As we look ahead to 2025, we can see how the healthcare industry will continue to be shaped by advancements in AI; revolutionizing clinical decision-making and healthcare delivery, enhancing patient outcomes, reducing clinical burdens, and streamlining workflows. While these advancements are driving the next wave of progress, challenges such as data privacy, regulatory compliance, and algorithmic bias remain, requiring ongoing attention and innovation.
This article explores the top 5 digital health trends expected to shape the healthcare landscape in 2025.
AI opportunities – and challenges
Recent years have seen huge attention and resources given to how AI and machine learning (ML) can be used to transform the healthcare industry, especially in areas such as improving patient outcomes and increasing operational efficiency. As we move into 2025, this trend is expected to continue, with advancements in AI technologies, including large language models, further enhancing their applications across healthcare. The ability to analyze vast amounts of data and generate actionable insights will make AI tools even more impactful, driving improvements in clinical decision-making, patient outcomes, and healthcare delivery.
Predictive analytics can drive personalized healthcare strategies, optimize treatment plans, and improve patient engagement. Furthermore, these models can support clinical decision-making, streamline healthcare workflows, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes on a broader scale.
However, as AI and ML systems become more deeply embedded into healthcare, the initial hype around these tools has shifted to the reality of getting to grips with the challenges that still need to be tackled. These include issues such as developing standardized frameworks for AI applications, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting patient data privacy. The ethical implications of AI are also critical, with concerns about bias in algorithms affecting the accuracy and fairness of healthcare decisions.
You can read more about the role of AI and ML in healthcare and regulations that govern it here
CDS tools become ever more important in reducing clinical burden
One major area where AI needs come to the fore in 2025 is in helping to reduce the clinical burden. A study by the World Economic Forum projects a shortage of 10 million healthcare providers (HCPs) by 2030. With the demands on healthcare professionals showing no sign of slowing down and existing staff reporting increased stress and burnout, AI’s potential to alleviate some of these pressures must be utilized.
However, that potential is not as straightforward as simply providing clinicians and healthcare workers with more data from various digital health solutions. Research by Politico reveals that 7 in 10 clinicians experience data overload and struggle to make sense of the massive amounts of information generated by digital health solutions and medical devices.
The solution needs to be more centered on Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tools that use AI to sort through vast quantities of data, identifying patterns, and generating actionable insights in minutes, allowing clinicians to make better-informed decisions more quickly.
You can read more about the role CDS tools in reducing the clinical burden here
The increased use of digital tools in clinical trials
Decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) are continuing to grow and gain traction, largely due to the capabilities of the digital health tools that facilitate these trials. The global decentralized clinical trials market was estimated at US$ 8.29 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to US$ 38.2 billion by 2034. DCTs powered by digital tools face fewer traditional clinical trial challenges, such as geographical limitations, lack of adherence, and low participant engagement. They also provide opportunities to gather more accurate information about how a drug or medical device performs in real-world settings.
Recognizing these challenges, life science companies are increasingly adopting digital health innovations to conduct more effective, precise, and cost-efficient trials. By removing geographical barriers, digital solutions make it easier for diverse populations, including those in remote or underserved areas, to participate. Screening tools help identify and enroll suitable participants more quickly, while user-friendly digital interfaces and real-time engagement strategies encourage participants to remain involved.
Additionally, digital tools that enable continuous remote monitoring and at-home assessments enhance data quality by providing more comprehensive and longitudinal datasets, with fewer gaps in information. Tools such as mobile apps and wearable devices are also used to remind participants to take their medications and complete necessary tasks, thereby improving adherence and reducing errors.
Prescription Drug Use-Related Software (PDURS) to transform digital integration for pharma
The FDA is expected to implement the PDURS regulatory framework in full in 2025. PDURS allows Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) to be included on drug labels, ensuring that such software is regulated as part of the drug's labeling when distributed by manufacturers. This will subject the software to regulatory oversight consistent with existing FDA policies.
With PDURS in place, pharma companies will be able to make claims regarding the clinical impact of medical software devices on their drugs to patients, doctors, the FDA, and payers. This explicit inclusion on drug labels creates opportunities to differentiate therapies in a competitive market. It can enhance adoption and long-term use of therapies by addressing various challenges that patients face, challenges that drug-only competitors may struggle to tackle. Additionally, it may justify a higher value for branded drug products and help mitigate revenue declines as a drug approaches the end of its exclusivity period.
The integration of consumer wearable health devices into healthcare systems
In 2025, we expect to see Big Tech make further forays into the healthcare space. However, where they were once seen as threats to healthcare companies, they are increasingly seen as potential partners. The user-friendly, sophisticated devices these companies develop, which easily integrate into daily life, are seen as a good solution for providing continuous monitoring of key health metrics and we can expect to see more work done to seamlessly integrate these devices with healthcare systems to offer real-time data that can improve patient outcomes.
Apple has established partnerships with health systems, such as Stanford Medicine, to utilize the Apple Watch for medical research, particularly focusing on cardiovascular health. The Apple ecosystem, which includes the Health app, consolidates data from wearables and connected devices, allowing users to gain a comprehensive view of their health and enabling healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely. Similarly, Dexcom has collaborated with the Apple Watch to offer real-time glucose monitoring for diabetic patients, providing both patients and healthcare providers with immediate insights into glucose levels. Additionally, Medtronic’s CareLink platform integrates with wearables, assisting patients and doctors in tracking data from devices like glucose monitors.
To talk to our team of digital health experts on how we can help you advance your 2025 digital health initiatives, get in touch with us today.
