The Digital Health Reset of 2024: What Patients and Providers Really Want 

See the full report here.

1. Telehealth’s Moment Has Faded

Although telehealth soared during COVID, its role has significantly declined in 2024. Patients are now prioritizing tools to track appointments, measurements, and medication refills over virtual visits Medisafe+11Medisafe+11Medisafe+11.

2. Aligning Expectations: Patients vs. HCPs vs. Digital Pros

A study of over 1,100 respondents revealed:

Notably, patients want more control and clarity in their care—sometimes more than brands anticipate.

3. Generational Differences in Digital Demand

Patients under 30 differ notably from older groups—they favor health journaling, coaching, educational content, and cost support. Older patients lean toward appointment and adherence support Medisafe.

4. AI: A Promising but Polarizing Trend

While many healthcare and brand professionals believe AI can enhance outcomes, patients and providers remain skeptical—especially around privacy, ethics, and integration challenges Medisafe.

Yet, most agree AI will drive better care integration, medical imaging, and personalized treatment plans in 2024 Medisafe.

5. Barriers to Digital Health Adoption

Key challenges identified include:

• Security & data privacy

• Patient engagement & retention difficulties

• Fragmented systems and provider resistance arXivMedisafe+6Medisafe+6Digital Journal+6

These hurdles must be overcome to deliver effective digital solutions.

6. Pharma’s Shift from Pilot to Implementation

Over a third of digital health professionals report existing programs need updating. Many are planning first-time deployments, particularly focusing on refills and drug interaction alerts Medisafe+6Medisafe+6Medisafe+6.

7. Patients Lead with Health Apps

Over 50% of patients use health apps daily, though nearly half stick to just one app—suggesting a demand for comprehensive, all-in-one platforms Medisafe.

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Why This Matters for Pharma & Health Tech

1. Shift away from telehealth: Focus on tangible digital tools—like refill reminders and appointment trackers.

2. Personalize solutions by age group: Younger users expect educational and interactive features.

3. AI needs trust-building: Address privacy, biases, and provider alignment to enhance acceptance.

4. Integration is essential: Standalone apps won’t be enough—interoperable systems and provider workflows are crucial.

5. Security can’t be neglected: Tight data controls are foundational, not optional.

6. Time to scale: The industry is ready to move beyond pilots; vendors must offer robust, scalable solutions.

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🧭 Next Steps: Building Better Digital Patient Tools

• Patient-Centric Design: Co-create with users to hit the right balance of features—tracking, support, education.

• Modular Platforms: Offer adaptable tools for different needs—e.g., younger patients vs. seniors.

• Responsible AI: Emphasize transparency, oversight, and data protection in AI features.

• Low-Friction Integration: Work within existing EHR and provider systems for smooth rollouts.

• Continuous Engagement: Use reminders, coaching, and reporting to keep patients onboard.

• Scalable Partnerships: Vendors should offer fast, compliant deployment options (like rapid-release digital companions) Medisafe+1Medisafe+1reuters.comMedisafe+1Medisafe+1Digital Journal.

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Final Takeaway

Medisafe’s 2024 data signals a clear shift from novelty telehealth to smart, integrated, patient-centric digital solutions. For pharma and digital health companies, the path ahead isn’t just about building digital tools—it’s about refining them, earning trust, and scaling effectively in service of real-world patient needs.

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References & further reading: Medisafe’s full PDF report and related posts (“2023 Achievements” and “Rapid Release”) for deeper insights.