Advances in technology have impacted all aspects of life, starting with the device allowing you to read this article to how illnesses are treated, saving millions of lives, and making medical professionals work easier.
These changes in technology have impacted all the essential areas of healthcare:
- Prevention
- Diagnosis
- Patient Care
- Treatment
- Recovery
So, How Is Technology Changing Healthcare Right Now?
Wearables And Trackers
This type of technology offers the medical community the ability to closely follow the vital stats of any patient without disrupting their lives. Even for those who are not ill or currently receiving treatment, it can be a great tool to assess health status and prevent complications. For example, your smartwatch can be used to monitor your heart rate, sun exposure, sleep cycles, and more, all from your wrist!
It’s been an incredible push forward that allows patients more freedom to return to their regular lives, no need for constant supervision, or complicated exams. Plus, its capabilities are ever-expanding, looking to measure more data, and helping with different types of monitoring.
The best part of this tech is that the information can be easily sent back to the healthcare professional treating the patient, leading to better and quicker medical decisions.
Nursing
Nurses are the most round the clock healthcare providers in the system; they are the ones responsible for the majority of the legwork in getting patients discharged and back on their feet. That’s why technology advancements have become a crucial part of their work and training. For example, a nursing professional can now seek a master of science in nursing online in order to provide the best care and be able to master the latest tools and techniques.
What’s more, nursing now requires technology in order to cover all the needs of patients. The time saved by an electronic thermometer and other tools can make a significant difference in a patient’s life.
3D Printing Treatments And Solutions
3D printing was one of the hottest inventions a few years ago, and while much of the hype has died down in the public sphere, it is still an amazing tool in many fields, including healthcare.
The technology in itself is quite simple; it creates a replica of another object and prints it. Such a broad action that can help in so many ways, including:
- Construction of more exact limb prosthetics
- Reproducing bio-tissues, blood vessel, skin grafts and more
- Printing pills and other medications
These technological advancements have such a significant impact on the lives of so many patients. It makes it possible for amputees to recuperate normalcy, for burn victims to heal better and for healthcare workers to provide more complete care.
Nanomedicine
The idea of nanotechnology in healthcare has been around for a long time. It was first a part of the imagination of SciFi, but it is now a real option being researched in several medical studies.
Nanotechnology in medicine could be used as a more precise way to navigate the human body; with its nanoparticles small enough to infiltrate a patient, without causing harm, while still allowing doctors to control what the Nanos do. At some point, healthcare treatment might be able to administer the right dosage of chemotherapy directly where it needs to go, preventing damage to other parts of the body.
It could also be used as a more precise diagnosis tool, as it would be able to “swim” through the body and gather a lot of data. There’s so much to expect from such little things that can turn out to be the best medical technology tools in years.
Virtual Or Augmented Reality
VR is a great tool that might change the way patients are treated and how healthcare professionals are trained. Virtual and augmented reality makes it possible for patients to experiment with situations as if they were real. This ability makes it a tool with a lot of potential for mental health treatments and possibly physical recovery. However, it has its most clear advantages in the training of healthcare providers, as they can experience a first-hand medical situation, preparing them emotionally and professionally on how to respond. The next generations of medical professionals could receive hours of invaluable preparation through virtual or augmented reality, which will leave them ready to tend to any emergency.
Technology In Service Of Health
There are so many ways that technology has affected healthcare, some you might not even have realized, and it will continue to do so. The great news for all people is that even the smallest of breakthroughs could have the potential to save millions of lives.
As long as people keep being fascinated by science, and the human body, they will continue to come up with ways to use one to help the other.
