Delivery of healthcare and healthcare education in the digital era and beyond: opportunities and considerations.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to societies worldwide. Countries, industries, and the general public had to adjust their operations to accommodate imposed restrictions or requirements, such as physical distancing and sanitization. Healthcare agencies had to pivot promptly to address exponentiating healthcare needs, including vaccination, treatment, and management of COVID-19-related illness. Schools and workplaces had to swiftly find alternative modes for delivering instruction and to continue offering their services. These circumstances allowed widespread utilization of the innovative technologies from the fourth industrial revolution [1] (i.e., Industry 4.0). This article outlines changes observed in the healthcare and healthcare education settings in the digital era and the subsequent opportunities and considerations.