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Healthcare technology is a broad area that includes everything from medical devices to pharmaceuticals, health insurance, medical billing, and much more. It all affects how we approach healthcare as a whole. In this article, we will cover seven things that will change the way you approach healthcare technology. Here’s what you need to know.
Increased Electronic Health Records
For the first time since the pandemic, patients will be more likely to seek and obtain medical records in electronic form. While in the past, patients may have had to physically go to a doctor’s office and handwrite a prescription, now they can electronically transmit their health information to their doctor, eliminating the need for paperwork.
In addition, with the help of technology, doctors can access patients’ health information anywhere at any time. This portability of records will make the healthcare system more accessible to patients and providers. It will also allow for better coordination of care and treatment and improve disease surveillance and the evaluation of medical treatments.
The Return of the ‘Clinic’ Appointment
In the years following the pandemic, healthcare providers may see a return to the ‘clinic’ appointment. Rather than going to a doctor for an annual checkup, people will be more likely to seek out medical help when they are sick or injured. They will want to see a specialist for help rather than their family physician, who may not be equipped to deal with their specific issue.
Moreover, patients will be more likely to stay in good touch with their physicians for regular checkups. This can help them understand how their health evolves over time and allow them to seek additional treatment if needed. Additionally, healthcare providers can monitor patients’ vitals digitally, eliminating the need for messy papers and handwriting logs. This will help them track what happened during a visit and better understand what is going on with their patient’s health.
Telemedicine For Remote Triage And Monitoring
Due to the pandemic, healthcare providers can implement telemedicine, also known as medical teleconsultation, for remote triage and monitoring of patients. This will allow them to provide assistance to people who are physically located far away. Through video conferencing, healthcare providers can assess patients and give advice as needed without having to go physically to that location. Moreover, as technology gets more advanced, it will be possible to conduct a more thorough exam and provide more detailed advice over video chat rather than simply having a one-off conversation.
Increased Online Patient-Physician Discussions
Following the pandemic, people will be more likely to seek online patient-physician discussions rather than rely solely on paper charts and EMRs to get the medical help they need. These online forums will provide individuals with a digital space to talk with a doctor rather than searching for a specialist in their area who may not be available or willing to commit to an appointment at that time (if they can provide any help at all).
Furthermore, through these online spaces, doctors can educate their patients about the pandemic and what they should expect as a result of it, as well as give advice on how to deal with the conditions that the pandemic has left behind.
For example, if someone is experiencing difficulty breathing, they likely have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), two common disorders caused by the pandemic. An online patient-physician discussion about these conditions will be able to provide the patient with the understanding they need to make the correct diagnosis and get the right treatment. This, in turn, may prevent them from experiencing serious complications and possibly even death.
Accessibility Of Technologies
In the past, most people only had access to technologies that were physical objects that they had to interact with physically. For example, you would need a computer to use a fax machine or printer. Smartphones didn’t have enough computational power to handle complex medical imaging software, such as a PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems) or a CIS (Clinical Information System). Developing countries lacked the computational power to store, process, and analyze large amounts of data. As a result, healthcare was restricted to physical locations such as clinics and hospitals, which meant that people had to go there to receive treatment physically.
This is starting to change. New technologies emerge that provide increased accessibility to healthcare technologies. One example is the EMR (Electronic Medical Records) system. An EMR provides digitized documents that can be accessed from anywhere. This includes a patient’s physical examination records, radiology reports, and nursing notes. It also allows healthcare providers to search electronically for patients with specific illnesses or diagnoses. If the EMR is integrated with a clinical information system, it can become a complete patient record.
Focus On Prevention
People will be more focused on prevention and health rather than solely on treatment. As a result of the pandemic, many people will become more aware of the conditions they have or may develop due to poor lifestyles, environmental factors, and aging. They may take this newfound interest in their health and make healthier choices regarding diet, exercise, and habits. This may reduce their risk of developing certain diseases and cause some to avoid them altogether completely. As medical professionals have pointed out, “the greatest impact of the pandemic may not be the number of people who died but the number of people who are living with the results of their bad choices.”
Robot-Assisted Surgery
Robot-assisted surgery is another area that is changing the way we approach healthcare. It combines a robot’s accuracy with a surgeon’s speed, allowing for more precise surgeries with less trauma to the patient. It also has the potential to cut down the number of surgeries performed by human beings, as well as the recovery time for patients.
Healthcare Technology Is Evolving
Healthcare technology is changing. There is more access to healthcare technologies than ever before, changing how we approach healthcare. Telemedicine brings healthcare to people who don’t have access to healthcare locations. Robot-assisted surgery allows for more precise surgeries with less trauma to the patient. The number of surgeries performed using these new technologies is increasing, as is the use of single-use disposable surgical gloves, which help prevent infections.
The above changes will undoubtedly impact how we approach healthcare technology. Still, one final change may be the most significant: individuals will become more accepting of technology in their everyday lives.
The year 2022 is a testament to the importance of good health and how easily it can be undermined by several factors, some of which are beyond our control. However, as scientists learn more about the pandemic’s impact on our world and its opportunities, more and more people will likely find a way to contribute to a healthier future.
