Our Digital Health Picks

for 2018

February 2018

At Omnicom Health Group, we’ve read a lot of digital trend reports for 2018, and picked the top
five areas that have been evolving rapidly in the healthcare space over the last two years. To help
keep you better informed, we have included references and links with rich resources in all five areas.

We expect that in 2018, these technological innovations will allow for more efficient care
coordination, evolve how patients are treated, and improve healthcare delivery and
communications.

1 2 3 4 5
Artificial 
 Voice Assistants VR Gaming as 
 Virtual Health Chip Technology
Intelligence with Screens
 a Treatment

Tell us what you think at technology@omnicomhealthgroup.com

1
Our Digital Health Picks

1 Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology infrastructure and system that exhibits
human-like intelligence. It utilizes natural language processing, machine learning, and
removal of human biases, enabling predictability and ultimately improved decision-making.
The rapid development of AI and machine learning

in partnership with increased healthcare research

will result in new developments in drug discovery 

and usage, making it more personalized, 

intelligent, and efficient. AI’s rapid progress will 

not only have a substantial impact on pharma in 

2018, but also in the future. Since data is the 

foundation of AI, our clients will explore ways to 

leverage this data to better serve their customers. 

Additionally, AI will assist with treatment outcomes 

through analyzing health data and aid pharma in discovering more treatments and cures for
terminal diseases. AI is behind some of the most influential technologies such as Voice
Recognition Technology, Natural Language Processing, Real Time Emotion Analytics,
Robotics, Chatbots, and many more.

Case Studies and Further Reading

Click here for
MIT Tech Review more information

Click here for

Internet of Me in Healthcare report from Accenture more information

Click here for

AI: Healthcare’s New Nervous System from Accenture more information

Click here for

Where is AI Headed in 2018? 13 Predictions more information

Click here for

Natural Language Processing, Al Chatbots more information

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 2

Our Digital Health Picks

2 Voice Assistants with Screens

Several voice assistant programs launched recently that reach both homes and offices. For
example, Amazon’s Alexa has achieved broad-based adoption, while Google Home has
been improving its platform with better natural language processing. Now both platforms
are adding screens to their devices and taking the fight to the enterprise, realizing that
there are vast opportunities for business applications. The advantage of adding these
screens is to facilitate greater engagement and retention for visual learners. 

Voice assistants stand to have a tremendous impact in the healthcare 

sector. These types of voice-based screens have the potential to 

enter hospitals, clinics, and offices, where pharma will have an 

opportunity to create content for patients, nurses and doctors. 

The screen feature added to an already existing 


voice experience is compelling for healthcare 

brands because marketers can provide so much 

more than just a verbal response to health 

questions. Japan, for example, has been quick 

to adopt consumer-side tech solutions in 

healthcare and has become a global leader in healthcare robotics. Elderly Japanese have
adopted caregiving robots for companionship, which can be voice-user-interface-enabled as
well as muted to compensate for an ongoing nurse shortage. The adoption of this
technology by the elder generations show opportunity for cheaper solutions that have
multigenerational appeal. Voice assistants with screens represent a new touchpoint for
healthcare providers and patients, and could emerge as one of the primary interfaces,
similar to how mobile took over desktop several years ago.

Welcome

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 3

Our Digital Health Picks

Case Studies and Further Reading

Google Assistant “Smart Displays” are here: Click here for
It’s an Echo Show, but Googley more information

Click here for

The Echo Spot is My New Favorite Alexa Device more information

Click here for

Japan Social Leader LINE Enters the Voice Tech Race more information

Click here for

Toyota Joins Nissan and Others in Alexa Integration more information

Click here for

VIDEO: Robots in Japanese Aged Care more information

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 4

Our Digital Health Picks

3 VR Gaming as a Treatment
Virtual Reality (VR) gaming has gained a foothold in the general consumer market, but still has not
reached the mass market. In the healthcare sector, VR gaming has had even less of a presence,
typically only being deployed in convention-type settings. However, there are innovative
breakthrough VR gaming experiences that are being used as treatments for phobias, sickle cell
anemia, vaccine administration, and more. Pharma companies have been looking for ways to
support patients that go beyond the pill. VR gaming for conditions such as ADHD and Alzheimer’s,
has the potential to be transformative in the industry. Regardless of whether pharma clients are
directly funding VR treatment research,
promoting these therapies, or competing
against them, pharma companies must
have the knowledge and expertise to
market and advertise treatments other
than pills (or devices) to stay relevant. VR-
as-treatment can be life-changing for
certain patients and HCPs. Alternatives or
supplements to conventional therapies
are appealing to patients and HCPs alike
for safety, efficacy, and compliance
reasons. Given the potential
opportunities, pharma companies and
medtech startups are investing heavily in
not only building interactive experiences,
but also in testing them in clinical trials.

Case Studies and Further Reading

KindVR Games Ease Pain for Kids With Sickle Click here for
Cell Anemia more information

Click here for

VRVaccine Makes Vaccines Fun for Kids to Receive more information

Akili Interactive Created a Game to Help Click here for

ADHD Sufferers more information

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 5

Our Digital Health Picks

4 Virtual Health
Virtual Health combines clinical care and professional teamwork through telemedicine,
telehealth, and collaboration at a distance by connecting clinicians, patients, care teams,
and health professionals. This enables Virtual Health to provide health services, support
patient self-management, and coordinate care across the care continuum. Furthermore,
Virtual Health not only facilitates care to under-served areas, but also enables the
implementation of preventive services and ongoing monitoring, grants quick access to
medical records, and triages care while reducing doctor and hospital visits and costs. The
proliferation of Virtual Health will necessitate the reimagining of the HCP-Patient journey,
the re-evaluation of what resources pharma provides and through which channels, and the
potential reorganization of the sales and patient services structure. Virtual Health represents
a significant trend for this year due to several pertinent factors:
• Changing healthcare laws and regulations
• Increased cost and margin pressures
• Shift to value-based systems and preventive care
• Aging population and physician shortages
• Greater comfort with technology and the need for on-demand services

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 6

Our Digital Health Picks

4 Virtual Health
29 states and D.C. 
 35% of employers with on-site
currently uphold laws mandating health
facilities offer telemedicine services and
plans cover telemedicine services1
~70% of employers plan to offer
telemedicine services as an employee benefit
by 20172

15% of U.S. physicians have used

technology to monitor patients remotely while
37% have expressed interest 

in using technology to monitor their 

patients remotely3

64% of Americans
Meanwhile,
reported they would attend an
appointment via video telehealth4

By 2018, >20 million households

will utilize virtual health care with an average
of six virtual visits each year,
generating as much as $3.5 trillion by 20225

1. State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, 2. Towers Watson Survey, 3. Manhattan
Research Taking The Pulse U.S. 2017, 4. American Well 2015 Telehealth Survey, 5. Canopy Health

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 7

Our Digital Health Picks

Case Studies and Further Reading

Click here for
New York Presbyterian On Demand App more information

Click here for

A Hospital Without Patients more information

Click here for

Breakthrough by Walgreens more information

Click here for

Talkspace more information

Click here for

ADA Health and Wellness App Cannes Lion Winner more information

AI Coaching App Assists At-risk Patients in Preventing Click here for

Type 2 Diabetes more information

Click here for

IDAvatar AI Health Coach App more information

Click here for

Sensely AI Virtual Nurse more information

Click here for

8 Virtual Health Predictions for 2018 more information

Click here for

How Patient Portals are Improving the Virtual Healthcare System more information

Click here for

Three Trends to Make Healthcare More Personalized more information

How Virtual Care Benefits Patients, Click here for

Clinicians & Healthcare Organizations more information

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 8

Our Digital Health Picks

5 Chip Technology
The sophistication of Chip Technology has advanced to the point in which it is no longer
merely an amazingly compact substitute for wires, tubes, and connectors, but rather a
legitimate stand-in for humans and animals throughout multiple stages of drug
development and testing. Since only 1 in 10 drugs that enter clinical trials achieve FDA
approval and the average time from preclinical research to the market is 12 years, this
technology has the potential to cut time and costs, and identify successes earlier while
delivering on personalized treatments sooner.

Chip technology has the potential to:

• Dramatically impact how a drug is
tested, which eliminates some of the
testing on animals and humans,
particularly in early phases
• Identify toxicities early on and
increase the speed to approval
• Enable the marketing of drugs that
can benefit patients sooner, better,
and more safely

While digital communication garners much of the attention in our industry, and AI, AR, and
VR receive substantial media coverage, Chip Technology is squarely in the sights of the
industry, poised to fundamentally change the way pharmaceuticals are brought to market.
For example, Emulate Inc.’s Human Emulation System was selected for experimental use
on the International Space Station, Tara’s technology is in use by 10 drug companies, and
TissUse in Berlin is using a multi-organ chip to drive insights on a systemic level. Most of
these developments indicate more rapid testing as well as the approval and
personalization of medicines.

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 9

Our Digital Health Picks

Case Studies and Further Reading

Click here for
Chip Testing on human tissue more information

Click here for

Tarabio Systems more information

Click here for

Emulate Bio Press Release more information

Click here for

FDA testing with chips more information

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 10

Our Digital Health Picks

Conclusion: We’re Inspired by Innovation

These digital trends are here to stay and will only continue to advance and transform the
way healthcare is delivered.  Artificial intelligence and related Voice Technologies accelerate
diagnoses and treatment decisions.  Virtual Health enables healthcare to be delivered to
more of the population and Virtual Reality experiences have become more accessible and
prominent for use in patient treatments.

These technologies are already transforming healthcare. We cannot wait to see what the
next round of innovation will yield. We welcome your feedback and thoughts!

A special thank you to Omnicom Health Group contributors:

• Harrison & Star
• Biolumina
• CDM Princeton
• Targis Group
• Biopharm Communications

Interested in experimenting with these trends?


Want to know more?

To learn more about how Omnicom Health Group can drive innovation for
your brand or company, visit http://www.omnicomhealthgroup.com or
contact us at technology@omnicomhealthgroup.com.

© 2018 Omnicom Health Group Inc. All rights reserved. 11