HOW THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE ACCELERATED THIS INDUSTRY

Updated on August 28, 2020

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Technology has touched every aspect of our daily lives. The field of healthcare is no exception. It has brought an extraordinary acceleration in this industry, which results in better health conditions for the entire population. There is a notable increase in life tenures as well.


Technology is seeping in every aspect of health care, whether it is the initial registration of a patient in a medical center or aftercare aspects at discharge. Technology has made everything simple and easy.

Then, there are smart devices, equipment, and machinery, allowing convenience at every step. There are also several gadgets for individuals to track health conditions and relay them to a medical practitioner in real-time.  


Let us see how technology has accelerated the healthcare industry.

Integration and sharing of patient records

Most hospitals in western countries are already using the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The healthcare system is very haphazard and incongruent. Processing of pharmacy, documentation, and orders goes through different methods. The EHR integrates these different functions onto a single platform. It results in providing immediate data for the patient and the efficient administration of healthcare. 

EHR has revolutionized the healthcare industry in more than one way; patient information is kept in a central platform for ease of access. It is easily retrievable from any region at any time. 

Better communication between doctors and patients

Medical practitioners are always on the run and have much at their hands at all times. Moreover, they are also required to follow several regulations, making it very difficult to schedule a meeting with a qualified medical practitioner.

Technology is taking care of this crucial aspect of healthcare and establishing its prominent presence. It justifies why many people prefer a masters in health information management since they know that technology and healthcare are amalgamating. It is bridging the communication gap between patients and doctors. The introduction of new social network platforms allows interaction between patients and doctors in a very secure and reliable environment. Another novel platform offers medical translation services. If your physicians speak another language that you do not understand, technology will instantly translate their words.  

Monitoring Remotely

Remote monitoring is the best and most useful technological innovation in the healthcare industry. With the help of this phenomenon, patients wouldn’t have to leave their homes. The installation of health monitoring systems in homes is typical now. A specific location carries out analyses of patient’s data. If there is something wrong, an alert pops up immediately. 

Remote monitoring will save a lot of time and money, reducing the need for patients to visit hospitals. 

Wearable devices and sensors

The market for wearable healthcare devices is increasing. These devices obtain data regarding a particular patient. For example, a sensor on a patient will detect a higher PH level on the skin and immediately send an alert to the medical practitioner. The recipient of the signal will know that a cut or bruise on the patient’s body is developing an infection.  

Similarly, a wearable device will send an immediate alert if a surgery patient experiences any mishap. The smart sensor technology is another revolutionary innovation that is changing the face of the healthcare system.

Hospital staff is increasingly making use of novel messaging platforms for sending and receiving test reports. The platform shares the message, and also keeps a log of all such communication for future reference.

Telehealth phenomenon

This phenomenon is much more critical for all those patients who are not residing in large cities. Smaller cities and rural areas cannot provide the same kind of healthcare as their metropolitan counterparts.

Those patients can make use of the telehealth systems to obtain the same kind of medical attention and expertise that is available in developed cities. 

The cost aspect is also highly favorable. A patient can obtain a complete assessment of his conditions by using the video chatting option. In the future, telehealth systems will allow people to have a full session with their medical practitioners without leaving their home or office.

Healthcare Kiosks

Healthcare kiosks can provide every kind of service, including registration at a medical facility and appointment with a doctor. The booth allows patients to perform all these functions without the need to interact with anyone. 

Kiosks have reduced a lot of paperwork for the hospital staff.

Quick Experimentation

During the last outbreak of a worldwide pandemic, the world realized that it was possible to carry out quick experimentation when needed.

Technology has provided doctors and scientists with the tools to carry out experiments in a very swift manner. They can retrieve previous research findings, and all the data required for carrying out new simulations. It provides immense help when they are working on a new vaccine. 

Conclusion

Technology is leaving its footprints on every aspect of our daily lives. Whether it is business, leisure, or healthcare, technology has made our lives easier. Moreover, developments in the healthcare industry are making sure that we remain healthy and prosperous. It has contained medical costs and made it easier to obtain medical help. Undoubtedly, the healthcare industry will continue to see further innovation and developments that will provide additional facilities to the general public.

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.