Technological advancements are paving new roads for healthcare innovations. Today, things are possible that people decades ago only dreamed about. Every day, advancements are changing the healthcare industry for the better. It’s a fascinating process to watch.
It could be argued that no industry has been more greatly affected by technology than the healthcare sector. The average life expectancy has risen significantly, and mortalities in hospital emergencies have lowered.
Here are a few examples of the hundreds of tech advancements that make things easier and more productive for doctors and healthcare professionals.
Data Use
There are very few areas that have influenced the healthcare sector more than data. This term encompasses information, transfers of information, and more. Healthcare professionals use data to analyze diagnostic reports so they can make more accurate diagnoses. The data reveals statistics and research, giving professionals greater insights into their diagnostics.
Additionally, family practitioners can gather data from social media and online interactions in order to determine the habits of their patients. All of this information is free and legal to access since it’s published on the internet, and professionals often use it to help their patients.
Electronic Health Records
In 2009, only about 16 percent of United States hospitals used electronic health records (EHR), and by 2013, more than 80 percent had begun incorporating this method of storing information about their patients. Organization and productivity have been greatly enhanced as a result.
Implementing EHRs in healthcare has made centralization and efficiency involving patient information possible. If there’s a need to transfer information between providers, it becomes a simple endeavor. It also reduces the risk of lost or damaged files, which is a major relief to businesses and patients alike.
Epidemic Eradication
With the use of population science, researchers can study health within a certain group. This strategy of eradication has been around for centuries, and technology has significantly sped up the process. Professionals can evaluate patients on a large scale, examining death rates, life span, frequency of illness, and more. The result is eradication of certain epidemics that once had the potential to wipe out entire villages.
Better Healthcare at Home
The quality of life within households has also risen exponentially thanks to technology that’s entered the home. For example, there are a variety of health apps that help people to work out and eat more healthy at home. With wearable fitness trackers, patients can monitor their health activities and visit the doctor less frequently.
Those with serious health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, can also bring health technology into their homes. There are certain portable machines that can be brought home to monitor vitals and administer medications that make it possible for those with serious conditions to be at home rather than in the hospital.
Telemedicine
One of the most incredible inventions out there is the ability to receive medical advice and even have prescriptions written without leaving your home. Through video conferencing, you can speak live with a doctor and get advice about common conditions. Furthermore, a prescription can be sent to your door rather than to a pharmacy.
Oftentimes, the doctor will simply advise you to visit a local clinic to have some tests done, but even that has begun to change. Many healthcare organizations working in telemedicine are seeking solutions for testing within a patient’s home through mail-out tests and nurses that make house calls. Right now, such a service would only be possible for the elite, but with time, the possibilities are endless.
The tech that permeates the medical sector never ceases to amaze.
