State of Digital Patient Solutions 2023: What Pharma, HCPs & Patients Really Think

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In 2023, Medisafe surveyed over 500 patients, healthcare providers (HCPs), and digital health professionals to spotlight changing expectations for digital patient support. Here are the key findings and takeaways:

Top Patient Needs & Where Stakeholders Diverge

• Appointment reminders, medication refill notifications, and progress tracking ranked highest among patients.

• HCPs echoed much of what patients prioritized, focusing strongly on tools to track appointments and adherence.

• Conversely, digital health professionals skewed more toward data reports and caregiver oversight, which resonate less with patients who crave independence and simplicity.Yahoo Finance+10Medisafe+10LinkedIn+10MedisafeMedisafe

Generational Differences in Digital Preferences

• Under 45: Strong interest in telemedicine, financial assistance tools, coaching, and health education.

• 45 and older: Lean heavily toward appointment prompts, refill reminders, and simple medication tracking.

AI: Hopeful but Cautious

• Pharma execs and health-tech professionals see AI as a catalyst for personalized care, smart reminders, and behavioral nudges.

• But many patients and providers remain wary—concerns around privacy, algorithm bias, and perceived intrusiveness are still pronounced.Medisafe+8Medisafe+8Medisafe+8

App Usage: Many Users, Few Features

• Most patients engage with health apps daily, but nearly half restrict themselves to only one health app.

• This signals demand for fully integrated platforms—where one app handles everything from refills to coaching to logging.

Key Barriers to Adoption

1. Data security & privacy fears among users.

2. Low engagement or drop-off: consistent use remains a challenge.

3. Fragmented integration with provider workflows and systems.Medisafe+10Medisafe+10Medisafe+10

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What Pharma & Health-Tech Should Do Now

1. Prioritize simplicity: Build user-friendly tools focused on what patients DO want—appointments, refills, reminders.

2. Tailor by age: Younger users appreciate coaching and educational content; older users need clarity and ease of use.

3. Be transparent with AI: Clearly explain how AI helps, how data is kept safe, and who drives the decisions.

4. Create “one app” ecosystems: Integrate scheduling, refills, tracking, coaching, and support within a single platform.

5. Boost retention: Include engaging methods like JIT (Just‑in‑Time) notifications, behavior nudges, and progress visuals.

6. Ensure seamless care integration: Sync directly with HCP workflows (EHRs, clinics, caregiver tools) for continuity.

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Why This Matters for Pharma

• Patient drop-off is expensive. Investing in better digital engagement could significantly improve adherence—and lower healthcare costs.

• As Medisafe’s 2023 data shows, tailored digital companions have achieved >70% retention at 90 days, compared to ~34% industry averages.Medisafe+8Medisafe+8Medisafe+8Medisafe+6Medisafe+6Medisafe+6Medisafe+14Medisafe+14Medisafe+14

• The industry is trending toward rapid-launch companions—programs deployed in ~90 days with customizable features.Medisafe+1Medisafe+1

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Final Take

In 2023, the digital patient solutions landscape is shifting from flashy AI-driven concepts to user-first, integrated, trustworthy ecosystems. Patients want one-stop tools—simple, secure, and personalized. Pharma and health-tech companies that deliver this, with transparency around AI and deep integration into care, will stand out by improving adherence, reducing costs, and building lasting trust.