Technology and healthcare: the duo revolutionizing our lives

Technological advancements in healthcare have saved numerous lives and enhanced the quality of life for people of all ages. Technology is constantly modifying the way we live. When it comes to health, we are eager to use the most advanced technology to improve ourselves.

Technology has not only changed the experience of healthcare for patients and their families, but it has also had an enormous influence on the practice of healthcare professionals.

We have even begun wearing our healthcare technology. Wearable sensor devices observe and monitor our stress levels, heart rates, blood pressure, and more. We rely on innovations in this field to lead a stress-free life.

Here are 10 of the latest medical technology innovations to have an impact on healthcare:

1. Digital health records
2. Remote patient monitoring
3. Big data
4. Cloud computing
5. Acceptable and safe data storage
6. Telemedicine
7. Mobile apps
8. Patient portal technology
9. Wearable sensor technology
10. Electronic health records

Digital Health Records

Digital health records electronically link various aspects of care so that health history, prescription data, physician instructions, and other information can be easily shared among a health team.

This technology can help improve health outcomes. It can also provide patients with the opportunity to get smart care in their homes instead of visiting a doctor. And these records can provide caregivers with resources and tools to manage services effectively and efficiently.

Advantages of digital health records

1. Patients get quicker access to test results
2. It is easy to pay bills
3. Patients can easily share information with family members
4. It offers clinicians feedback
5. The patient can review information for medical errors
6. Instructions and information are easy to document
7. Patients get easy access to their medical records
8. It saves time
9. It can be used in preventative care

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring has the capability to control, organize, and coordinate care outside the doctor’s office. These programs can lessen the overall healthcare cost and hospital readmissions. These programs gather patient-generated data through mobile health platforms and provide feedback to the medical team.

Data on health activity, diet, and exercise can be compiled and transmitted to care providers without patient participation. A care provider can then keep track of the patient round-the-clock and provide personalized management tips, guidance, and health advice.

Remote patient monitoring can also be beneficial for patients as it allows them more freedom and independence. It can also empower and encourage patients to take a more dedicated approach to their health. RPM can even help in earlier disease detection and save money, time, and effort.

Benefits of remote patient monitoring

1. Better access to practitioners
2. Improved quality of care
3. Education, support, and feedback
4. Enhanced autonomy
5. Improved patient lifestyle
6. Saves money

Remote Patient monitoring is also helpful for patients who live in areas where medical care is not readily available by giving them easy remote access to medical providers. And doctors can use the technology to engage and interact with the patients, which might motivate them to use the platform. While the technology is still being developed, we can’t be sure about all the data’s accuracy and reliability, and privacy risks must be taken into account.

Big Data

Big data in healthcare refers to collecting massive amounts of data from numerous sources, including digital health records, medical imaging, genomic sequencing, patient monitoring devices, wearable sensors, and other medical devices.

Importance of big data in healthcare

1. Prevents medication errors
2. Upgrades operational efficiency
3. Provides precise recommendations
4. Identifies high-risk patients
5. Cost-effective
6. Identifies risk factors
7. Compatible with wearable sensors
8. Can detect fraud
9. It saves time and money
10. Advances patient care
11. Enhances and boost patient participation

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is one of the most innovative and powerful advancements in medical technology. Data is transferred through hardware and software via the Internet. Healthcare professionals and patients can easily access their data and use applications from Internet-enabled devices to improve health. Unfortunately, the cloud has proved unreliable when it comes to security and privacy, and millions of patients have had their private health data stolen. Innovations will need to address this deficiency.

Acceptable and Safe Data Storage

Cloud computing allows the data to be stored at a meager cost. With the increased reliance on electronic health records, new and safer cloud storage will need to protect this data and keep patient information secure. This is an area that needs more work.

Telemedicine/ Telehealth

Telemedicine is a two-way video consultation between a doctor and a patient. Telemedicine exists in many fields, from cardiovascular medicine to mental health.

Telehealth technology enables the remote exchange of data between patients and physicians. Telehealth technology helps diagnose, observe, and monitor and is typically used to help patients with long-term conditions.

Benefits of telemedicine

1. It creates healthcare jobs for medical assistants
2. Less waiting time for patients
3. Encourages patients to stay independent and self-sufficient
4. Provides fast access test results
5. Provides personalized medicine
6. Improves health access in rural areas
7. Time-saving for physicians and nurses

Mobile Apps

With healthcare apps’ help, patients have access to education, diagnostic support, helplines, remote monitoring, and data collection.

Mobile apps allow people to control and manage their health and wellbeing comfortably.

Patient portal technology

Patient portal technology allows users a single point of entry to medical information.

Portal technology in healthcare gives patients online access to their health information. Their data and information are available on websites and secured with a unique username and password.

The health information provided via these portals includes:

• Recent doctor visits
• Discharge summaries
• Medications
• Immunizations
• Allergies
• Lab results

Benefits

1. Saves patient and medical staff time by eliminating the need for phone calls
2. Global availability
3. Can provide a convenient way to ask questions

Wearable sensor technology

Wearable technology plays a very significant role in healthcare. The demand for wearable sensor technology is on the rise.

Wearable biosensors are one of the most significant recent developments in this sector. The wearable sensor is a combination of wearable objects and biosensors. Wearable technology can be in the form of bandages, rings, clothes, smartwatches, tattoos, jewelry, etc.

Wearable sensors can be incorporated into clothing and watches that measure blood glucose levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and other biometric data. In some cases, real-time information can be sent directly to healthcare providers. Wearable sensors can provide two-way communication between the doctor and the patient, but it’s worth thinking about whether or not you want to share all of this information all the time.

Benefits

1. Provides physicians with better data
2. Consistently measures health indicators
3. It is convenient for the patient

Electronic Patient Records

Electronic health records contain data and information about individuals that doctors and nurses can access during patient visits.

These records contain data and information such as age, sex, ethnicity, health history, lists of medications, allergies, room allocation instructions, immunization statuses, contact information, lab test results, hospital discharge instructions, and billing information.

Benefits

1. No data is misplaced or lost.
2. Allows healthcare workers to easily analyze and classify patients who are due for visits and screenings
3. Intuitive formatting of records
4. Eliminates illegible handwriting issues
5. It makes data sharing easy

Conclusion

With innovations in health technology, the healthcare industry is changing rapidly. Not only are patients getting better access to healthcare and their own medical information, but it has allowed them to share this information with other medical consultants and caregivers.

While there are many benefits to digitizing medicine, we should always be aware that protecting patient information is of the utmost importance.

What do you think about the combination of technology medicine? Will it help or hurt patients?