Health Organizations are Embracing Emerging Technologies but Must Do More Amid Changing Consumer Expectations, Accenture Report Finds

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new report by Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has found that, as digital
becomes increasingly more critical in all aspects of healthcare,
organizations must master a new set of emerging digital technologies to
deliver convenient and effective care.

According to the report, Accenture
Digital Health Technology Vision, nearly all (94%) of the
221 health executives surveyed said they believe emerging technologies
have accelerated the pace of innovation over the past three years.

However, while technology investments have progressed, healthcare
organizations must do more to meet rising consumer and employee
expectations for when, where and how they experience care. For example,
three-fourths (77%) of health executives believe their employees are
currently more digitally mature than their organization, resulting in a
workforce “waiting” for the organization to catch up.

The report argues that a combination of emerging technologies known as
“DARQ”—distributed ledger, artificial intelligence (AI),
extended reality (XR) and quantum computing—will spark a step change in
becoming healthcare’s future digital foundation. More than two-thirds
(68%) of executives believe DARQ will have a transformational or
extensive impact on their organizations over the next three years, and
most (89%) are currently experimenting with at least one DARQ technology.

The Accenture Digital Health Technology Vision report is derived from
Accenture’s most-recent annual technology report which predicts key
trends likely to disrupt business over the next three years. Among the
findings from healthcare executives:

• Of the four DARQ technologies, 41% believe AI will have the greatest
  impact on their organization over the short-term.
• 38% of health organizations have already adopted XR across one or more
  business units, the most of any DARQ technology, creating new,
  immersive ways for clinicians and consumers to experience and engage
  with the world around them.
• 87% of healthcare executives agree that the integration of
  customization and real-time delivery is the next big wave of
  competitive advantage.
• 82% agree 5G will revolutionize healthcare by offering new ways to
  provide products and services.
• 86% believe that consumers’ digital demographics are increasingly
  becoming a more powerful way to understand their customers.
• 68% agree that within the next three years, every employee in their
  organizations will be empowered with access to a team of bots to
  accomplish their work.

“Like other aspects of their daily lives, consumers increasingly expect
technology to enable health organizations to meet them when, how and
where they want care,” said Kaveh
Safavi, M.D., J.D., senior managing director of Accenture’s health
practice. “Despite considerable effort to-date, there remains a long
journey ahead to deliver the rich, individualized, experience-based
relationships that modern patients demand. But one thing is clear – it
is no longer a matter of if these needs will be met, but when. Investing
in DARQ technologies will be crucial to developing new pathways into the
future.”

Methodology

The Accenture Technology Vision is developed annually by the Accenture
Labs and Accenture Research. For the 2019 report, Accenture gathered
input from the Technology Vision External Advisory Board, conducted
interviews with technology luminaries and industry experts. In parallel,
Accenture Research conducted a global online survey of 6,672 business
and IT executives from 27 countries, including 221 U.S. and Canadian
health executives. The survey was fielded from October 2018 through
December 2018.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a
broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting,
digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and
specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business
functions — underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network —
Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help
clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their
stakeholders. With 477,000 people serving clients in more than 120
countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world
works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Contacts

Jenn Francis
Accenture
+1 630 338 6426
jennifer.francis@accenture.com