The recent decade saw technology grow by leaps and bounds. Consumer electronics has been among the top beneficiaries of these advances. But other industries have also benefitted from these innovations that are currently being used by professionals of each industry.
For instance, the healthcare industry now has innovative tools available for its professionals to use. These tools weren’t readily available in the past but are now being integrated into the industry’s different facets. Here are some tech innovations that are currently being used in the healthcare industry
Telemedicine
The use of remote technology has made it possible for doctors and healthcare professionals to help patients even if they stay in different parts of the country. Its adoption reduced wait times in hospitals and allowed patients from rural areas to consult doctors living in the cities.
The coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance of this technology as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised healthcare professionals to use virtual means of offering services to patients.
In addition to regular patients, it is also useful for professionals working in private mental health clinics. It allows them to talk to patients living somewhere else. Moreover, the technology also makes the treatment and diagnosis of medical issues easier and faster.
Cloud Storage
Patient information and other medical data are now stored in cloud-based platforms. With this, it is much easier to send information to a specialist who can help diagnose an illness or disease while on a teleconference with other doctors.
Moreover, storing data in cloud servers allows healthcare institutions to save on the cost of maintaining physical servers. These institutions can use the savings to purchase additional medicine or ventilators for pandemics that may happen in the future.
People may be concerned about the security of cloud storage. But following strict guidelines will ensure the information stored in the cloud will remain secure and accessible only to people who are authorized to access them. It may even allow medical institutions to avoid data loss if a physical server breaks down or fails.
Virtual Reality
Most people associate virtual reality (VR) with gaming and entertainment. But it can also be used in the healthcare industry, particularly in the education of medical students. Aside from learning the intricacies of a subject, VR also allows them to train in a realistic environment.
VR can also be used to help patients suffering from motor dysfunction. It allows patients to have diverse interactions while going through therapy. VR is also used to alleviate chronic pain by letting patients wear VR goggles and watch relaxing images, such as watching picturesque Icelandic scenery. This facilitates the use of a non-drug approach in alleviating pain.
Additionally, VR technology can also be used to manage stress and anxiety among patients. Wearing the headset and watching relaxing scenes calms their mind. This method of treatment is called therapeutic VR.
3D Printing
In addition to VR technology, 3D printing also has a huge potential in the healthcare industry. For the moment, 3D printing technology is mainly used to produce medical devices, including orthopedic implants, dental restorations, and surgical instruments.
But its future medical applications may include producing biologics, drugs, and medical devices regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It may even be used for producing actual body organs in the future.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in organizing and managing data stored in cloud-based platforms. This facilitates decision-making among healthcare professionals and allows them to give a quick diagnosis of a patient.
In addition to diagnosing patients, AI is also useful in the development of drugs. With this, the time it takes to create new medicine will be shorter. It was even used to some extent in the development of the coronavirus vaccine.
Additionally, the technology is currently being used to diagnose eye diseases. It essentially compared a healthy eye with an eye currently being examined to check if it’s afflicted with a disease. Using technology makes the work of healthcare professionals easier and faster.
Internet of Medical Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a collection of small devices connected through the internet. This connection allows the remote use of these devices. Similarly, the healthcare industry has the Internet of Medical Things, where different medical devices are connected. This facilitates the exchange of information through the internet.
For instance, healthcare professionals can monitor patients remotely by having them wear portable medical devices. Moreover, telemedicine allows doctors to see their patients even if they aren’t in the same location.
Even as healthcare professionals are currently benefitting from the recent advances in technology, there’s a lot more in store for them in the future.
