The healthcare industry has been somewhat hesitant to embrace new technologies compared to other sectors. Due to strict regulations and the sensitive nature of medical data, caution has been exercised. However, noteworthy advancements have occurred, reshaping the practice of medicine for physicians and the experience of patients.
In this article, we will delve into various ways in which technology can be used to improve our overall health and empower individuals to actively manage their well-being.
5 Ways Technology Enhances Medical Services
1. Wearable Health Devices and Health Tracking Apps
It’s important to take care of your health, and wearing a healthcare monitoring gadget can make that process easier. You may save time and effort by using these devices to automatically track your health information. Some of them even can share data directly with your healthcare physician. They are made to be convenient and user-friendly.
Most wearable medical technology assess your heart rate, sleep habits, and activity levels correctly and store the information on your phone or smartwatch. Even while they have made great progress, some parameters, like blood pressure, are still difficult for them to measure precisely. However, a variety of gadgets can link to particular medical equipment and send the data to a smartphone for additional research.
When it comes to wearable medical technology, accuracy is important for monitoring your health effectively. It’s important to seek out the best options available in the market to ensure the devices provide precise information. Additionally, the performance of the device as a whole can be improved by smoothly integrating medical records apps into its operation.
2. Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring
A popular telehealth solution is keeping track of a patient’s health from the convenience of their own home. In order to effectively manage both acute and chronic diseases, healthcare providers might use remote patient monitoring. This strategy minimises the danger of infection while also cutting down on the costs associated with patient travel.
3. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a remarkably powerful tool that has the potential to completely transform the future of healthcare industry. Medical records can be examined using AI algorithms to speed up drug discovery, establish individualised treatment regimens, and correctly identify cancerous and non-cancerous tissue samples.
One such instance is Atomwise, a 2015-founded firm that uses supercomputers to investigate molecular structures and identify potential treatments. They discovered two current medications that might be modified to fight the Ebola virus using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with encouraging results in lowering the virus’ infectivity.
Another innovation was made by Google’s DeerMind, which created an AI algorithm specialised for analysing breast cancer. This system surpassed human radiologists in evaluations using pre-cleared datasets by a remarkable 11.5% in correctly identifying breast cancer.
These businesses are only a small portion of the numerous businesses using AI to influence the direction of healthcare. From revolutionizing healthcare to facilitating drug discovery and mining vast medical records, they serve as real-life examples of the possibilities that lie ahead if we embrace AI in this sector.
4. Robotics and Nanotech
Recent developments in healthcare also include surgical robots and nano-devices in addition to wearable technologies. These cutting-edge tools have allowed physicians to enhance their precision and reach previously inaccessible areas. A spectacular example is a nano-robot that can navigate through bodily fluids, such as the bloodstream and the surface of the eye, effectively swimming to its target location. These developments are transforming medical practices and enhancing therapeutic options.
5.Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is revolutionizing the lives of both physicians and patients. In the near future, patients in hospital beds can transport themselves to Spain or the comfort of their own homes, while witnessing surgeries as if they were holding the scalpel themselves!
VR finds application in various scenarios, including training future surgeons and allowing experienced surgeons to practice complex operations. Companies like Osso VR and Immersive Touch are at the forefront of developing these software programs, and the initial outcomes are highly promising. A recent study discovered that surgeons trained using VR experienced a remarkable 230% improvement in their overall performance compared to traditionally-trained colleagues.
Patients are also reaping the benefits of these technological advancements, particularly in pain management. For instance, VR headsets are provided to women during labour to visualize serene landscapes and alleviate discomfort. Patients diagnosed with cardiac, neurological, gastrointestinal, and post-surgical pain have reported decreased pain levels when exposed to VR stimuli. A pilot study conducted in 2019 demonstrated that patients undergoing surgery experienced reduced anxiety and pain levels, leading to an enhanced overall healthcare experience.
Author Bio:
Jigar Patel is the Founder of Health-e, a HealthTech app that simplifies health records management along with providing personalized and preventative healthcare solutions. Although he has 20+ years of operations and management experience in the EPC domain, Jigar’s true passion lies in making healthcare simpler, faster and more accessible for doctors and patients alike. He strongly believes that people need to be empowered to participate in their own healthcare and is constantly thinking of ways to build this into his app. He loves to keep things simple be it in life, product design, his work or the content he develops. Being married for 10 years and having 2 kids have taught him that perspective matters, so you can always count on him to share new perspectives on various topics.
