How Technology is Impacting the Healthcare Industry – Guide
It’s amazing when you look back and see how far our world has come technologically. The same can be said about technology in healthcare. From improved operational efficiencies to patient care standards, healthcare transformation has improved the overall experience for patients and medical staff. What was once unimaginable and only seen in movies is now a reality thanks to advances in technology. Whether in business, education, home, in the medical field or in any other area of our lives, the impact has been phenomenal. Today, we want to talk about how this technological advancement has specifically impacted the healthcare industry. Improved or created more problems? We want to find out whether technology has been a blessing or a curse for health.
How technology is impacting the healthcare industry
Big Data and the Cloud
Big Data is a buzzword in a number of industries, including healthcare. This is because generating and collecting large amounts of data from many different sources is now possible in healthcare. This data is used for analytics to make predictions about potential epidemics and ultimately prevent deaths. Storing data in the cloud helps improve efficiency and accessibility while reducing waste. It also helps in the research and development of new treatment protocols and life-saving pharmaceutical formulations. In fact, cloud services can be invaluable for medical research, providing large volumes of research and analytical data and enabling the efficient exchange of health information. The cloud provides secure, cost-effective storage solutions with backup and recovery capabilities, but without the hassle and cost of maintaining additional server hardware.
Digitizing health records
Dusty and bulky paper records are gradually giving way to streamlined digital records that are securely uploaded to the cloud and accessible remotely by patients and healthcare professionals. In this way, storing, managing and transferring data becomes simple and fast. Practitioners and patients gain clinical decision support so they can make better, more informed medical decisions. Digitizing health records also facilitates the efficiency and delivery of health services in remote or hard-to-reach locations. This digitization has the potential to streamline processes, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.
Mobile medical application technology
Not only do patients have access to fast and accurate medical information through their handheld devices, they can also use apps to track medical appointments and receive reminders to take their medication. Health and fitness apps help people become healthier by tracking food intake and activity levels and offering personalized solutions. These apps can also help doctors with stressful jobs by reducing time spent on filing, record keeping and other routine tasks. Mobile apps provide access to drug information to prevent side effects and drug interactions, resolve issues and improve diagnosis. Physicians can communicate directly with their patients, accurately record their vital signs, keep records of visits and appointments, and achieve greater procedural efficiencies.
Information and communication technology
Developments in information and communication technologies are constantly improving and simplifying the way healthcare works and the way patients interact with their caregivers. Medical experts have access to comprehensive research studies as well as diverse populations that provide new insights into genetics, disease and care outcomes. Providers can compare patient data with many other patients, identify risk factors and suggest preventive treatments using this new technology. This technology has given a huge boost to medical tourism, allowing patients to contact specialists virtually anywhere in the world for consultations and second opinions, regardless of where they are located. After communicating remotely, such as by video conference, patients can travel to another country to receive specialized treatment or sophisticated surgery.
Electronic Medical Records
Electronic medical records, or Electronic Health Records (EHRs), consist of digital summaries of a patient’s medical records. They can include diagnoses, lab reports, and details about hospitalizations, surgical procedures, and prescriptions. They provide an overview of a patient’s health status, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and better patient care. These electronic records facilitate information sharing and collaboration between laboratories and specialists without spending time and resources on physical transmission. EHRs provide healthcare professionals with information about allergies, patient intolerances, and anything else that may be relevant; especially important if the patient is unconscious. When properly maintained and implemented, EHR protocols can also help increase accountability and reduce negligence. Electronic records are easier and less time-consuming to create and maintain. They make life easier for medical archivists and reduce the risk of errors.
better patient care
Technology has provided healthcare with several effective tools to improve patient care. Because electronic health records are easily accessible to physicians, they can access patients’ complete medical histories and make thoughtful medical decisions. Doctors can quickly identify potential medication errors. For this, they use applications such as barcode scanners, which improves patient safety. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology also helps improve patient care by providing information about the patient’s vital signs and temperature. Facilitates real-time tracking of location, communication and identification. There are other ways technology can improve patient care: 3D printing is now used to create prosthetic limbs, custom dental devices, and even hearing aids. Virtual reality devices and apps help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety in elderly and mentally ill patients, and can also aid in the post-surgical recovery process. Augmented reality helps surgeons and their teams perform complex operations. Virtual and augmented reality devices can also help improve patient health and fitness outcomes. With the availability of procedures like robotic knee replacement and the use of gene therapy in cancer treatment, it is clear that the role of technology in healthcare will grow exponentially in the future.
Final words
Technological developments are better adopted in healthcare in some parts of the world than in others. Developed countries have been able to use technology more efficiently to provide better patient care; however, developing countries are catching up quickly. Healthcare providers that have not yet adopted the tools available are realizing their great untapped potential and are making the necessary changes and investments to streamline processes, reduce costs, increase efficiency and, most importantly, improve the quality of care.
Final note
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