There is no doubt that virtually every industry in the world today has, in one way or another, experienced technological advancement. The medical industry is no exception to these changes, as we can see with the constantly-developing Med Tech (medical technology). The technological strides in the healthcare space have tremendously increased the capabilities of healthcare professionals to identify and treat different types of diseases.
These technological advancements have also helped reduce the mortality rate of sick individuals worldwide, provided solutions to various healthcare complications, and disproved some old health myths.
Notable impact of technology on the healthcare industry
Here are seven ways modern-day digital technology trends and innovations have improved the healthcare industry:
Improved methods of communication
Communication between healthcare professionals has been dramatically improved by emerging technological advancements. These days, healthcare professionals can stay in touch through emails, smartphones, text messaging, and social media platforms.Â
Before using digital resources for communication, healthcare workers used a beeper to communicate. Beepers were a bit flawed as they weren’t specific enough for some healthcare providers.
The use of technology today has proven to be not only useful but also cost-effective. Healthcare professionals also conduct online webinars and videos using various social media platforms to further communicate with each other on recent medical changes and advancements.
Hence, technology has broken both the geographical and communication barriers, respectively.
Big data
Big data refers to a large amount of data that cannot be easily processed using traditional methods.
Modern healthcare technology aids medical accountants in gathering big data in a short period. The presence of big data in healthcare enables data collection by healthcare professionals to help them understand and learn more innovative trends and techniques.
This data can be used to analyze and predict possible epidemic outbreaks by identifying possible health hazards. Big data also enables clinicians to evaluate appropriate preventive steps and reduce the mortality rate.
In addition to this, big data also makes use of cloud storage. The use of cloud storage helps to create a secure and cost-effective backup duplicate of all medical research files, patient results, and various important health data. The use of big data aids in the research and development of new healthcare treatments and lifesaving discoveries.Â
Big data is an invaluable advantage to medical research and analysis as it helps healthcare professionals easily store and retrieve large amounts of research data.
Better access to medical information
A significant benefit of technology is easy to access to online education on healthcare-related degrees. Students who are interested in acquiring a healthcare degree can do so online. This enables these students to study from wherever they are in the world, at their own pace and time.
Online education for healthcare professionals has ruled out the need for students to travel to far-off universities to learn.
Improved patient care
Technology has made taking care of patients much better. Gone are the days when you would have to go to the hospital to book an appointment with your doctor.
In today’s age, you can book an appointment with your doctor or nurse, have virtual meetings with them, place orders and make payments for your medication, all from the comfort of your home. Physicians can mail letters to patients to remind them of their tests and appointments.
The introduction of more modern equipment has helped to increase patient life expectancy. Devices like pacemakers, health trackers, and many others enable users to track their personal health. Most major surgeries which were considered impossible are now achievable with the use of equipment like capsule endoscopic cameras, which physicians now insert into the patient to easily identify the issue inside the body.
Digitized medical records
The use of digitized medical records has been nothing but an upgrade when it comes to storing patient medical information. Before the use of digital records, large paper files were used to store patient information.Â
The problem with these paper files was that they were often misplaced or damaged during their transfer from department to department. Most times, if patients were to be admitted to the hospital at night or on the weekend, it was difficult to pinpoint a medical record’s exact location, especially in the emergency department.
Referring patients to other physicians was tedious as the current physician had to send the patients’ treatment, health chart, and information to the new physician in a large box.
Patient medical records were scattered everywhere, as some would remain with the dentist; others kept with the psychiatrist; and some others with the rehabilitation specialist, etc.Â
Patient records were a total mess.
However, the turning point came with the introduction of electronic health records (EHR). This record has made storing patient data easier and more organized than its predecessor. The EHR enables healthcare professionals to easily access the general storage of all patient data, thus yielding improved care and better results.
Use of healthcare applications
The development of health apps has become a norm in our society today. Hundreds of different health apps are available for physician and patient use.
These apps help patients exercise, watch their diet, monitor their health status, provide them access to medical information and their test results, and notify them when they should go for check-ups.
Healthcare apps also help healthcare workers easily access patient results, drug dosages, and any other vital information they may need urgently.
Telemedicine and telehealth
Telemedicine has allowed patients to consult with healthcare specialists from anywhere in the world. Telemedicine enables patients to receive home care and support through video calls and apps installed on their devices.
Several great telehealth platforms enable patients to get the help they need during emergencies. Telemedicine makes transmitting biosignals, medical images, and other vital information fast and easy.
Healthcare providers can also use telemedicine to monitor patients remotely. It helps in the effective management of chronic diseases. Live interactions like video conferencing can aid healthcare workers in diagnosing, managing, counseling, and monitoring patients.
It’s easy to see that modern-day healthcare has been revolutionized by technology in one way or the other. The improvement in healthcare isn’t static and continues to improve steadily.
Every day more health providers realize the untapped potential of technology in healthcare. Hence, there is no denying that healthcare and technology go hand in hand. Healthcare professionals are making the required changes and investments to help improve the quality of healthcare and help increase patient life expectancy.