The advent of information technology has brought about remarkable changes to the health care industry. It would not be wrong to say that information technology revolutionized the care and treatment of patients. With the constantly changing healthcare landscape due to upgrades and improvements in technology, it is mandatory that healthcare institutions and practitioners consider where they stand.
The need of the hour is to stay updated with the new developments and adapt accordingly. Let’s take a look at how information technology can improve health care.
Computers have become smarter, so much so it is now possible for computers to aid health care professionals in making informed and precise decisions. Computers provide input in ultrasound and x-rays which can help doctors in arriving at the right diagnosis and make timely decisions.
Now doctors can monitor their patients’ health while they are at home with the assistance of remote monitoring tools. This helps both the doctors and patients save money and time that goes into visiting the physician in person.
Patients with complicated diseases such as heart diseases and blood disorders can now send their reports immediately to their doctor. Moreover, these tools allow doctors to treat patients suffering from chronic diseases from long distances without putting the patient through the trouble of traveling all the way to the doctor.
The ability of mobile devices to monitor the heartbeat and blood sugar levels of patients remotely is a big leap in modern healthcare technology. Some devices go one step ahead and provide the required care to the patients in a timely manner. For example, the MiniMed 670G detects people having Type 1 diabetes, identifies when the patient experiences a spike in blood sugar levels and delivers the required amount of insulin to the body.
Telemedicine refers to an advanced healthcare method that is based on advanced communications. It used to take weeks and even months to get medical reports. With the advent of smart technology, now you can get your medical reports almost immediately. Clinics now offer web portals where you can check your results after a few hours of sample submission.
Such solutions are becoming very popular especially in the rural areas that are inaccessible or where healthcare services are lacking. Doctors can virtually meet their patients, listen to them regarding the symptoms they are experiencing and provide a diagnosis.
Wearable medical devices are growing rapidly. These devices gather data such as heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, etc. to assist the wearers and their doctor access any health-related anomalies. These devices come in handy to identify serious underlying issues before they become a life-and-death situation. Wearable often come in the form of a watch, wrist band, or armband.