Video game nerds and computer geeks are not the only ones who are wholeheartedly embracing technology anymore. Nowadays, those who work in medicine and patient care are going all in on healthcare technology. A slew of recently developed technologies is fundamentally altering the way patient care is provided.
Better Care Provided with the Utmost Efficiency
Healthcare technology is providing medical professionals with new tools to deliver medicine and treatment. Care quality has dramatically increased thanks to these advances. Technology really has made patient care more reliable and safer. One need not look any further than medical professionals’ use of diminutive computers that fit in the palm of the hand to understand just how much care has improved. The data gleaned from these devices is shared in an instantaneous manner with patients, colleagues, health insurance providers and other pertinent parties.
Tech has opened the door for a highly efficient accumulation of patient data including vital signs, lab results and other important details into a single centralized space. Centralized data has greatly improved patient care and the efficiency of evaluations and treatments.
Lets’ take a quick look at how improvements in healthcare tech are making life easier for doctors and patients.
Tech Advancements Help Medical Professionals Better Understand Patients
It is no longer necessary to use patient charts which are cumbersome and easy to mix up. Electronic health records are now used to arm physicians with full patient medical histories necessary to craft detailed treatment plans that are ideal for each idiosyncratic patient. Today’s doctors can make decisions quickly, obtain test results right away, be notified of a possible error in medication and learn of other important details without delay.
Some hospital departments are even relying on RFID tags or barcodes to reduce the chances of medication errors. As an example, scanning barcodes reduces the odds of a medication error as the healthcare provider is forced to scan the medication as well as the patient prior to providing the medication. The use of such bar codes is based on reinforcing patient’s five basic rights: the right medication at the right dose by way of the right route at the right time for the right patient.
RFID technology saves medical providers a ton of money and time as it provides instantaneous tracking, communication, location information and other details on specific people or resources. This system ensures a specific patient receives the proper medication. Furthermore, RFID technology reduces the chances of healthcare provider error while simultaneously enhancing workflows.
Healthcare Tech is Taking the Industry to New Heights
Healthcare tech might seem a bit cold and impersonal, yet these advancements are making a monumentally positive impact on the industry. Consider the fact that virtual reality (VR) is now being used by veterans of war struggling with PTSD to reduce anxiety before and after surgeries. In fact, 3D printers are now used to form fully customized hearing aids and dental restorations. These technologies are proving mutually beneficial for medical providers and patients alike.
Change is the Only Constant
Newly developed healthcare technologies are poised to change healthcare as we know it. Healthcare technology is enhancing the industry, improving lives and even enhancing lifespans. One can only imagine what the future of healthcare will look like once quantum mechanics and the Internet of Things (IoT) hit their stride.