Healthcare 4.0 (and 5.0): Digitising Health and Care

This chapter explores the transformative impact of people Flow modelling in the context of Healthcare 4.0 (and 5.0). It suggests the links between the implementation of suitable technology and that of clinical need and, by an example, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Data Analytics will be essential. By investigating people Flow modelling in the healthcare sector, the chapter aims to elucidate its role in creating smart, responsive, and patient-centric environments in home and community settings. Whilst the example is that of FND, the same principles can be applied to other clinical areas. The chapter proposes an example ‘Flow’ method and partnership way of working that encapsulates health sector needs, academic research and rigour and industry experience in order to deliver an accelerated and sustainable change in the way that patient-centric health care is delivered, taking account of patient (and person-centric) Flow. Finally, whilst the deployment of technology presents new opportunities for the delivery of care and new ways of working, it does not come without the need to acknowledge, and mitigate, the risk of depending upon specific technologies. In this respect, lessons can, and must, be learned from other sectors.