The Future of Healthcare: Top Trends to Watch in 2025
As we head into 2025, the landscape of healthcare is making a significant shift toward increased levels of patient care – focusing less on churning out services and more on the level and quality of care they receive.
In fact, 65% of doctors believe value-based care models have made a positive impact on their practices.
This approach is critical for the healthcare industry, as patient expectations continue to evolve based on factors related to age, medical costs, and access to proper medical services. But this is only one trend of many that will continue to grow in healthcare spaces.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the big players in healthcare:
Telehealth services
Intersection of AI and medicine
Preventive care
Use of data in healthcare
Promoting value-based care services
Importance of mental health services
Emphasis on personalized medicine
Rising popularity of home healthcare
Use of wearable technology
Accessibility to healthcare services
Contact our healthcare market research firm today.
Trend 1: The Rise of Telehealth
Telehealth refers to accessing medical services via online platforms like video chats.
Instead of heading into an office, a patient will meet with their provider to discuss concerns over a platform like Zoom. Booming in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine services have remained popular due to their simplified nature.
For instance, 54% of patients have now had at least one telehealth visit. Adding onto that figure, 89% of patients using telehealth have been satisfied with their experience.
Furthermore, there are numerous benefits to telehealth visits.
Easier communication
It’s far more efficient to communicate with a provider from the comfort of one’s own home. This can lead to better outcomes overall, as increased comfortability can often enhance conversations with providers.
Reduced anxiety
Heading into a medical office is never anyone’s first choice, and for some, it can be anxiety-inducing. Eliminating this factor can create a more stress-free dialogue between the patient and their provider.
General time-saver
Instead of having to take hours off of work or other duties to visit a provider, patients can cut down on travel time and gas expenses by meeting with them virtually.
Trend 2: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Healthcare organizations have also discovered creative ways to leverage AI platforms.
Used by providers in diagnostics, surgery, patient care, and more, AI has created a streamlined approach to healthcare, especially in the past few years. In fact, it’s estimated that $5.6 billion dollars were invested in AI-backed biopharma companies in 2024 alone, and it’s likely that number will grow in 2025.
The intersection of AI in healthcare offers many benefits, both for providers and patients.
Diagnostic capabilities
Medical imaging (CT scans, MRIs, etc.) can be enhanced by AI algorithms, delivering diagnoses at a faster rate. Additionally, AI can help providers locate beginning abnormalities in imaging results, saving both them and their patients time.
Access to medical data
This is especially helpful in difficult patient cases that may have required more research in the past.
Today, providers can use AI chatbots for quick access to quality medical data. Not only does this save the provider a significant amount of time, it can also improve patient outcomes.
Robotic surgery
AI can improve robotic surgery for both the surgeon and patient. For example, surgeons can now use motion scaling features to enhance micro-movements.
Augmented reality is another useful AI feature in this space, providing surgeons with a better view of the surgical field in real time.
Trend 3: Emphasis on Preventive Care and Wellness
More and more, consumers are embracing preventive, less reactive healthcare measures.
This is likely why the wellness market continues to boom (expected to reach $9 trillion by 2028), as consumers are beginning to rely more on tools and apps to stay healthy. These services empower consumers to take control of their own health, along with helping them detect symptoms earlier.
There are multiple benefits to using devices and wellness apps.
Personalization
By wearing these devices, users can track essential health metrics tailored to their specific needs. Users can view this data and become more familiar with their health, and detect any changes early on.
Some of these devices include:
Fitness trackers
Smartwatches
Rings (Oura, for example)
Reduced healthcare costs
Early detection of a health issue can drastically reduce the chance of it becoming chronic, thus lowering costs spent on doctor’s visits and treatments.
Quality of life
Devices and wellness apps can drastically increase a person’s quality of life. Aside from earlier disease detection, these tools allow users to feel in control of their health. Whether they want to track their sleep or meditate daily, they can simply do so by turning on a device or opening an app.
Trend 4: Data-Driven Healthcare
Data analytics play a huge role in a provider’s decision-making process. Having access to this data not only allows providers to make the right decisions for their patients, but also aids in creating long-term care plans.
The emphasis on data is only continuing to grow, with the global healthcare analytics market seeing a projected growth of $44.83 billion dollars in 2024 to $133.19 billion dollars by 2029.
Making data-backed decisions in healthcare comes with a host of benefits.
Access to health records
Data analytics can detect important patterns in patient electronic health records (EHRs), leading to earlier detection of issues. Their use can also lead to predictive insights, creating a forecast for patient health outcomes.
Long-term care plans
Using data analytics directly affects a patient’s long-term care plan. After carefully analyzing existing data, providers can make more tailored patient assessments and plans instead of just guessing about what may work best.
Better patient outcomes
The main point of incorporating data analytics in healthcare is to promote positive patient outcomes based on their specific medical needs. Doing this cuts down on unnecessary costs, a faster road to healing, and higher rates of patient satisfaction.
Trend 5: Value-Based Care
Providers are continuing to gravitate toward value-based care models, while veering away from the more traditional fee-for-service models.
Value-based care models focus on positive patient outcomes, while fee-for-service models focus more on providers recommending multiple services for a patient, each of which has a cost. This transition will likely continue, as 60% of healthcare payments have a direct link to value-based care models.
Providers offering more value-based care services will likely see an increase in patient happiness, as this model has a number of benefits.
Increased patient satisfaction
Patients will naturally be more satisfied with their care when they’re being provided with quality, actionable solutions to their health concerns.
This is one of the core principles of value-based care, as the provider is more focused on helping the patient reach long-term health goals (hopefully preventing future health issues along the way).
Affordability
Fee-for-service models can rack up costs for patients, as it’s not uncommon for providers to recommend needless medications/procedures. Value-based care avoids this by delivering only necessary recommendations since much of this model is based on preventive measures. A good example of this is seen in accountable care organizations (ACOs).
ACOs partner directly with providers to ensure affordable, quality care is delivered to Medicare patients.
Lastly, another example is using bundled payments. This simply means that a patient only has to pay for a single service, like a procedure. It eliminates additional payments that may be tacked onto their bill.
Provider coordination
Value-based care models promote better coordination between medical teams.
For instance, if a patient needs to see various specialists, they can feel confident their care plan will be communicated to each provider they see. Communication promotes a more cohesive patient experience, which is why it’s key in value-based care.
Trend 6: Increased Investment in Mental Health
Mental health awareness is continuing to grow, with its global market size expected to reach $573 billion dollars by 2033. This awareness has reduced the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, allowing patients to feel more comfortable seeking care.
With this increased investment in mental health care, patients have seen multiple benefits.
Improved well-being
Patients now have access to more services for mental health needs.
This can be seen in online therapy platforms like BetterHelp, apps dedicated to mental wellness, more options for in-person therapy services, and an emphasis on mental wellness in spaces like schools and workplaces.
Reduced stigma
Since becoming more of a public talking point, fewer patients are feeling shame around mental health conditions. This has naturally led to patients feeling they can be more open about their mental health and has fostered an environment for them to seek support.
Increased access
Providers are now offering more mental health support options to their patients.
Often, providers will cover this topic during annual exams, along with offering more extensive resources for patients who are interested in improving their mental health.
Trend 7: Personalized Medicine
Delivering a personalized medical plan to a patient is critical to their outcome. What may work for one patient may be the completely wrong choice for another, even if they have similar concerns. This is due to various factors, from differences in genetic makeup to lifestyle choices.
This emphasis on personalized patient care can be seen in the figures, with the personalized medicine market expected to be worth $79.26 billion dollars by 2034. In fact, in 2023, personalized medicines hit one-third of new FDA drug approvals.
Personalized care is directly related to better patient outcomes and has an endless list of benefits, including the following.
More effective treatments
Patients receiving personalized care are more likely to have effective treatment plans.
This is due to factors like genetic testing and a better understanding of each patient’s history. Due to these measures, providers will have a clear idea of what will work for each patient based on their unique background.
Fewer side effects
According to the National Library of Medicine, 69% of drugs have 10 to 100 side effects. These side effects can range from minor to life-altering and in some cases, they can be deadly. When a patient has a personalized care plan, they’re less likely to receive unnecessary medications, cutting down on side effects.
Better patient outcomes
Patients are far more likely to benefit from personalized treatment outcomes, as they’re based on their unique history. Not only does this work in the short-term, but personalized medicine often results in long-term health.
Trend 8: The Rise of Home Healthcare
Home healthcare services continue to rise, likely due to a combination of an aging population and increased demand for accessibility. Valued at $286 billion dollars in 2024, home healthcare is expected to see a 22% increase in value by 2034.
Delivering patients with quality medical care in their homes, this form of healthcare ranges from maintenance to palliative services. Benefits include better access to quality therapeutic services from the comfort of the patient’s home.
Skilled nursing care
Home healthcare nurses deliver patients with personalized, quality medical care specific to their needs. They will come to the patient’s home equipped with the proper medical supplies, and a knowledge of how to use them in a home setting.
Accessible infusion care
Infusions and central line/PICC line care can be done in a patient’s home with the aid of a nurse. This is especially beneficial for patients who are immuno-compromised, as hospitals can pose a higher risk of infection.
Physical therapy
It’s common for physical therapists to visit the home of a patient recovering from an injury or surgery. This allows the patient to heal from the comfort of their own home, while also having access to a direct care plan.
Trend 9: Wearable Technology and Remote Patient Monitoring
Patients are now able to take control of their health aside from visiting a doctor by using wearable and remote monitoring devices.
Able to track a user’s sleep patterns or monitor blood pressure, these devices are becoming more common, with 41% of US consumers owning a wearable device in 2024.
Investing in a wearable or remote monitoring device helps users improve their health in multiple ways.
Early detection
Using these devices allows patients to pick up on abnormalities sooner rather than later. Devices specifically used to monitor heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood sugar levels are especially helpful, as they can pick up on earlier signs of potentially serious health issues. Furthermore, many wearables like smartwatches even include fall detection, making them ideal for aging populations.
Proactive intervention
Wearables and remote monitoring devices prompt patients to become more aware of their health, and likely promote a healthier lifestyle. Devices like fitness trackers measure steps, heart rate, sleep patterns, and more, allowing users to continuously improve their activity levels.
Patient engagement
Patients are automatically more engaged with their health by using wearables and remote monitoring devices. They’re also able to track important health metrics without a doctor’s visit, and this may create an increased interest in health overall.
Trend 10: Focus on Healthcare Accessibility and Affordability
The high cost of healthcare continues to be a major pain point for Americans.
While efforts are continuously made to increase the affordability of quality healthcare, many Americans are still dissatisfied – only 28% believe their coverage is excellent/great. And the costs of healthcare aren’t going down, with federal spending expected to skyrocket to $3.8 trillion dollars in 2032.
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed to ease some of this dissatisfaction. It boosted access to health insurance, including Medicaid, for those with lower incomes and allowed adults to remain on their parents’ health insurance until age 26.
Other ongoing efforts to ease dissatisfaction can often be found on a community level, with local non-profits and telehealth programs providing low-cost services.
There are countless benefits to these programs.
Better outcomes
Accessible healthcare leads to a happier, healthier public. Instead of putting off visiting a doctor due to high costs, patients can get the care they need and benefit from early detection of health issues.
Reduced financial burden
With Americans owing an estimated $220 billion dollars in medical debt, it’s critical low-cost healthcare programs continue to arise. As a result, patients will be able to receive quality care without the stressors of payment hanging over them.
Greater health equity
Affordable healthcare services for the public promote equity within a community. These services ensure everyone, regardless of income, will receive quality healthcare services – leading to a healthier public.
Conclusion
Healthcare is in the midst of a massive transition as the emphasis on patient satisfaction grows.
As a result, in 2025 we can expect to see increased opportunities around preventive care, telehealth services, affordable healthcare programs, and plenty more.
Incorporating market research
Market research plays a critical role in this transition.
By collecting important feedback from patients, healthcare organizations can gain direct insight into their concerns. With this information, providers can not only correct patient concerns, but they can use it to create improved long-term care plans.
On the flip side, market research with physicians can also be conducted.
Physician feedback is key for determining trends in healthcare, along with providing insight around areas of improvement. Both patient and provider insights gleaned from research can vastly improve healthcare systems, as they’re based on reliable, actionable data.
Use Market Research to Improve Quality of Healthcare
Our third-party research firm is experienced in conducting market research with healthcare organizations. Working with your organization’s unique set of needs, our team will create a customized research plan designed to gather high-quality feedback.
To learn more, contact us today.
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Posted Mar 18, 2025
Rundown of current US healthcare trends.
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