How a Futurist Sees Healthcare Being Delivered!

 

In a recent episode of the “Healthcare Rethink” podcast by FinThrive, host Brian Urban explored the future of healthcare with Trond Arne Undheim, a leading Futurist and Research scholar in Global Systemic Risk, Innovation, and Policy. Undheim, author of “Health Tech: Rebooting Society Software, Hardware, and Mindset,” shared his vision of a healthcare system transformed by emerging technologies and innovative business models.

Undheim’s futurist outlook emphasized the revolutionary potential of generative AI and remote patient monitoring to democratize healthcare access, particularly in underserved regions. By leveraging these technologies, healthcare providers can offer remote consultations and continuous monitoring, bridging gaps in care and ensuring that even those in rural or low-income areas receive quality medical attention. This shift improves patient outcomes and addresses longstanding disparities in healthcare access.

A significant part of this transformation involves redefining the roles of healthcare professionals. Undheim envisions a future where AI and advanced technologies support and enhance the capabilities of nurses and other healthcare workers, enabling them to take on more significant responsibilities. This evolution could alleviate the burden on doctors, optimize resource use, and improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery. However, it also requires a thoughtful implementation approach to maintain high care standards.

Undheim argues that a systemic overhaul of the healthcare industry is essential for these technological advancements to reach their full potential. This overhaul includes updating regulatory frameworks, rethinking economic incentives, and fostering a culture of innovation. With such comprehensive reforms, the healthcare sector can stay caught up and fully benefit from the advancements that could transform it into a more effective and equitable system.

Recent Episodes

Emergency departments across the U.S. are under unprecedented strain, with overcrowding, staffing shortages, and inpatient bed constraints converging into a throughput crisis. The American Hospital Association reports that hospital capacity and workforce growth have lagged, intensifying delays from arrival to disposition. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence are moving from experimental to operational—raising…

Episode 4 of The Future of Patient Monitoring takes a step back from infrastructure and innovation to explore something deeper: the people behind the technology—and what they’ve learned through years of building smarter systems. Part of the Health and Life Sciences at the Edge podcast series, this conversation is led by Intel’s Kaeli Tully,…

As hospitals across the U.S. shorten length of stay and push more recovery into the home, families are increasingly left to manage complex care needs without formal training or support. Roughly one in five patients with chronic conditions like COPD or congestive heart failure is readmitted within 30 days—a cycle that costs the healthcare…