Digital technologies are now increasingly used in the healthcare industry through the use of electronic health records, telehealth services, telemedicine and even to the extent of using wearable devices which utilize data analytics software.
This fosters new possibilities for practitioners and patients to engage, accelerates diagnostic accuracy, enables practitioners to formulate timely treatment modalities, and enhances the overall quality of health services offered by health systems. For example, care delivery will no longer be restricted with regards to distance or cost.
EHRs (Electronic Health Records)
EHRs or Electronic Health Records are now an indispensable part of the healthcare service. EHRs ensure that patients receive far more accurate care since all relevant data including medical history is now easily available. Engagement is also more easily facilitated through EHRs and patients have the transparency they need. With EHR systems, doctors and healthcare institutions also have advanced security protocols and improved scalability options, which means patient portals can be created to help engage patients even more.
The advantages of EHRs transcend beyond the healthcare recipients to healthcare providers as well. Doctors and nurses are able to focus on patient care since EHRs simplify processes, reduce the amount of information that qualifies as administrative work, and increase safety with regards to prescriptions. Unnecessary tests and procedures will not be done which saves time and resources for both the healthcare centers and patients.
Modern telehealth systems can analyze and interpret vast amounts of data, aid in forecasting of patient results, and assist doctors with their telemedicine practice. Those suffering from chronic illnesses or living far away from healthcare facilities can receive much needed help. Standard mobile applications can also be integrated into these systems for real-time monitoring, enabling physicians to provide advice without the patient needing to be physically present, thus saving time and travel expenses.
Telehealth
Telemedicine combines several healthcare technology tools to create an efficient system that allows physicians to minimize medical errors and access a larger pool of information, as well as simplify the billing process.
Certain telehealth activities include remote patient monitoring, virtual consultations, video calls, and other similar devices which enable two-way communication between patients and their healthcare providers in an effortless manner. Such telehealth technology as specially designed clothing can observe a patient’s condition and send the information directly to the doctor.
Academic medical centers recently partnered with local health systems to add virtual visits in specialty areas. With these options, such as dermatology and psychiatry, patients tend to get better results while saving time and even travel costs by using these options.
Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, a few insurers have relaxed some telehealth visit restrictions. It’s prudent to reach out to your provider and check what they cover. You could also check with your employer since some companies now offer this option for enhanced employee satisfaction and productivity.
Wearable Devices
Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness Tracker, biosensors, and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors are changing the healthcare industry for the better by enabling remote patient supervision and telemedicine consultations. This technology improves outcomes by eliminating the need for constant clinic visits at an early stage in the patient’s outline, while providing doctors personalized data stream throughout the patient’s progress and enabling them to address any issues early on.
Wearable technology has become more advanced, more user friendly, and practical than ever. To help maximize convenience for users, manufacturers are designing more tablets and smart phone applications along with improving battery life so devices can be worn longer without needing a charge.
Patients are also adjusting to this new technology with relative ease; however, they should be encouraged to view wearables as instruments that facilitate self-management rather than mere replacements for physician consultations. The historical health care system encompasses both patients and providers. Their adoption rates will improve with experience as participants of the system regardless of their status as technological laggards.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI is such a hot topic due to the increasing demand towards the personalization, accuracy, and efficiency of healthcare. For instance, Ada Health and Babylon Health deploy AI chatbots to conduct symptom checkers and recommend first contact treatment orders. Such practices relieve the healthcare workers’ burden and diminish unwanted doctor visits.
AI generated data enables more accuracy in detecting the results alongside the provision of quicker responses and more extensive follow-ups. This gives patients more freedom in caring for their health as well as supporting better follow-up care monitoring and more comprehensive diagnostic examination results.
AI’s use in research documentation and patient visits is facilitated by its Natural Language Processing (NLP) capability, which saves the healthcare providers effort as well as time. Additionally, this technology helps healthcare specialists track patients’ daily activities using wearable devices or mobile health applications. This form of monitoring helps identify potential problematic situations that may require immediate attention in order to minimize complications and helps manage chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease more proactively, thereby reducing overall healthcare expenses.
3D Printing
3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process used in industrial production where items are constructed through the gradual addition of layers of filaments, resins or powdered substances. Although 3D printing is mainly used in industries, its adoption by healthcare professionals is rapidly increasing.
In healthcare, patients and medical personnel can take advantage of 3D printing technology as it aids in the production of personalized prosthetics and implants, which ensures better functionality and lesser side effects. 3D printing further enhances the capabilities of medical professionals by assisting in performing surgeries accurately and within minimum time. Also, the technology can aid in designing smarter drug delivery systems that ensure exact dosages for alleviating side effects.
In addition, this technology allows for the printing of medical devices possesses the potential to be printed on demand which helps further reduce the costs of production as well as inventory spending while increasing the speed at which emergencies are responded to. In addition, progress is being made in multi-material printing which allows for the manufacture of devices that contain rigid and flexible parts – augmenting a prosthesis that contains a built in sensor or circuit or quickly replacing an existing one with a stronger, more durable prosthetic.