Top 6 Medical Trends To Watch for 2024 - The Medical Futurist

Here are the six significant medical innovations anticipated to shape healthcare in the coming months:

Generative AI Platforms in Healthcare: Generative AI is expected to transform doctor-patient communication and patient engagement. Applications like chatbots and chronic health management tools, driven by GPT-4-like algorithms, are foreseen to assist patients by answering questions, translating medical jargon, and summarizing medical notes. Google's Med-PaLM 2 is a leading algorithm being trialed in major U.S. hospitals, suggesting a potential shift toward AI becoming the primary contact point in healthcare due to the shortage of human healthcare workers.

Multimodal Large Language Models (M-LLMs) for Hospitals: M-LLMs are considered central AI hubs that can process and interpret multiple types of input data simultaneously, such as text, images, audio, and video. Unlike current medical AIs that handle only one type of data, M-LLMs aim to emulate the multimodal nature of medical processes, where healthcare professionals assess patients through various forms of data. Google's natively multimodal Gemini is a notable advancement in this direction.

Reimagining Blood Testing: Innovations in blood testing include the rise of at-home lab tests, DIY blood draw devices, and blood-drawing robots. At-home lab tests aim to provide clinical accuracy in a convenient setting, while DIY blood draw devices, such as those by Tasso, enable painless blood sample collection at home. The clinical trials of Vitestro's blood-drawing robot represent a significant step toward autonomous blood collection, with expectations of obtaining CE marking by the end of 2024.

Evidence-Based Digital Therapeutics (DTx): DTx delivers evidence-based solutions for managing health conditions through digital technologies, typically delivered via smartphone apps. The field is gaining significance, with studies showing positive outcomes, such as a 40% reduction in rehospitalizations and emergency visits for patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The DTx market is projected to grow substantially, reaching USD 28.66 billion by 2030.

Blood Pressure's PPG Revolution: Photoplethysmography (PPG) is changing how blood pressure is monitored. PPG, a non-invasive optical technique, allows continuous, real-time blood pressure readings, making devices sleeker and more convenient. Examples include the Akita smart bracelet and BioBeat smart patch, both employing PPG sensors for 24-hour monitoring.

AI Digital Twins: AI digital twins, or deepfake avatars, are evolving rapidly and find potential applications in healthcare, such as creating educational materials. Although not yet suitable for patient-facing roles, advancements in this technology, like HeyGen's AI-based translation service, demonstrate the potential for efficient and cost-effective educational content creation.

These innovations are expected to significantly influence healthcare delivery, paving the way for transformative changes in the near future.