We live in an exciting era for health technology.
Never before has the potential for innovation been so vast and never before has there been such a pressing need to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. With this potential, the market is seeing a surge in independent suppliers offering their own digital solutions to public health systems like the NHS. The assumption is simple: competition drives innovation and the best solutions rise to the top. But does that logic hold up when applied to the realities of healthcare?
When going digital misses the point
Digital transformation is the buzzword of the moment. Everyone’s in a hurry to go digital and understandably so. After all, if you’re not digital in today’s world, are you even relevant? But this rush to transform can sometimes be more about ticking a box than making meaningful improvements.
Take the example of paper-based processes. Many organisations take their old workflows, digitise them and call it innovation. But in many cases, nothing fundamentally changes. The same inefficiencies that existed on paper continue to exist, now hidden behind a screen. I recently read a BMJ article titled “Forget About AI, Just Get Our Computers to Work”, in which a GP shared his frustration with electronic discharge letters. Yes, they were digital but they still had to be printed out and manually signed because no one thought to incorporate e-signatures. It’s a perfect example of technology for the sake of technology.
We see this all the time: the drive to go digital without asking, “How does this improve things? How does this serve the end user?” It’s not about AI for the sake of AI or digital for the sake of digital. It’s about applying technology in ways that actually make a difference.
The fragmentation of data
Nowhere is this more evident than in the NHS’s fragmented data system. In an ideal world, the NHS would have a single, centralised database. One that’s fully searchable, packed with deep, functional data and capable of providing real-time insights into patient care, research and public health. But the reality is far more complicated.
Instead, we have a patchwork of systems, many of which don’t integrate well with one another. There are digital tools that don’t talk to other digital tools. There’s vital information trapped in non-searchable PDFs and scanned letters. And on top of that, many of the independent suppliers providing solutions to the NHS come from different regulatory backgrounds, which complicates the process even further.
This fragmentation creates headaches for healthcare professionals, who are left to navigate a complex web of competing systems. Worse, it raises the question: Are these innovations actually improving patient outcomes, or are they just adding more layers of complexity?
What can we do to mitigate these issues?
As both buyers and suppliers, we have a moral responsibility to ensure that the digital solutions we’re implementing are beneficial and not just adding to the mess.
For buyers, this means taking a holistic view. Don’t just look for a quick fix for one part of the pathway. Consider how any new solution fits into the broader system. Does it solve a real problem?
Will it integrate seamlessly with other systems?
Will it help healthcare professionals do their jobs more effectively?
And most importantly, will it improve patient outcomes?
For suppliers, we need to do better. We need to consult widely, involve as many stakeholders as possible and resist the temptation to push out the latest shiny new thing without fully considering its long-term impact. Every solution we propose should be evaluated in the context of the broader healthcare ecosystem. We have a responsibility to avoid contributing to the very fragmentation that’s causing so many problems in the first place.
At Waymark, we believe in bespoke development and consultative processes that address entire pathways, not just isolated pain points. Our solutions are designed to integrate with existing systems and enhance, rather than complicate, healthcare delivery. We have a duty to weigh the potential benefits of any proposed solution against its contribution to the broader system and to keep the user at the heart of everything we do.
It’s time to think beyond digital for the sake of digital. The future of healthcare depends not just on innovation, but on thoughtful, holistic solutions that serve the people they’re meant to help.
Regardless of your role in transformation, you need to appreciate the bigger picture and help create a future state that works for everyone. Let’s make an effort to evolve responsibly and creatively.
Book an Xploration and start your digital transformation
Ready to take the next step? Book an Xploration with Waymark to explore how we can help integrate digital solutions that matter—not just for today, but for the long term.