Digital technology has globally had a major impact on all wakes of life. Students, professionals, and homemakers have all incorporated technology into their daily lives. So, the age of the internet is also the age of convenience. Moreover, various ISPs offer deals like Spectrum Internet offers that have allowed almost everyone to connect to the internet. Businesses are also using top-notch software to streamline their processes. All in all, what once seemed like science fiction is now a reality.
Although, the most impactful changes technology has brought have been for medicine. From accessible information to better medical equipment, we owe it all to technology. It is now easier for doctors to collect and store patient data. Moreover, robotics and artificial intelligence has also changed a lot:
Better Patient Care
Tracking a patient’s health can be a tedious job. Even taking vitals every few hours can take up time. Now, it is much easier with the use of monitors and healthcare apps. Health apps like JennyCo on all smartphones can help you maintain your records on your own.Doctors now have access to devices such as pacemakers and advanced surgical equipment. So, technology has made their job simple than it was a decade ago.
Doctors don’t have to bury their staff in paperwork and lab results anymore. A software can do it all for them. The use of technology allows us to make better use of our time. Almost everything is now online and centralized. So, healthcare professionals can update and regulate patient records through digital channels.
Telehealth
The pandemic was all about staying home and staying safe. In the unreal situation, doctors had to provide virtual care many times. People who were at home with a patient still needed medical help. So, telehealth and telemedicine became more important than ever.
New and better ways to communicate with your doctors have made things easier. We can now video call doctors, and they can prescribe medicines online. Moreover, doctors can also review patient files through online portals. Updating a record is as simple as filling up a form.
Personal Health Devices and Apps
Technology has made healthcare available for all. So much that it can be on your smartphone now. Health apps on all smartphones can help you maintain your records on your own. You can make a virtual healthcare profile on most phones. Paramedics can then use it in emergencies. They could check your blood group or call an emergency contact. So, you can always have your medical data on you.
Moreover, there are personal healthcare devices that you can carry along with you. Smartwatches can check your ECG and heart rate. Additionally, glucometers, blood pressure monitors, etc., are all household items now. Most of these are handy, and you can fit them in your bag. So, technology has allowed healthcare to become mobile. As a result, you can mitigate any emergency.
Big Data
Big data is a revolutionary change that has also affected healthcare. Before, recording and analyzing data from clinical trials and research was not easy. Moreover, doctors could not collect data from diverse populations. This limited the results of the research, and made it difficult to plan interventions. Now with big data, it is faster to collect data from larger populations. Data science has made it easy to maintain records. We can also use it to derive meaningful results from raw data.
As a result, doctors and biomedical researchers can expand their horizons. Clinicians can gather data in minimal time with a lot more accuracy. Grouping data and finding correlations have also become much better. So, medical professionals can stay on top of the latest trends and changes. Newer and better methods for intervention can get developed faster.
Improved Communication
A decade ago, communication between healthcare professionals was slow and inefficient. Most hospitals used speaker announcements and beepers to call on doctors. As a result, there were massive communication gaps that could hinder care. Now, there are much better means of communication.
Messaging apps, emails, and phones have made communication lines smoother. It is easier to get in touch with your specific doctor. You don’t have to wait or call several different extensions. Moreover, paramedics can communicate with hospital emergencies well in advance. So, when the ambulance reaches, doctors already know what’s coming. They can then be better prepared for the situation at hand.
What’s Next So, the digital transformation of the healthcare sector has a lot more to see. Advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning can mark significant changes.
Moreover, virtual and augmented reality, especially augmented reality surgery, could also revolutionize medicine. In the future, we might see 3D-printed organs to reduce waitlists on organ donation. A robot could perform your surgery or diagnose your ailment. Technology is moving faster, and more changes could come soon.
*Photos by Thirdman
