Technology and healthcare have always gone hand in hand – without the advancement of technology medical advancements would be next to impossible. And modern tech is continuing to change and revolutionize healthcare as we know it.
Wearable technology, advancements of augmented and virtual reality, development of artificial intelligence, these have all affected patient care, management, and diagnostics, so let’s take a look at some of the ways healthcare’s been influenced by modern tech.
Availability of Information
There’s no denying how important it is for our doctors and medical professionals to stay up to date with the latest medical trends and techniques. They also need access to important research and data from experts around the globe.
The rise of internet and intranet systems have made sharing data a piece of cake, and this means that everyone can easily access comprehensive research studies, find valuable information about diseases and treatments, and ultimately improve patient care.
Sharing of information allows all medical professionals to make informed decisions about the best treatments, identify risk factors, and suggest the right preventative measures.
Digitalization of Records
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are widely popular and have been a game-changer in the healthcare industry. Digitalization of records brings many advantages both to the doctors and to the patients.
Doctors and nurses can immediately access the most important information about their patients and improve their diagnostic process. Medical history and all medical records are more straightforward, making the way they handle the patients much better.
If a patient is unconscious or cannot communicate clearly, an EHR could prove to be their lifesaver – giving doctors insight into their previous diagnostics, any allergies they may have, drug intolerance, or medicine they’re taking.
Electronic health records are easily shareable between professionals, so there are fewer risks of losing valuable medical information, and the process of changing preferred doctors and even hospitals is much easier for the patients.
Not to mention that EHRs give insight into any potential outbreaks that are occurring, allowing doctors to take preventative measures and control the spread of disease.
Communication
One of the most obvious advantages of technology in healthcare is the ease of communication between patients and doctors.
You can easily reach your doctor in case of a medical emergency, regardless of whether you live in a rural area or are on a trip abroad.
This, of course, makes patient management more efficient, as everyone can quickly get their regular prescriptions or schedule an appointment over the phone or online, reducing your waiting time and allowing doctors to be more productive and able to handle more patients on a daily basis.
Technology has also allowed doctors and other medical professionals to communicate more easily with each other, encouraging collaboration and sharing of important information.
Getting a specialist’s opinion and scheduling a consultation has never been easier.
Telemedicine
Video conferences and medical consultations are very enticing to patients. Firstly, video consultations can allow doctors to assess any visible symptoms a patient has, and they can be an effective way for bedridden patients to have appointments. After consulting with your doctor through a video call, they let you know whether a face-to-face appointment should be made.
This is also a cost-efficient way for those living is less accessible areas to consult with their doctors. Healthcare workers on location can use video consultations with specialists to ensure procedures or treatments are carried out well, as specialists can provide information and training virtually.
Wearable technology is another advancement that has a huge influence on patient care and management. Remote centers can analyze the data from your wearable device and stay notified if something goes wrong.
Patients themselves have a better insight into their overall condition. These devices can notify the patients if they need to take their medication if there are changes in their vitals and more.
Wearable devices can help people make better lifestyle choices by allowing them to make informed decisions based on their general health conditions.
AR and VR
Augmented and virtual reality are extremely useful in the healthcare industry. Primarily used for educational purposes, they lead to medical professionals who are ready to take on difficult cases and handle them more efficiently.
Through AR and VR, medical students can familiarize themselves with different medical conditions and learn how to treat them in a safer and better way. This is especially helpful to surgeons in training, as they can practice without putting anyone at risk.
With the help of AR, surgeons can get a 3D representation of the patient’s anatomy, making them more accurate and better equipped to deal with difficult procedures.
Patients, on the other hand, can stay informed about their conditions. With VR and AR, patients can clearly visualize how certain procedures will go, or how medicine will affect their bodies.
AI
AI is already being used in cancer research and can help to detect breast and lung cancer more quickly and more accurately than humans can.
Wearable technology combined with AI can help detect certain medical conditions at a very early stage, allowing doctors to start treatment as soon as possible and give patients a better chance of beating certain diseases.
AI can help doctors find critical information more quickly by scanning thousands of documents and studies in a matter of seconds, allowing for better diagnosis in a shorter amount of time.
We’re only starting to see the benefits of technology in medicine. With better incorporation of modern technological solutions into the healthcare industry, we’ll see a much bigger improvement in all patient care, management, diagnostics, and more.
