5 Ways 5G Will Transform Mental Healthcare in 2021

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The digital healthcare sector has massively gained recognition in the past few years, and it’s bound to scale-up in the coming years. The pandemic has further highlighted the importance of remote healthcare facilities and digitalized healthcare solutions.

Given the popular demand for online counseling and therapy, the pandemic has also brought to attention the role of technology in facilitating patients, especially those who are suffering from mental disorders. Unfortunately, mental illnesses are not dealt with in the same manner as physical ones.

The rise of 5G networks can greatly transform the healthcare industry and increase awareness and access to mental healthcare. Not only can 5G bring a huge range of benefits for the users, other than the mind-blowing speed and super-fast connectivity, but this technology also holds the potential to change the way our healthcare systems are working today.

5G promises the healthcare industry better diagnosis, advanced treatment, improved data connection, and the ability to support patients in a better way. These are just some of the advantages that we have highlighted; let’s discuss 5 ways in which this technology will transform the mental healthcare sector in 2020.

The Rise of Telemedicine

The telemedicine market is expected to grow in the coming years. According to a study, the industry is expected to grow at a rate of 16.5% in 5-6 years. The cause behind this growth rate is mostly the increase in demand for telemedicine, especially in rural areas.

The 5G enabled networks will facilitate the growth of telemedicine and help the remote healthcare systems to function smoothly and handle appointments swiftly and efficiently. By utilizing the 5G technology, healthcare practitioners can respond to customer queries faster and carry out diagnoses at a faster rate.

It will also be easier to treat patients quickly, which greatly reduces the chances of illness or disease to get worse. This is especially important to slow down the suicide rate, which is rapidly increasing amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

5G and Artificial Intelligence

The advent of Artificial Intelligence, coupled with 5G is a combination that will take the healthcare sector to new heights. The experts in the medical field can deal with large amounts of data and perform predictive analysis on patients who suffer from mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, etc.

This will help the healthcare workers to do damage control in time and prevent the condition of the patient from deteriorating. AI algorithms help to analyze data over some time and provide the right treatment to patients.

These tools are also able to function from anywhere and do not require the patient to be physically present. A large amount of data that needs to be transmitted requires high bandwidth and low latency, which can only be provided by reliable 5G networks.

Transmission of Large Files

If you are part of the healthcare industry, you must be aware that the MRI and other files are generally quite heavy and require large bandwidth for transmission. The PET scanners used to diagnose cancer usually generate files that are up to 1 gigabyte for each patient. A network of low bandwidth would cause an unnecessary delay and lead to customer dissatisfaction.

MRI, CT scans, and other similar files are also quite necessary when it comes to carrying out a diagnosis. The ability to send massive data files over the network can help to speed up diagnosis and provide immediate treatment to the patients. The high-speed network can also ensure efficiency and improve the care provided to the patients. What used to take hours to get through now takes a couple of minutes only – that is the power of 5G!

Overcoming the Language Barrier

One of the most significant roles that 5G technology is playing is to overcome the language barrier and to get through to places that would otherwise be inaccessible. Every day several incidents take place in which the doctor and the patient speak different languages, which leads to an incorrect diagnosis being carried out.

Patients who don’t speak the same language are unable to explain their state of health or their state of mind (in case of mental illnesses). To overcome this issue, the healthcare industry is now opting for translators, which helps healthcare practitioners improve their communication with the patients.

There is still a huge gap that needs to be bridged between the 5G networks and the hospitals in far-flung areas. Digital marketing services are also helping hospitals design translators who are coupled with video conferencing features to remove any communication barriers.

5G technology has also paved the way for advanced technologies such as AR and VR. These two technologies, along with mixed reality, are capable of helping patients suffering from mental disorders and other health-related issues through online therapy sessions.

Real-time Remote Monitoring

5G and related technologies have increased the chances of real-time remote monitoring. Remote monitoring is a great way to provide care to patients who are located away from medicinal facilities. It is also a great way to cut down on the cost of transportation.

This is especially useful for those individuals who do not pay attention to their mental health due to the expenses attached to it. Through real-time remote monitoring, patients can attend their appointments on time from the comfort of their own homes. Clients can also opt to attend their appointments with anonymity if they are not comfortable with sharing their identity with the doctor.

The 5G technology can help to take care of several patients at the same time without causing any lag. 5G has enabled patients to consult their doctors anytime and anywhere in a few clicks.

Wrapping It Up

By now, you are probably convinced that 5G can indeed lead to a revolutionary change in the healthcare sector. It does not only provide promising solutions for the mental healthcare sector, but it also guarantees lower costs and a higher level of customer care and satisfaction. The implementation of 5G might require the integration of certain tools in the beginning but will surely have a lasting impact in the years to come.

Guest Author: Nouman Ali

Nouman provides ghostwriting and copywriting services. His educational background in the technical field and business studies helps him in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing. He occasionally writes articles for Dynamologic Solutions.