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Christoph Lippuner, co-founder and chief executive of Semble, examines how technology is empowering the era of self-health.
Healthcare is entering a new era, led by a generation of patients wanting to take greater control of their health. A recent survey found that more than half (52%) of UK patients plan to self-fund care this year, rising to 67% among 18-to-30-year-olds. This shift is changing how healthcare is accessed, with providers adapting to a more proactive, digitally engaged patient population.
Meeting these expectations requires more than simply digitising existing processes. Patients increasingly expect healthcare to feel as connected and responsive as the digital services they use every day. Technology has transformed how patients can access care and support their own health, but many providers are still relying on disconnected systems that create gaps between the stages of care, making the patient journey arduous and complex. More technology is rarely the answer. Instead, we must connect existing technologies so the entire patient journey functions as one continuous experience. Doing so reduces administrative burden, gives clinicians more time with patients and creates a smoother experience from diagnosis through to ongoing care.
Connected systems underpin self-health
The two driving forces behind the self-health trend are speed and prevention. The survey revealed that more than half (54%) of patients expect greater access to preventative screenings, while nearly a quarter (24%) would self-fund for faster access to care. Reflecting growing demand for more responsive healthcare experiences, over two-thirds (68%) also expect test results and follow-up appointments to be fully digital.
For providers, this means digital services cannot operate in isolation. Faster access and earlier intervention only deliver their full value when every stage of the patient’s journey is connected. The challenge for providers is no longer adopting more digital tools, but orchestrating them so that booking, diagnostics, consultations, treatment and follow-up flow seamlessly from one step to the next.
Preventative care depends on giving clinicians the information, time and tools they need to identify risks earlier and guide patients towards the right next step. When clinicians spend less time on administration, they have more capacity for meaningful conversations that help patients understand their health, engage with treatment and act before problems escalate.
AI is becoming an important enabler of this shift. Before appointments, it can help triage patient-reported symptoms, prioritise urgency and route patients appropriately. During consultations, AI scribes can reduce the burden of documentation, allowing clinicians to focus on the patient and ensure they properly understand the next steps in their care. But its real value depends on what happens beyond the consultation.
Patients experience healthcare as a journey, not as a series of isolated interactions. AI may improve individual moments of care, but those moments only translate into better outcomes when they’re connected.
A blood test should automatically trigger the appropriate follow-up. An abnormal result should route a patient to the right clinician without unnecessary delays. Appointments, communications, referrals and clinical records should move together so that patients don’t have to repeat information and clinicians don’t have to manually coordinate the next step.
This is where care orchestration becomes essential. Rather than adding another point solution, care orchestration connects the technologies providers already use into a coordinated workflow. It ensures information, communications and clinical decisions move seamlessly across the entire patient journey, preventing delays in care and making it easy for providers to deliver proactive, preventative support at scale.
Interoperability is the foundation that makes this possible. Patients may interact with a single portal to book appointments, access results or communicate with their clinician, but the real value lies behind the scenes, in how systems exchange information, trigger actions and ensure care continues without interruption.
Ultimately, better connected care keeps each moment of care connected to the next. Whether it’s a test result or a follow-up conversation, every action helps move the patient journey forward.
Patient-led prevention
“Prevention and self-funded care only work when they’re connected to a broader clinical journey,” Matt Balerdi, of Humber Health Partnership NHS, Spire and Bupa, explained in response to a recent survey on self-funded care. “It’s not just about access or speed; it’s about understanding how patients live, what motivates them and then guiding them step by step with clinical reassurance, so patients feel confident navigating more digital pathways.”
That broader clinical journey is fundamental to a more patient-led healthcare system. If prevention is to become the norm rather than the exception, patients need easier access to their health information and more connected care pathways, which will give them confidence to take action earlier. Faster appointments are important, but patients also need the information and guidance to make informed decisions about their health, so they can act earlier and stay well for longer.
Technology has a critical role to play in enabling that future, but technology alone isn’t enough. AI will continue to enhance individual moments of care, while interoperability ensures information can move between systems. Care orchestration brings these capabilities together, connecting every stage of the patient journey into a coordinated whole.
Connecting people and clinical workflows is key to enabling earlier identification of health risks, faster intervention and greater patient involvement in managing their own health. Ultimately, that’s what will enable more preventative care, better patient experiences and improved outcomes.
