How healthtechs are transforming healthcare

Digital transformation already has a profound impact on sectors such as finance, education and retail. In healthcare, this revolution is just beginning, and its protagonists are healthtechs. In this article, learn what these companies are and how they use technology and innovation to profoundly transform hospital management.

What are healthtechs?

The term healthtech combines the words health and technology. A healthtech, therefore, is a company (usually a technology-based startup) that develops innovative products or services focused on problems and opportunities in the healthcare sector.

These solutions can range from management systems to tools that transform the patient experience and the quality of care delivery.

Healthtechs stand out for operating scalable business models and for applying technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analysis (data analytics), cloud computing, the internet of things (IoT) and mobile interfaces. Their main goal is to solve inefficiencies in the traditional healthcare system through technological innovation.

Is there a difference between healthtech and medtech?

Yes. Although often taken as synonyms, healthtech and medtech are different concepts, even though they have similarities.

Healthtechs focus on broader healthcare solutions (management, prevention, patient engagement and digital services), while medtechs tend to concentrate on the clinical area, through specialized medical devices and tools applied directly to diagnosis and treatment.

How do healthtechs work?

Healthtechs seek to make the healthcare system more efficient, accessible and sustainable, and to do so they work at different stages of the care and administrative chain. Here are four areas these companies can make more agile and productive.

1. Modernizing clinical and administrative processes

One of the central functions of healthtechs is to optimize the internal processes of clinics, hospitals and medical offices. This includes digitizing patients’ electronic medical records, automating scheduling, integrating administrative systems and improving operational efficiency.

These technologies reduce rework and let medical and administrative teams focus on what is essential: patient care.

2. Expanding access and the patient experience

Solutions such as telemedicine, online scheduling and health apps expand access to services, removing geographic barriers and reducing waiting times. Teleconsultation, for example, allows users to see specialists without traveling, speeding up diagnosis and treatment.

3. Data-driven management and predictive intelligence

By using big data and artificial intelligence, healthtechs enable healthcare managers to make better-informed decisions. This includes forecasting demand, analyzing disease trends and optimizing the use of hospital resources, reducing waste and improving the quality of the services provided.

4. Clinical and technological innovations

Beyond administrative improvements, some healthtechs work directly on innovative clinical solutions, such as:

• advanced digital diagnostic systems;

• remote monitoring platforms for patients with chronic conditions;

• connected medical devices;

• personalized digital therapies;

• cutting-edge technologies, such as augmented reality, nanotechnology and robotics, are being used for more precise and less invasive treatments.

Impact on the healthcare sector

The impact of healthtechs goes beyond modernizing processes: they redefine the patient’s role in managing their own health and promote proactive education and engagement. The expectation is for more efficient, more cost-effective services, both for institutions and for patients.

In Brazil, this scenario has been consolidating quickly. The number of health techs has more than doubled since 2018, driven by the growing need for digital solutions, especially after the covid-19 pandemic. In 2018, there were 248 companies, and today there are already more than 800.

Categories of healthtechs

Healthtechs work on different fronts of healthcare and health management, with the goal of humanizing care, expanding access and increasing the efficiency of medical services. These companies develop specific solutions for each stage of the patient journey and of healthcare institutions’ operations.

The main categories of healthtechs include:

• Pharmaceutical: solutions for medication e-commerce, performing and managing tests, as well as technology-supported pharmaceutical research and development.

• Management and efficiency: platforms for electronic medical records, hospital and clinic management, billing, medical claims auditing and revenue cycle optimization.

• Healthcare marketplace: digital environments that connect patients with clinics, professionals and health services, including low-cost clinics and affordable care networks.

• Prevention and monitoring: use of wearable devices (wearables), such as smartwatches and smart sensors, for continuous monitoring of the patient’s health, enabling faster, data‑driven interventions.

• Telemedicine diagnostics: solutions for online scheduling, teleconsultation, telemonitoring and remote diagnostic support, reducing travel and waiting times.

• Treatment and assistive technology: robotic systems to support or perform surgical procedures, as well as smart prostheses, such as exoskeletons, that expand patients’ autonomy and rehabilitation.

This diversity of categories shows that healthtechs do not work at just one isolated point, but across the entire healthcare chain, connecting prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management in an integrated, technology‑driven way.

The Brazilian Association of Health Startups and Healthtechs (ABSS)

As healthtechs expand, the Brazilian Association of Health Startups and Healthtechs (ABSS) has established itself as an important representative body in Brazil’s healthcare innovation ecosystem.

Founded in 2016, ABSS acts as a strategic bridge between startups, hospitals, health plans and government bodies, advocating for the sector’s interests and promoting the adoption of innovative technologies. The association not only represents its members in regulatory and strategic debates, but also facilitates access to the market and to investment, both essential for companies in a growth stage.

ABSS’s role is structured around three main pillars:

• Representation and advocacy for health startups, promoting discussions on public policy and ethical standards.

• Training and market facilitation, by encouraging a collaborative culture and supporting fundraising.

• Business development, encouraging partner institutions to adopt technology solutions and promoting the expansion of the ecosystem.

This work is crucial because healthcare innovation faces complex barriers arising from strict regulations, high costs and operational challenges. By connecting entrepreneurs with hospitals, investors and managers, ABSS helps reduce these obstacles and create a more favorable environment for solutions that have real impact on the sector.

Rivio

Rivio is a healthtech for healthcare providers, such as hospitals and clinics that serve health plans, have a hospital ERP installed and bill health plans monthly.

The many benefits of the Rivio platform include:

• Complete revenue cycle management with AI.

• Audit of 100% of claims.

• Reduced invisible losses and an immediate increase in revenue.

• Much faster billing, with no bottlenecks and no human error.

• An operation customized to the hospital’s rules.

• Predictability and performance for hospital financial management.

• 100% increase in the detection of lost revenue.

With Rivio, you can automate the entire hospital revenue cycle: from patient care and medical auditing to XML submission, including denial appeals after payer review.

The Rivio platform was developed to identify discrepancies, prevent invisible losses, reduce denials and ensure the hospital receives 100% of what it is entitled to. By contract, Rivio commits to reimbursing the hospital in full if the denial is not reversed.

Frequently asked questions about healthtechs

1. What is a healthtech?

A healthtech is a technology-based company that develops innovative solutions for the healthcare sector, focused on operational efficiency, quality of care and financial sustainability.

2. What are healthtechs for?

To optimize administrative and clinical processes, expand access to health services, improve the patient experience and support strategic decisions with data and technology.

3. What is the difference between healthtech and medtech?

Healthtech works broadly in management, prevention and the patient experience, while medtech is more focused on developing medical devices and technologies applied directly to diagnosis and treatment.

4. Do healthtechs work only with digital solutions?

No. Although digital technology is central, healthtechs also transform processes, business models and the integration between clinical, administrative and financial areas.

5. How can a healthtech help hospitals and clinics?

Healthtechs help hospitals and clinics reduce operational errors, automate processes, improve financial control, increase revenue predictability and raise management efficiency.

6. Do healthtechs use artificial intelligence?

Yes. Many healthtechs use artificial intelligence for predictive analytics, clinical decision support, resource management, risk identification and revenue cycle optimization.

7. Is telemedicine considered healthtech?

Yes. Telemedicine platforms are part of the healthtech ecosystem, since they use technology to expand access to medical care and improve continuity of care.

8. Which areas of healthcare do healthtechs serve?

Healthtechs work in areas such as hospital and financial management, telemedicine, diagnostic support, remote monitoring, auditing, regulatory compliance and the patient experience.

9. What is ABSS?

ABSS is the Brazilian Association of Health Startups and Healthtechs, responsible for representing, organizing and strengthening Brazil’s healthcare innovation ecosystem.

10. Is healthtech a trend or already a reality?

Healthtech is already an established reality, with a direct impact on operational efficiency, quality of care and the financial sustainability of healthcare institutions.