Technology has rapidly become one of the most important parts of healthcare today. In the past few decades, the use of technology in the healthcare system has evolved from supporting administration, to patient care, and valuable assistance in medical research.
In almost every healthcare setting today, such as local medical clinics, pathology, surgeries, and vaccine research, technology is ensuring people receive better healthcare than ever before.
Some of the ways health information technology is improving healthcare sectors include:
Medical innovations
Technology has developed a lot over the years, from simple hearing aids, to complex 3D printers, and robotic surgery. This has enabled healthcare professionals to provide better and more comprehensive quality of care to patients.
Computers can assist healthcare staff by monitoring critical patients’ vital signs and sending alerts when anomalies are detected. Advanced diagnostic tools ensure patients are referred to the right treatments faster, improving health outcomes and patient safety.
Robotic and artificial intelligence powered technologies are assisting surgeons to deliver more precise, accurate procedures with minimal invasiveness and enhanced recovery time.
3D printing has opened a whole new way of looking at healthcare. It can now be used to create artificial limbs, bio tissues, pills, implantable blood vessels and medical equipment. 3D printing is cheaper than more traditional methods of developing and realizing medical innovations and equipment, so costs are much lower for treatments, devices, and supplies.
Data collection and storage
Healthcare and its satellite industries generate vast amounts of data. The days of manual note taking of patient information and storing medical records in files are long past. Today, much of the health information is stored electronically.
Healthcare professionals can swiftly record patient data on a handheld device which they can share with other staff, across multiple departments. Emergency staff can record critical information on electronic health records that can be read by local doctors at a later stage for follow up treatment.
Centralized digital medical records can hold lab results, recent medical events and critical information about medication use. This makes it easier for healthcare organizations to track the unique needs of each individual patient and facilitate collaboration between multiple healthcare professionals.
With more efficient data collection, researchers can work out retrospectively how practice and policy impact health in certain populations. For instance, through population health research, health researchers can identify trends and track what happens to the people using health care systems.
Medical research studies make use of big data sets. Scientists analyze this data to identify new techniques or drugs that can be developed and improve medical care for patients at a much faster rate.
Improved patient care
Technological advancements have significantly improved the care people receive in the healthcare system.
Healthcare and medical training now use technology such as virtual lectures, online exams, and patient simulations, preparing future healthcare professionals to utilize medtech tools more readily for patient care and treatment.
The use of technology has been a huge contribution to patient-centered care. Communication between patients and providers can happen through online portals, email and text messages, increasing patient convenience and fostering a more collaborative approach to health awareness. Patient access to online medical records and using wearable devices and smart app monitors encourages them to be more invested in their own healthcare.
Medical testing is often done much faster, leading to a smoother diagnosis and treatment process. This can lead to better quality of life and improved outcomes for many people.
With telehealth and similar apps, people who might not be able to access specialist care can access a range of services with the help of online doctors. Where people live no longer impacts access to healthcare.
Medication prescribing errors are far less likely to occur, with an estimated 1.5 million people in the US harmed by medication errors every year. Electronic prescription reduces this risk by ensuring clinicians can send a prescription directly to the pharmacy electronically. Medical alerts and flags can also be used to improve patient safety.
Many health care errors occur due to a lack of access to information about a patient or a drug. Technology has improved access to patient data and drastically increased access to reference information. There is a wide range of healthcare information such as drug references, available electronically, so doctors can access quickly and easily.
Technological innovation in medicine has allowed for better patient outcomes, more successful treatments, and a variety of exploration that could create lasting impacts on health teaching and research. Thanks to technology, people can receive better treatment than ever before, at any time in human history.
Healthcare settings who want to continue expanding into the realms of technology to better serve their patients need an IT partner who understands the medical industry’s specific needs. Solzlorro’s HIPAA specialists offer medical IT solutions that ensure your healthcare setting is compliant, secure, and always providing best practice patient-centered care.
