In the last few hundred years, the field of medicine has developed beyond recognition. Thanks to the advance of science and man’s need to push the boundaries, we have seen how much can be achieved in a relatively short space of team. Perhaps the most noticeable changes have taken place over the last decade or so but it is certainly true that we’ve been paving the way for many more years. It should come as no surprise really though because the medical arena has always attracted the best of society and that includes the development and research professionals. The way that we’ve witnessed these technological changes can be broken down into many smaller parts but each of them is equally important. This article will assess each of the areas where medicine has particularly benefitted from the advances in technology and we’ll discuss if there are any negative effects that also need to be taken into consideration. Indeed, certain areas including treatment, research and the way that data is now collected and stored have been improved so much that it seems impossible to see anything less than positive. Healthcare is such a vital part of our social and economic structure that without this technology, surely we would be facing a very dark future ahead. So, without further ado, let’s examine exactly how technology plays a role in modern medicine and the Health care sector today.

Overview

Although it may be true to say that most of these technological advances seem to have come along in the last decade, we’ve experienced plenty of them for a far longer time. Every industry has benefitted from these advances but the healthcare sector has probably taken a little longer to take advantage. This is possibly because of the traditional way that we view hospitals and the service that they provide. Although there is little doubt that they have supported and promoted our health issues in a positive way for the last hundred years or more; isn’t it now time to build a more flexible set of boundaries? With the likes of tablets and smartphones and their respective medical apps, we are starting to see big changes in the services that hospitals and clinics are providing. Also, the computerisation of storage systems has meant that we can now access the likes of patient records far easier than ever before. The rest of this article is dedicated to the most important improvements that technology has influenced and shaped within medicine and the health care sector.

Wireless Communication

The likes of walkie-talkies and instant messaging might not be thought of as high-tech anymore but they have certainly transformed the way that clinics and hospitals communicate. Cast your mind back to not that long ago and those annoying beepers and overhead pagers were pretty much the only way to get a message out there. Thankfully, there are now a myriad of bespoke messaging systems that have been tailored for exclusive use within the health care sector. Typically, it has taken hospitals and clinics a little while longer than other types of industry sectors to catch onto the smartest way to communicate. These messaging systems are capable of delivering and sharing lab test results via smartphones as well as a host of other devices that are only used in the health care sector. On the whole, wireless technology has made this process far swifter and much more secure than ever before.

Sensor-based technology

In a time when preventative medicine has started to make a real impact in the health care sector, sensor-based technology is playing a massive part in the whole setup. Thanks to some extremely clever and well thought out research and development, we can now wear medical sensor devices that monitor our levels and feed the information back to a centralised database. These range from sensors that can be designed to alert carers when an elderly patient falls over, to a device that monitors the pH levels of our skin. Wearable technology has also created a vibrant and potentially lucrative business sector that is currently growing in a very swift manner.

Remote monitoring

Home monitoring tools are now being used by 2.8 million patients and that number is rising every day. This is according to a Research and Markets report carried out in 2012 so imagine how many are currently embracing this technological advance in the health care sector today? This reduces costs and helps to minimise those lengthy and sometimes inconvenient visits to the doctor’s surgery. It also allows experts to monitor your vital signs around the clock without needing to have a break in your everyday routine. One notable result of this technological advance is that the number of patients who are readmitted into hospital after surgery for heart disease has been reduced by a significant amount. In certain countries, hospitals are facing fines for readmissions so that is another positive outcome to bear in mind when looking at how remote monitoring systems have had a beneficial effect on the health care sector in 2017 and beyond.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine is a recent term that describes the way that patients are both treated and diagnosed by using technology based telecommunications. It is also referred to as either e-health or tele health. For those who live in rural areas, it has become something of a Godsend for rather obvious reasons. Telemedicine has enabled patients who have difficulty accessing clinics and hospitals to receive diagnosis and subsequent treatment from the comfort of their own home. Video chats with their doctor who may be based in a metropolitan setting have become something of a lifeline and the results have been somewhat staggering to say the least. Telemedicine is still a growing field but it has already astounded many doubters. For example, a major study published in the medical journal CHEST, revealed that patients who were discharged from an ICU in rural areas that had telehealth services in place were seeing a 26 % lower mortality rate compared to those who did not have access to the same facilities. Even though the initial set up of telemedicine may not have been cheap, the subsequent savings that were made, not to mention the human lives saved, were more than reason enough to consider this upgrade.

Electronic Health Records

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of technological advances in medicine is the creation of the Electronic Health Record. Whilst it may not be as dramatic or impressive as some of the advances we have already discussed, the electronic health record has transformed the way that we can store and access a patient’s personal details forever. Being able to access these Cloud-based records from almost any device in seconds has enabled medical professionals all over the world to save both time and effort. So long as the correct security methods are adhered to, there are very few concerns as far as prying eyes are concerned. Centralisation is now the standard and the days of rusty old filing cabinets are thankfully long gone. The reason for such varied health care methodologies all over the world was connected to the difficulties health care professionals faced when trying to access information. Thanks to the electronic health record, they can now truly be singing from the same hymn sheet.

Tracking systems

Hospitals can be huge buildings and sometimes trying to locate a doctor or even a piece of equipment can be a difficult task. Real-time locating services have meant that this laborious process has been banished forever. They are also excellent at highlighting problems in utilisation and efficiency thanks to the way that they store movement data. Medical equipment is usually very expensive and tracking technology allows medical staff the ability to ensure these valuable resources are not being removed from the hospital. This is surely another example of how technological advances in the medical field can save a lot of time and money when utilised correctly.

Self-service kiosks

Perhaps one of the most visual signs of how technology has changed the world of health care is the emergence of self service kiosks. These can range from a seemingly lowly vending machine that stores and dispenses basic medical supplies to a fully-fledged video console connecting would-be patients with their doctors or pharmacists. This cuts down on visits to the clinic and also saves money in the long term. Staffing savings are also a positive outcome of self-service kiosks. But one issue that may arise is the possibly loss of face to face contact that cannot be replicated by an interactive screen, no matter how friendly the pharmacist happens to be. Tablet variations of this service are also being developed and it is thought that eventually, patients will be able to be diagnosed and then be able to order their medication without leaving their home. Delivery service of the medicine will also be part and parcel of the future of medical dispensing services.

So, we’ve looked at a number of important changes within the health care sector as far as technological evolutions are concerned and for the most part, they seem to be very positive indeed. What remains to be seen is if they will continue to improve the service as a whole. Amongst some of the doubts is the potential loss of human contact which cannot be ignored. Whilst many of us simply wish for a more seamless and faster way to get tablets and diagnosis, there are just as many who have more time on their hands and really enjoy the face to face communication and even the queuing up for appointments. Surely there must be a way to combine the best of both worlds in a way that offers a secure and efficient health care sector that retains some old-world values. But one thing is for sure, the way that technology has started to change the administration and surgical options within the world of medicine, surely it isn’t too far ahead when we start to see a doctor-less or even nurse-less hospital. Will the doctors and nurses themselves be trained up to help program the computers that are going to replace them or will they also be ‘casualties’ of technological progress?

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