Trends And Strategies For Men’s Healthcare Technologies

Reza Amin, Ph.D., founder of Bastion Health.

The healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, with telehealth emerging as a vital solution to bridge access gaps, improve outcomes and reduce costs.

But to truly transform men’s health, I believe telehealth must align with what some call the Quintuple Aim framework, focusing on patient engagement and outcomes, clinician satisfaction, cost reduction, population health and, most importantly, health equity.

Men’s health faces unique challenges, including delayed care-seeking and unmet needs. For instance, 77% of partnered men would rather go shopping with their partner than attend a medical appointment, highlighting the need for innovative, tailored approaches.

To address these challenges and advance broader healthcare goals, those in telehealth can focus on enhancing engagement, retention and patient satisfaction. Here are some ways I believe we can go about doing this.

Enhancing Patient Experience and Outcomes

For men, engaging with healthcare can be a challenge due to cultural norms, time constraints and privacy concerns. In a 2019 survey, while 82% of men strive to stay healthy, only 50% actively pursue preventive care.

Moreover, 61% indicated they’d be more likely to visit a doctor if it were convenient. Telehealth has the potential to revolutionize the patient experience by focusing on these strategies:

• Convenience: Telehealth can help eliminate logistical barriers, allowing men to access care from home, minimizing the need for travel or taking time off work.

• Personalization: AI-driven platforms are increasingly able to provide tailored health plans, ensuring men receive relevant, actionable recommendations for their unique health needs.

• Comprehensive care: Virtual platforms address a range of concerns—such as sexual health, hormonal imbalances and mental health—under one roof, enhancing continuity of care.

Clinician Experience And Satisfaction

Clinician burnout has also become a pressing issue in the healthcare industry, exacerbated by administrative burdens, high patient loads and a lack of resources. According to the AMA, burnout stems from systemic issues, not a lack of physician resiliency.

To help with this, I think we should:

• Streamline workflows. Telehealth platforms should integrate with EHRs to minimize redundant tasks and ensure a clear view of patient history.

• Allow for flexible scheduling. Virtual care allows clinicians to balance workloads with flexible hours, reducing burnout.

• Utilize decision-support tools. AI-powered tools help providers make data-driven decisions, improving accuracy and reducing strain.

Reducing Healthcare Costs

Perhaps most importantly, healthcare costs remain a major concern for employers, payers and patients. Again, I believe telehealth can offer a cost-effective solution, particularly if we focus on preventive care.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that telehealth visits save patients $147 to $186 per visit, with one hospital reporting savings of $4,662 per patient annually through at-home monitoring.

To take advantage of these reduced costs, we can focus on the following:

• Preventive care: Early diagnosis and management of conditions like prostate cancer, diabetes and heart disease can help lower long-term costs.

• Reduced in-person visits: Use telehealth and other strategies to help reduce costly emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

• At-home diagnostics: Affordable at-home testing kits streamline care and reduce overhead costs.

Improving Population Health

Population health focuses on improving health outcomes for groups by addressing their unique challenges. Again, for men, factors like delayed care, underdiagnosis and lack of preventive engagement are significant barriers to achieving optimal health. This leads to heart disease, cancer and stroke at younger ages, with a life expectancy in the U.S. that is six years shorter than women’s.

To help identify at-risk groups and tailor interventions to improve access, look to focus on:

• Data insights: Use population health data to identify at-risk groups and target interventions.

• Health education: Offer male-focused resources that encourage preventive care and screenings.

• Behavioral nudges: Use gamification and reminders to motivate men to schedule screenings and complete fitness challenges.

Achieving Health Equity

Health equity ensures that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic or geographic barriers, can access quality care. Again, to emphasize how critical this is in men’s health, 63% of U.S. counties lack a practicing urologist.

Toward health equity, I believe we need to focus on:

• Expanding access: Find methods to bridge geographical gaps in order to reach rural and underserved urban areas.

• Culturally competent care: Offer multilingual support and culturally sensitive resources to ensure inclusivity.

• Affordable solutions: Partnering with pharmacy discount programs can provide affordable medications, reducing financial barriers.

Equity also means addressing disparities in health outcomes. African American men, for instance, are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as other groups.

Future Trends In Telehealth For Men

The following trends highlight actionable strategies for adapting to the future of men’s health:

1. AI-Driven Personalization

AI tools analyze data from wearables, at-home test kits and medical history to provide personalized care and insights.

2. Integration With Wearables

Wearable devices like fitness trackers and smartwatches enhance real-time health monitoring by tracking vitals, activity, and sleep, enabling early-issue detection and timely interventions.

3. Integrated Care

Men’s health requires a holistic approach that addresses both physical and mental well-being.

4. Generational Shifts

Millennials and Gen Z demand digital-first care. I urge those in healthcare to offer more convenience, intuitive apps, rapid scheduling and 24/7 availability to engage this tech-savvy demographic.

5. Proactive Engagement

I believe it’s important for telehealth to shift to proactive care, automated reminders, tailored tips and follow-ups in order to build trust and ensure patient commitment

6. Interoperability And Data Sharing

Interoperability among telehealth platforms, wearables, EHRs, and pharmacies enables seamless data sharing that can help improve care coordination, reduce redundancies and enhance patient experiences.

7. Expansion Of At-Home Diagnostics

I’ve seen how advanced at-home diagnostics, from hormone panels to cancer screenings, can help enable early detection and monitoring.

Driving Progress In Men’s Health Through Innovation

By aligning with these goals and adapting to emerging trends, I am certain telehealth can transform men’s healthcare to be more accessible and efficient.

I believe that by prioritizing personalized care, proactive engagement and seamless integration, telehealth can better meet current needs while preparing for future healthcare demands.

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