8 Innovations in Healthcare That Are Making Life Better

Updated on May 23, 2020

The healthcare field has been benefiting from technology such as AI, robotics, and big data. There have been many recent innovations in healthcare that have not only improved certain systems but have also revolutionized the industry. This, in turn, has changed how patients are treated and are giving patients better experiences overall.

Keep reading to learn about some of the top innovations in healthcare technology.

1. 3D Models

In Boston Children’s Hospital and a few other hospitals, they are using 3D operating models to allow surgeons the opportunity to practice complex operations before stepping foot into an operating room. This helps speed up the length of the surgery and it also lets surgeons test out innovative practices.

3D printing has allowed hospitals to create exact replicas of organs to give surgeons detailed practice.

2. AI Robot

There are certain surgeries and treatments that are a lot more dangerous and invasive. Advanced robotics has opened the doors to make these surgeries much easier to perform. At Carnegie Mellon University, a miniature robot called HeartLander was developed. HeartLander is able to perform heart therapy treatments.

After the doctor makes a small incision they navigate the robot to certain parts of the heart and it sticks to the organ and performs therapy. This AI robot has proven to be more precise, less invasive, and safer than traditional heart therapy.

Robotic surgeons can be more precise than human surgeons leading to better surgeries. Studies have also found robotic surgeries to reduce the risk of blood loss and allow patients to have shorter hospital stays.

3. Drones

There was a trial program called Flight Forward that UPS conducted in Raleigh, NC. They had autonomous drone deliveries of critical medical samples such as tissue or blood going between two branches of the same hospital. Because the trial was successful, the FAA gave the company approval to expand to 20 hospitals around the United States.

There are a few other companies pioneering air deliveries at the moment including, a division of Google’s parent company. Wing has FAA approval to make deliveries for FedEx and Walgreens.

4. Rosalind

OnRamp Bioinformatics has invented a discovery platform that makes it easier for scientists to analyze next generation sequencing data. There is no waiting because ROSALIND gives same-day results.

This system allows scientists to have the freedom to perform advanced analysis without having to wait on someone else. Gene signatures can be evaluated to help accelerate the discovery of genes, diseases, and pathways.

Researchers are able to come together via a virtual room to connect and collaborate. The great thing is that there are no walls so it can be done from anywhere as long as you can connect online, and there are no files that have to be sent back and forth.

5. NICU App

When a baby is born prematurely or a newborn has health problems they have to stay in the NICU. Usually, even after their parents leave the hospital they are kept in NICU for further care. Thanks to technology there is an app that helps keep parents in contact with their babies and the team caring for the baby.

Progress can be tracked in real-time and parents can know what their baby is doing at all times. For those parents that can’t stay by their babies’ side, this app is proving to be a big comfort and peace of mind.

Families that have babies with the biggest challenges and complications have really found comfort with the PreeMe+You app. Families are able to have a sense of stability even during stressful and uncertain times. The goal of the app is to help parents feel a little better during this crisis.

The goal is for this app to be available in any NICU across the entire world.

6. Smart Pills

These pills are being developed and tested by researchers. It is a pill that would look out for problems in the intestines and release the appropriate medicines to counteract the condition it finds.

As of right now most of the biological mechanisms required to make smart pills a viable concept are understood. The challenge at the moment is to figure out how to create non-toxic batteries and circuits in case they happen to get stuck in the body.

7. Virtual Reality

VR has been used to help patients during painful and difficult procedures. It has shown to minimize the stress during these procedures and gives a more pleasant patient experience. Providers also benefit from a better environment to safely perform the necessary procedure.

Virtual reality technology is also helping clinics gather new patient information and share treatment instructions for after the patient goes home.

8. Chatbots

Instead of waiting to talk to a doctor, there are chatbots that provide 24/7 personalized health care advice to patients. Questions about symptoms or medications can easily be answered by AI-powered chatbots.

Users can also be reminded to take their medicine via chatbots and healthy habits can be tracked. AI chatbots are constantly learning new information to make sure that they are equipped for most situations.

What Are Your Thoughts on These Innovations in Healthcare?

Now that you have our top list of innovations in healthcare are you excited to see what else is coming in the healthcare world? The list above is proof of the power of innovation in healthcare.

The list above will continue to grow as technology continues to develop.

Did you learn something new today? Please come back soon to always stay in the know.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.