7 advances in technology that are changing healthcare
As technology continues to grow by leaps and bounds, we regularly witness new developments in every field of life. Whether it is the way you shop or communicate with others or your job or the way you travel to work, technology has transformed basic human behavior.
Similarly, technological advancement has made a mark in healthcare too. Thanks to the continuous tech-based developments in the field of healthcare, many lives are saved daily, and the quality of life for the ailing has improved drastically.
Technology has not only affected the lives of patients and their families, but it has also impacted healthcare professionals and the way they practice. From wearables to robotic surgery, these are just a few of the recent dramatic advances in healthcare technology. Healthcare professionals have better access to information.
Read more to learn about 7 examples of how technology has changed and is continuing to improve healthcare:
1- Websites are the main source of medical information
Do you log on to the internet and research your symptoms every time you fall sick? Well, you aren’t alone. According to a research, more than 24 million Americans who used the internet tend to look up healthcare information on different websites.
People now have smartphones and other devices which offer instant connectivity to the internet. It goes without saying that with each passing day, more and more people are using the Internet to learn more about their medical conditions and explore different treatments. But remember, it is never a good idea to skip the doctor’s visit.
2- Better treatment options are now available
Technology has revolutionized healthcare by providing better treatment options, machines,and medicines that can save lives and improve the quality life of suffering patients.
Every day, sophisticated medical machines and medicines are being launched in the market to help patients heal with minimal suffering. Technology has even opened countless doors of research for healthcare professionals so that they can come up with more practical and effective solutions. Along with better equipment, the use of technology has proved valuable in the healthcare industry. From more thorough training to saving training costs with virtual reality, the corporation of technology in the health industry is limitless.
Read more about a moving story of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient and how technology improved his life for better.
3- Improved patient care
One of the most significant challenges in a healthcare facility is patient identification and record maintenance. Thanks to biometric identifiers, an individual can be identified by using biometric characteristics. It is an efficient and more reliable way as compared to the manual system.
Information technology and cloud-based storage systems have made it safer and reliable to store patient information in the healthcare system’s record. Doctors can now use a small hand-held device to record a patient’s medical history.
Lab test results, vital signs,and medicines are all entered electronically on the main database,and the concerned healthcare professional can access it within seconds.
4- Easier accessibility for patients to reach doctors
If you are finding it difficult to go out to a nearby healthcare facility, you can give telemedicine a shot. Telemedicine provides with a virtual platform where you can consult a doctor through video or a regular phone call. In fact, telemedicine is changing the future of healthcare. It is expected to attract 7 million patient users in 2018 alone, and the trend is expected to rise with great fervor.
Telemedicine is especially useful for people living in rural and under-developed areas. A good internet connection and video calling setup provided to them will ease access to get in touch with doctors from all over the world.
Doctors are now able to diagnose, treat, and research conditions without a formal hospital setup. Telemedicine was used successfully after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and many other similar situations.
5-Revolutionization in drug development
Thanks to technology, the painstakingly long processes of developing drugs have improved. The organizational procedures for drug development are becoming better. Artificial intelligence plays avital role in creating individualized computer simulations that can help evaluate a medicinal product or device.
Healthcare is on its way to reaching a stage where entirelysimulated clinical trials for potential drugs will be performed on virtual patient models. It may take time to reach there,but it’s a ground-breaking development in the field of healthcare.
6- Unique healthcare trackers, sensors,and wearables have stormed the market
As technology continues to advance, patients feel more liberated by taking care of their health through the various devices being offered exclusively for this purpose. There are countless health gadgets in the market such as health trackers, wearables,and sensors that allow people to know more about their health and take back control of their lives.
Whether you want to manage your weight, stress levels or overall cognitive function, you’ll find a gadget to serve the purpose. Choose from Fitbit Surge for tracking your daily fitness levels or use Pebble Time and Braintest to check your mental health- the choicesare endless.
7- Online databases can predict upcoming medical trends
You must have heard that search engines such as Google have the power to predict future trends. Be it marketing or healthcare, Google analyzes the information available online and comes up with predictions that can help healthcare professionals get ready to fight future diseases.
For example, when more and more people start searching for “flu” and flu-related search queries, Google adds them up and identifies it as flu season. By counting these search queries, Google can estimate the occurrence of flu in different regions all across the world.
Read more about Google’s predictive capabilities and the future of healthcare.
Conclusion:
Even though there are many hurdles in the way of implementing technology in healthcare, there is no doubt about the fact that the future looks brighter and healthier. Latest technological innovations are leaving a strong mark on all fields of life, and the healthcare industry is no exception.
These seven ways are just a small insight of how technology has changed healthcare for the better. So, if you’re curious,read more about the latest healthcare trends and medical developments to get a clearer picture of where we’ll be heading in the years to come.
Do you think technology is changing the healthcare industry for the better? Do you have any inspiring story to share about how technology helped an ailing family member or relative? Let us know in the comments below.
