href":144},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=54951",[146,149,152,155,158],{"taxonomy":147,"embeddable":26,"href":148},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=54951",{"taxonomy":150,"embeddable":26,"href":151},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=54951",{"taxonomy":153,"embeddable":26,"href":154},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=54951",{"taxonomy":156,"embeddable":26,"href":157},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=54951",{"taxonomy":159,"embeddable":26,"href":160},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=54951",[162],{"name":163,"href":164,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[166],{"id":108,"date":167,"date_gmt":168,"guid":169,"modified":171,"modified_gmt":172,"slug":173,"status":13,"type":14,"link":174,"title":175,"content":177,"excerpt":179,"author":181,"featured_media":182,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":183,"categories":184,"tags":185,"project_category":186,"contact_email_category":189,"yst_prominent_words":190,"class_list":199,"better_featured_image":203,"acf":227,"yoast_meta":240,"_links":243},"2025-02-06T11:35:57","2025-02-06T10:35:57",{"rendered":170},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=54819&_wpnonce=4754b0943c&status=auto-draft&type=post","2025-02-19T09:01:33","2025-02-19T08:01:33","career-guide-in-digital-health-and-healthcare-ai","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fcareer-guide-in-digital-health-and-healthcare-ai",{"rendered":176},"Career Guide In Digital Health And Healthcare AI",{"rendered":178,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>It seems like every other day, someone reaches out to us – aiming their questions at Dr. Meskó, our lead researcher – seeking career advice. Now, let’s set the record straight: doling out career guidance isn’t exactly what we do. Yet, here we are, writing this article. Why? Even though we’re not career advisors, we’re right in the thick of the digital health and healthcare AI world. From this spot, we have a good overview of what you need to get into these booming fields. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, while we might not be career counselors, here are our two cents on which direction to take  – depending on the field from where you come.  Whether your background is tech-savvy, medically inclined, or somewhere in between, this article aims to share some straightforward advice to help you navigate your journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. For researchers\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We’ve previously published our ‘\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-10-research-topics-to-pursue-in-digital-health\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Top 10 Research Topics To Pursue In Digital Health\u003C\u002Fa>,’ where we highlighted potential pathways for researchers. Although over a year has passed since its publication, we still stand by these topics and believe they hold great opportunities for those aspiring to make a mark in digital health and healthcare AI.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Back then we defined four main pillars to determine if a topic was promising enough: \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>Find a niche\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Aim for uncharted territories\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Look for ease of entry\u003C\u002Fli>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Seek answers to important questions\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We recommended research areas like \u003Cem>Diabetes management with wearable trackers including CGMs\u003C\u002Fem>, or \u003Cem>The impact of ECG smartwatches on unnecessary hospital admissions\u003C\u002Fem> and \u003Cem>Virtual reality (VR) therapies outside pain management and phobias \u003C\u002Fem>among others. But these are just a few ideas, so check your desired topics against our four pillars, and follow your own path!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002Ftmf_article_331-01-768x432.png\" alt=\"AI algorithm research topic digital health\" class=\"wp-image-47103\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002Ftmf_article_331-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002Ftmf_article_331-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002Ftmf_article_331-01-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002Ftmf_article_331-01-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F08\u002Ftmf_article_331-01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. With medical background\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Entering the field of digital health and healthcare AI with a medical background presents a unique advantage. Every company in this space needs medical supervision to ensure their developments \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fis-it-revolutionary-a-6-question-checklist-to-assess-any-digital-health-announcement\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">meet real clinical and medical needs\u003C\u002Fa>. But, to efficiently navigate this realm, you must understand the technology you’re working with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It’s not about becoming a developer or data science master but grasping the technological challenges developers face when creating healthcare solutions. Linking clinical requirements and technological capabilities will significantly enhance the effectiveness of these solutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To this end, pursuing courses that provide insight into the intersection of medicine and technology is highly beneficial. Similarly, engaging with scientific literature on this topic can deepen your understanding, so look for papers like Dr. Meskó’s “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002Fs41746-020-00333-z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Short guide for medical professionals in the era of artificial intelligence\u003C\u002Fa>,” which serves as a great starting point for medical professionals keen on navigating the healthcare AI landscape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This approach leads you to the digital health field while also ensuring that technological innovations focus on genuine healthcare needs, resulting in patient-centered solutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. With tech background\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If your expertise lies in the tech realm, the key to making a meaningful impact in digital health and healthcare AI is to develop a thorough understanding of real medical, clinical, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fare-you-too-old-to-use-digital-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">patient needs\u003C\u002Fa>. Developing technology for its own sake, without a clear application in the clinical world, is unlikely to stand the test of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ften-ways-technology-changing-healthcare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">real-world healthcare challenges\u003C\u002Fa>. Tech professionals need to grasp the medical and, most importantly, the patient perspective, should we talk about physical products, research or clinical design. We discussed these with real-life examples in detail \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jmir.org\u002F2022\u002F8\u002Fe39178\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in this paper\u003C\u002Fa>, the common denominator is that we need to understand what patients want to improve. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The current AI revolution offers great healthcare opportunities for data scientists, or AI developers building neural networks and\u002For large language models (just to name a few examples). They don’t need to graduate from a medical university to connect tech advancements to practical problems to create tangible results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Focusing on patient design and incorporating feedback from medical professionals can bridge the gap between technological potential and healthcare reality, creating solutions that are both innovative and genuinely beneficial to patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Engaging in patient-centered design is an excellent direction for tech professionals entering the healthcare space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_technological-advances-in-the-future-of-medicine2-768x432.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-53955\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_technological-advances-in-the-future-of-medicine2-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_technological-advances-in-the-future-of-medicine2-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_technological-advances-in-the-future-of-medicine2-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_technological-advances-in-the-future-of-medicine2.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. For those transitioning from traditional med-tech to digital health\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Individuals with a background in medical technology, and especially those who exclusively develop solutions for medical professionals, face a unique transition when moving into the digital health sector. This shift requires an in-depth understanding of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-technologies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fundamentals of digital health\u003C\u002Fa> and the ongoing paradigm shift and cultural revolution transforming the healthcare landscape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Such a move represents a significant change, not just in technology but in mindset and application. Developing for digital health diverges from traditional medical settings in several crucial factors. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As digital health typically targets a broader user base, including patients, caregivers, and healthcare consumers, a user-friendly design and an intuitive interface accessible to non-professionals is a must. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fbeyond-the-hype-the-top-5-digital-health-devices-making-a-real-difference-in-my-life\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">development of digital health solutions\u003C\u002Fa> frequently involves a diverse mix of expertise, potentially including elements from data science, user experience design, and behavioral science, beyond traditional engineering and medical expertise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another factor to keep in mind is the drastically different approach to data. Digital health initiatives, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-manifesto\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">by definition\u003C\u002Fa>, aim to make health data more accessible and understandable to patients, empowering them to take an active role in their health management. This is a shift from med-tech’s guarded approach to medical data. With this comes the last unique factor: field-specific challenges of data privacy and security, which are the basics of creating safe digital health spaces. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. For biomedical engineers\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Biomedical engineering stands at the crossroads of engineering and healthcare, representing a field where specialists have a firm understanding of both technology and the foundational elements of digital health. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For biomedical engineers, the likely focus for further development should be on honing their communication skills with doctors and patients alike. While they possess the technical expertise and have a grasp on the medical and patient perspectives, the ability to effectively communicate and translate complex technical concepts into actionable, understandable information for medical professionals and laypersons is paramount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Their unique position allows them to serve as a central “\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fwhat-would-make-every-doctor-use-digital-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">communication hub\u003C\u002Fa>” between patients, healthcare professionals, and tech teams. Ideally, this ensures that innovations align with the real-world needs of healthcare providers and patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>We’re living in a fascinating era where fields that were once miles apart are now converging to develop health-related products and services. This convergence creates previously unseen collaborations and overlaps. Due to this, a “hodgepodge” of knowledge from different domains can become highly sought after, favoring generalists – people proficient in multiple areas. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Having said all that, the guiding principle for navigating one’s career should not be to follow the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmedical-specialties-with-the-biggest-potential-in-the-future\" target=\"_blank\">top lists\u003C\u002Fa> but be driven by curiosity and belief in\u002Fpassion for the path chosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":180,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Whether your background is tech-savvy, medically inclined, or somewhere in between, this article aims to share some straightforward advice to help you navigate your journey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,54827,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31],[],[187,188],949,950,[],[191,43,44,192,193,194,195,196,197,41,198],1631,1693,1719,1723,1739,1833,3615,1617,[200,14,50,51,52,53,54,55,201,202],"post-54819","project_category-educators","project_category-medical-professionals",{"id":182,"alt_text":204,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":60,"media_details":205,"post":108,"source_url":226},"career doctor TMF",{"width":206,"height":207,"file":208,"filesize":209,"sizes":210,"image_meta":224},1280,720,"2024\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_401ai.png",1633636,{"medium":211,"large":215,"thumbnail":219,"medium_large":223},{"file":212,"width":68,"height":69,"mime-type":70,"filesize":213,"source_url":214},"tmf_article_401ai-370x208.png",98886,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_401ai-370x208.png",{"file":216,"width":74,"height":75,"mime-type":70,"filesize":217,"source_url":218},"tmf_article_401ai-768x432.png",454186,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_401ai-768x432.png",{"file":220,"width":79,"height":79,"mime-type":70,"filesize":221,"source_url":222},"tmf_article_401ai-150x150.png",28717,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_401ai-150x150.png",{"file":216,"width":74,"height":75,"mime-type":70,"filesize":217,"source_url":218},{"aperture":88,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":88,"copyright":27,"focal_length":88,"iso":88,"shutter_speed":88,"title":27,"orientation":88,"keywords":225},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_401ai.png",{"cta_type":93,"cta_color":27,"related_books":228,"related_posts_footer":229,"related_posts":20,"subtitle":27,"key_takeaways":233},[102,104,103],[230,231,232],54743,54593,54435,[234,236,238],{"title":235},"\u003Cp>Fields that were once miles apart are now converging to develop health-related products and services, and this convergence creates previously unseen collaborations and overlaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":237},"\u003Cp>Thus a “hodgepodge” of knowledge from different domains can become highly sought after, favoring generalists – people proficient in multiple areas\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":239},"\u003Cp>As how to enter the digital health and healthcare AI fields with various backgrounds is a question we get daily, here are our two cents based on your initial background.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":241,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":242,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":174},"Career Guide In Digital Health And Healthcare AI - The Medical Futurist","Whether your background is tech-savvy, medically inclined, or somewhere in between, here is some straightforward advice to help you navigate your journey.",{"self":244,"collection":249,"about":251,"author":253,"replies":256,"version-history":259,"predecessor-version":263,"wp:featuredmedia":267,"wp:attachment":270,"wp:term":273,"curies":284},[245],{"href":246,"targetHints":247},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F54819",{"allow":248},[118],[250],{"href":121},[252],{"href":124},[254],{"embeddable":26,"href":255},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[257],{"embeddable":26,"href":258},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=54819",[260],{"count":261,"href":262},12,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F54819\u002Frevisions",[264],{"id":265,"href":266},58521,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F54819\u002Frevisions\u002F58521",[268],{"embeddable":26,"href":269},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F54827",[271],{"href":272},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=54819",[274,276,278,280,282],{"taxonomy":147,"embeddable":26,"href":275},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=54819",{"taxonomy":150,"embeddable":26,"href":277},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=54819",{"taxonomy":153,"embeddable":26,"href":279},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=54819",{"taxonomy":156,"embeddable":26,"href":281},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=54819",{"taxonomy":159,"embeddable":26,"href":283},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=54819",[285],{"name":163,"href":164,"templated":26},[287],{"id":104,"date":288,"date_gmt":289,"guid":290,"modified":292,"modified_gmt":293,"slug":294,"status":13,"type":295,"link":296,"title":297,"content":299,"excerpt":301,"author":303,"featured_media":304,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"template":27,"yst_prominent_words":305,"class_list":307,"better_featured_image":310,"acf":328,"yoast_meta":344,"_links":346},"2023-11-01T15:46:07","2023-11-01T14:46:07",{"rendered":291},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_type=book&p=24761","2023-11-01T15:46:17","2023-11-01T14:46:17","tech-giants-in-healthcare","book","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fbooks\u002Ftech-giants-in-healthcare\u002F",{"rendered":298},"Tech Giants in Healthcare – Updated Edition",{"rendered":300,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>This comprehensive guide, Tech Giants in Healthcare, clarifies how and why big tech companies step into healthcare, and breaks it down from one market player to the other in what direction they are going, what tools they are using and what horizons they have in front of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":302,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>This comprehensive guide, Tech Giants in Healthcare, clarifies how and why big tech companies step into healthcare, and breaks it down from one market player […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",10,53261,[44,306],1595,[308,295,309,51,53,54],"post-24761","type-book",{"id":304,"alt_text":27,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":60,"media_details":311,"post":104,"source_url":327},{"width":312,"height":313,"file":314,"filesize":315,"sizes":316,"image_meta":325},700,906,"2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-1.png",1092124,{"medium":317,"thumbnail":321},{"file":318,"width":68,"height":69,"mime-type":70,"filesize":319,"source_url":320},"1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-1-370x208.png",112044,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-1-370x208.png",{"file":322,"width":79,"height":79,"mime-type":70,"filesize":323,"source_url":324},"1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-1-150x150.png",42366,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-1-150x150.png",{"aperture":88,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":88,"copyright":27,"focal_length":88,"iso":88,"shutter_speed":88,"title":27,"orientation":88,"keywords":326},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-1.png",{"leanpub_url":329,"buy_button_text":330,"preview":331},"https:\u002F\u002Fleanpub.com\u002Ftech-giants-in-healthcare","Get it on Leanpub",[332,334,336,338,340,342],{"image":333},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-10-01.png",{"image":335},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-10-02.png",{"image":337},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-10-03.png",{"image":339},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-10-04.png",{"image":341},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-10-05.png",{"image":343},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F05\u002F1031_techgiants_2023-5-1-10-06.png",{"yoast_wpseo_title":345,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":27,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":296},"Tech Giants in Healthcare - Updated Edition - The Medical Futurist",{"self":347,"collection":352,"about":355,"author":358,"replies":361,"wp:featuredmedia":364,"wp:attachment":367,"wp:term":370,"curies":373},[348],{"href":349,"targetHints":350},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fbook\u002F24761",{"allow":351},[118],[353],{"href":354},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fbook",[356],{"href":357},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fbook",[359],{"embeddable":26,"href":360},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F10",[362],{"embeddable":26,"href":363},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24761",[365],{"embeddable":26,"href":366},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F53261",[368],{"href":369},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24761",[371],{"taxonomy":159,"embeddable":26,"href":372},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24761",[374],{"name":163,"href":164,"templated":26},1788949100751]