Amit Phull is Chief Physician Experience Officer at Doximity and Emergency Medicine Faculty at Northwestern Medicine.
As we approach 2025, political dynamics, economic forces and once-in-a-lifetime technological advancements have the potential to significantly influence patient care. From my vantage point as a physician who helps develop healthcare technology and whose company offers a telehealth solution, I expect five trends will significantly impact healthcare delivery in the coming year.
1. Telehealth and hospital-at-home programs will continue to transform how we deliver healthcare.
It’s been over a year since the public health emergency officially ended, and telemedicine continues to play an active role in U.S. healthcare. From chronic disease management to acute care delivered directly in patients’ homes, telemedicine has become a valuable complement to in-person care. Doximity research shows that 89% of physicians surveyed believe telemedicine has increased patient access to healthcare, with many reporting better disease management, improved patient outcomes and satisfaction, and equivalent or superior adherence to treatment plans.
While in-person care remains a cornerstone of healthcare delivery, I believe telemedicine and hospital-at-home programs will continue to serve as a vital extension to this care, offering enhanced flexibility and continuity. This will be particularly important as the U.S. continues to confront an aging and growing patient population amid an intensifying physician shortage.
2. AI hype will give way to practical applications.
Interest in artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in recent years, generating both excitement and a healthy dose of skepticism. While the potential of AI in healthcare is undeniable, 2025 could be the year when the hype settles and applications that provide real-world, practical value will stand out.
Physicians across the nation still face high levels of job stress and burnout. When asked how burnout and overwork could be alleviated, 75% of physicians surveyed by our company cited reducing administrative burden—an area where AI can truly shine.
In 2025, pragmatic AI solutions that automate administrative tasks, enhance clinical decision-making and predict patient outcomes will showcase their value. Companies prioritizing AI tools that streamline clinical workflows and enhance, rather than attempt to replace, clinicians’ expertise could emerge as leaders.
This recalibration of AI’s role in healthcare is mission-critical for fostering trust and adoption. With fewer, but more reliable, AI tools at our disposal, physicians can focus on delivering high-quality, efficient care while making the most of AI’s current capabilities.
3. As direct-to-consumer pharma models rise, physicians will remain central to care.
Another significant trend to watch in 2025 is the continued movement of large pharmaceutical companies into the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space—a shift that could have profound implications for healthcare delivery.
While D2C models can empower patients by giving them greater access to medications (potentially at lower costs) and more control over their healthcare choices, some patients may need more holistic, comprehensive counseling that considers their overall health, coexisting conditions and broader treatment goals. There is also the risk of worsening the fragmentation of care in our system.
I believe this trend will prompt a reevaluation of physicians’ role in medication management and undoubtedly place a greater responsibility on the medical workforce to stay informed. Additionally, this could open up new opportunities for digital tools that enhance communication between patients, providers and pharmacies and allow physicians to monitor their patients’ medication use remotely.
4. New approaches to pain management could thrive.
I have a sensitivity to NSAIDs and recently found myself having conversations with my doctor about how to best manage acute back pain from a herniated disk. Even as a physician, I struggled with the fact that there are not many options for someone like me beyond Tylenol, which I’m already using, and opioids, which I would like to avoid.
The scars left by the opioid epidemic have fundamentally altered pain management in the U.S. Many healthcare systems have (appropriately, in my opinion) implemented stricter guidelines for prescribing opioids, but patients still need effective pain relief. The availability of new, safer options could be transformative.
In 2025, I expect that there will be a stronger focus on developing safer, effective alternatives for pain management. I believe innovations in non-opioid pharmaceuticals, neuromodulation and regenerative medicine hold promise.
Still, there will be challenges. Healthcare systems must prepare for an increased demand for new alternative treatments while also ensuring we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, including underestimating the potential risks of new treatments.
5. Remote patient monitoring could find a role in mainstream care.
One of the most exciting developments of 2025 will likely be the continued advancement of remote patient monitoring (RPM). The pandemic accelerated the need for RPM technologies, and they have since become a more integral part of chronic disease management, post-operative care and preventive medicine.
As these technologies improve, the implications for healthcare delivery are profound. Physicians can now monitor patients in real time, collect valuable data on their health status, and intervene earlier if problems arise. This could not only improve patient outcomes but also reduce the burden on overtaxed healthcare systems, potentially keeping more patients out of hospitals and emergency departments.
In 2025, I think we will see further integration of RPM into mainstream healthcare, driven by advancements in sensor technology, data analytics and interoperability. The expansion of 5G networks will also play a critical role by enabling better connectivity for patients in rural or remote areas. Healthcare providers will need to adapt by developing more robust protocols for handling vast amounts of patient data and integrating these insights into clinical decision-making—tasks made much more achievable with AI.
Conclusion: Change is inevitable, and so is progress.
Many factors are poised to shape our healthcare system in 2025—some of which we cannot yet foresee. What is clear is that healthcare will continue on a path toward greater innovation and patient empowerment.
As a physician, I am optimistic that these changes will ultimately improve patient care. The challenges ahead are real, but so are the opportunities. By staying adaptable, embracing new technologies and advocating for patient-centered care, we can emerge stronger as a healthcare system.
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