As the final weeks of 2023 wind down, the anticipation for what lies ahead in the coming year intensifies. Our visionary leadership team has just unveiled their insights into the trends we can expect in 2024. In a world where healthcare constantly evolves, three themes have emerged:

• The pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI).
• The ever-pressing concern of healthcare affordability.
• The imperative to revolutionize our existing healthcare delivery and payment models.

According to Terry Boch, CEO of Clarify Health, 2024 will usher in a groundbreaking shift in the healthcare landscape. “I see greater efforts in the coming year to break out of our existing model for delivering and paying for healthcare and promoting affordability by strategically aligning the economic flows of payments to the clinical actions that generate the most value. I predict in 2024 healthcare will see the most significant leap forward in generative artificial intelligence to improve patient care and resource allocation, where clinicians will get the data-driven insights and support they need to make high-value care selections for patients and get rewarded in the process,” Boch added. “This will not be easy given our continued post-pandemic challenges of a stretched healthcare system and provider burnout, so we must all keep our eye on our mission to change the current model by bringing new technology and approaches to healthcare to encourage the system to change.”

Todd Gottula, co-founder and president of Clarify Health, echoes this sentiment, foreseeing the revolutionary potential of conversational AI interfaces in 2024. “This technology goes beyond traditional data analysis, enabling the identification of intricate patterns in healthcare data while introducing a transformative conversational interface, like Clarify Health’s Clara,” said Gottula. “Historically, complex user interfaces have hindered healthcare professionals from effectively accessing and utilizing data insights. However, the emergence of conversational AI interfaces will dramatically simplify this process. Users can now easily ask questions in plain language, receive understandable insights, and make the technology more accessible. This transformation democratizes access to valuable information across various sectors and may be further accelerated by the implementation of reward structures based on conversational engagement. The convergence of generative AI and conversational interfaces is set to make vital insights integral to daily decision-making processes within the healthcare industry, heralding an era of unprecedented change.”

Ines Vigil, MD, SVP of Services and Transformation at Clarify, further reinforces the vision of an evolving healthcare landscape in 2024 characterized by the intersection of key trends. “The ongoing emphasis on patient empowerment will act as a catalyst for a more integrated and collaborative approach to healthcare delivery. As stakeholders increasingly recognize the importance of addressing health disparities, there will be a concerted effort to ensure that patient-centered care is not only accessible but also equitable across diverse demographic groups,” commented Dr. Vigil. “This collaborative model will leverage technological advancements to bolster telehealth services, fostering a healthcare ecosystem that not only prioritizes individual empowerment but also strives to bridge the gaps in access and affordability. Moreover, the integration of generative AI and virtual health assistants will play a pivotal role in enhancing access to care by providing information, answering questions, and offering personalized support to patients. These AI-powered assistants can advance the use of natural language understanding to engage in meaningful conversations, thereby revolutionizing the healthcare experience and contributing to improved outcomes and a more resilient healthcare system in the face of global challenges.”

New and more non-traditional players will find their way into the healthcare space, predicts Neechi Mosha, MD, SVP of Growth at Clarify Health. “Non-traditional care delivery, from retail disruptors to insurers and beyond, will continue to challenge hospitals and health system business models and their ability to stay independent. A combination of technological advancements, demographic shifts, increasing costs, regulatory initiatives, evolving reimbursement models, and a changing healthcare paradigm will have a variety of effects on growth and sustainability in the healthcare sector,” said Dr. Mosha. He notes strategies to support financial strength will need to include “Diversifying services, particularly in outpatient settings of care, will be of utmost importance to capture more patients and retain existing patients across more points in their care journeys. Healthcare leaders will need to continue to turn to data-driven decision–making to address the multi-dimensional challenges they face. In doing so, leaders must move from seeking any/all data to leveraging the data that is most refined and most accurate to cut through the noise and find the right answers for sustainability and growth.”

There is indeed consensus that the healthcare sector is on the verge of a transformative journey in 2024, where innovation, accessibility, and data-driven insights will profoundly shape the future of healthcare delivery. Clarify Health will continue to engage with healthcare leaders as they navigate this dynamic landscape, embracing technological advancements and data-driven decision-making to thrive in an environment marked by both consolidation and the emergence of new players. The coming year promises to be a pivotal chapter in the ongoing evolution of healthcare, one that holds the potential to enhance patient care, improve accessibility, and ultimately contribute to a more resilient and equitable healthcare system.