In the decades that humanity has been practicing medicine, many significant advancements in health technology have been created. Over the years, technology has dramatically changed a lot of aspects of the health sector. It has enabled the development of numerous treatments and improvements in care and treatment.
Technology has helped the healthcare sector in many ways:
1. Predict outbreaks – Since a lot of individuals turn to the internet for information when they start to feel under the weather. Annual flu outbreaks are a good illustration of this. Online searches can be used to pinpoint specific areas, and a database that displays both the increase in potential cases and the spread of the sickness can be made.
2. Faster results – Results of medical tests used to take weeks or even months to arrive. Now that technology has advanced, you can have the findings as soon as the lab is through processing your sample. This is really beneficial in reducing tension and giving you the answers you need.
3. Better treatment and medicines – Better healthcare is the biggest benefit of technology. Doctors are now able to offer more comprehensive care because of improved equipment. Additionally, it has facilitated global collaboration between medical experts and sped up research. This has made it possible to concentrate efforts and increase manpower in the search for solutions to some medical puzzles.
4. Accessible medical information – People who experience strange symptoms frequently search the internet right away to get relief from their symptoms. This is fantastic for putting your mind at ease or giving answers.
These are just a few of the advantages of technology in healthcare; there are a lot more already in place. Here is a list of the top 8 healthcare technology trends:
1. Virtual and augmented reality in healthcare: Augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) have several applications in the medical field. These technologies provide multidimensional connectivity. As was already noted, image recognition can be used to find cancer. VR can be utilized in physical therapy to treat phobias in conditions like mental trauma. Doctors can examine inside patients’ bodies by superimposing CAT scans and 3D scan data using augmented reality (AR) glasses.
2. Robotics to automate hospital workflows: Robotics enable hospitals to reduce the cost of recruiting trained hospital staff. The intention is to assist medical facilities that already have a severe shortage of nurses and clinicians as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there is endless potential for using robotic assistants and automated systems in modern medicine—hygiene, surgery, remote diagnostics, etc.
3. Cancer Immunotherapy: Despite the fact that immunotherapy, is a sort of cancer treatment that has advanced and can now significantly extend a patient’s life. Based on the concept that cancer can be treated by genetically altering a patient’s cells so they work in tandem with their immune system, immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment. It increases immune system function to support the fight against cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, which results in collateral damage to healthy cells, immunotherapy does not.
4. Healthcare Wearables: Wearables, also known as wearable technology, are a class of electronic devices that can be incorporated into clothing, and implanted in a user’s body. They were just stated within the IoT innovation. For instance, smartwatches that provide data on heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and blood vitals enable remote monitoring of a patient’s status. But bio patch technology and smart hearing aids aren’t the only wearables that are helping doctors better diagnose a patient’s condition.
5. Digital Therapeutics: Patients with chronic illnesses who require continual care can find solutions in the previously stated field of digital treatments. The treatment may include behavior changes, medication adjustments, and symptom monitoring. A patient’s doctor may prescribe such digital therapies, granting them access via computer or app on a smartphone.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare: AI is one of the most significant healthcare technologies, with a variety of uses including reviewing patient information and other data, developing new pharmaceuticals, and the improvement of the efficacy of diagnostic techniques. Recently, this technology has been useful in treating the effects of the coronavirus, for instance, by analyzing CT images. AI, for instance, enhances cancer diagnosis.
1. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain: The pharmaceutical sector is likewise embracing new and enhanced digital technologies since it needs to use the most recent technology to stay flexible and ahead of the curve. Pharmaceutical companies are turning to technology to help them make the most of the fast-changing pharma fulfillment supply chain landscape.
2. Human Genomic Data: In the past, genetic sequencing to better diagnose and treat rare and chronic diseases was not only expensive, but also required a level of technology that the majority of healthcare institutions lacked. Several scientific prospects associated with genome sequencing are listed here: Gain an increased understanding of the genetic basis of human disease, apply genetic variations to the life sciences and medical manufacturing sectors and improve the level of knowledge of evolutionary science, the process of aging, and comparative genomics within and across species.
As technology continues to advance, healthcare organizations are striving to grow with it.