The healthcare industry has been through much throughout the past few years. With the pandemic’s grip still clasping onto virtually every aspect of the healthcare industry, some changes may be warranted to bring the industry into the future and better serve patients. 
 
The pandemic left no doubt that many healthcare organizations require better innovation and solutions for serving people and delivering better outcomes, especially on the industry’s backend. Accessibility, the availability of telehealth, billing issues, and communication between provider and patient were all matters of concern during the pandemic and must remain a focus of improvement as this unprecedented time wanes. 
 
There is no question that broad changes still need to be made throughout the healthcare industry. However, medical providers, offices, and organizations will need to learn what changes need to be made, as well as how to go about best make those necessary changes. 
 
Backend Improvements 
 
The direction of healthcare is a concern for many, from providers to patients, to employees of healthcare organizations that may be falling behind in terms of innovation or service. Management, finance, and structure are aspects of healthcare organizations’ operations that are vital to their longevity and ultimate success. Many organizations may still be holding on to antiquated systems because they are not completely in tune with how these outdated approaches may negatively affect them. As such, those organizations require actionable insight to improve their approach to patient service, experience, and overall wellbeing. 
 
Multidisciplinary challenges from medical providers may require a third-party intervention to be completely remedied. An expert consultant can help organizations not only identify aspects of their processes and systems that need to be addressed but walk them through the changes required. 
 
The healthcare landscape is complex, comprised of not only providers but managed care organizations (MCOs), senior care groups, and providers of core clinical operations. These entities work in tandem to serve patients and often run up against the same issues of outdated processes, hindered growth, and marketing. 
 
Patient expectations are shifting, especially in the wake of the changes wrought by the pandemic. They want their providers, insurance companies, and other healthcare entities to be adaptable, technologically adept, and easy to work with. In order to best keep up with patient expectations, healthcare organizations need to evaluate where they fall short and come to terms with where — and how — they need to improve. 
 
Elevating Healthcare 
 
To build a truly great healthcare organization means being open to a wide breadth of solutions; the sweeping changes that are still needed in the healthcare industry will require innovation and open minds. Every aspect of backend management — such as data analytics, human resources, regulatory compliance, and finances — is ripe for change in this new era of post-pandemic healthcare. 
 
As experts survey the healthcare landscape, it steadily becomes clearer to identify what is missing. With fully built-out consulting services, healthcare entities can be elevated to a point where providers and MCOs can conduct functional business, and patients come to know what to expect. Typically, ideas of “faster, cheaper, and better” are pipe dreams for businesses. But when it comes to healthcare, faster, less expensive, and improved processes can be achieved. 
 
Improving Healthcare to Fit Patient Needs 
 
Is the healthcare industry as we know it okay? The answer differs depending on who you ask. I believe most people would agree that some forward-thinking and innovative changes could radically improve the state of healthcare in our country. 
 
In 2020, a record $5.4 billion in funding bolstered digital healthcare companies. In 2021, 24 percent of survey respondents to a McKinsey study reported taking advantage of telehealth visits. The same study also found that more people were considering seeking health insurance if they were uninsured pre-pandemic. Patients are driving rapid change and demanding that healthcare entities sit up and take notice. 
 
We are entering a time of significant change in the healthcare sector, with some of the most innovative solutions expected to come about in the next decade. Those of us on the frontlines of the industry are anticipating these changes and ready to help healthcare organizations adapt and better serve patients as things rapidly change. The golden era of transformative change is upon us, making it an exciting time to be in healthcare. 
 
The author, Roy Bejarano is the Co-Founder and CEO of SCALE Healthcare. SCALE provides both the broadest and deepest range of solutions available to healthcare management teams today.