Health Care Trends 2024: Sector-by-Sector Watchlist
Political, social, and marketplace trends crisscrossing the health care landscape going into 2024 present actionable strategic and operational challenges — and opportunities.
// By Lindsay Resnick, MHA //
Overall, the 2024 forecast for the health care sector is “fasten your seat belts.” Investments in technology adoption or replacement, labor costs, spending on infrastructure, and a volatile economy translate into higher insurance premiums, rising hospital and physician fees, and increased drug prices. It’s time to end the blame game finger-pointing that’s consumed the industry and move the health care sector toward an environment of collaboration.
Across all sectors, artificial intelligence (AI) can be expected to dominate the discussion. Slowly gaining traction through diagnostic tools and chatbots, AI’s functionality and accessibility are likely to boom in the coming year. As ChatGPT enters its second year with internet data capturing more than 300 billion words, the health care community, from scientists to marketers, will remain obsessed with debating pros and cons of using AI. Other hot trending topics that will carry over into 2024 include mental health access, digital health investment/ROI, food as medicine, and correcting health care inequities.
The following is a sector-by-sector trend watchlist providing quick takeaways to keep on your radar for the new year.