How is Technology Changing Healthcare?
Have you ever been out and looked up from your mobile device for a second just to realize that it appears everyone around you is intensely occupied with their own? There’s no denying that technology is more omnipresent than ever before. Smartphones, artificial intelligence, and The Cloud are changing almost every facet of our society and healthcare is not to be excluded. Here are some of the biggest ways that our technology is changing the healthcare industry:
- Improved Patient-Doctor Communication
A study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that currently, 96% of Americans own a cellphone of some kind and 81% own a smartphone.1 This vast technological takeover has undoubtedly altered the way healthcare providers and patients communicate with one another. For the first time in history, a patient can get a virtual diagnosis and treatment plan without ever leaving home. Additionally, physical paperwork is nearly a thing of the past as healthcare providers across the country have opted into digital record-keeping that is significantly more accessible and secure. This improved patient-doctor communication has certainly resulted in better patientcare and less room for human error in the healthcare field.
- Wearable Technology
Although wearable technology has only recently entered the healthcare field, it has already had an immense impact. Devices like TracPatch make it easier than ever for healthcare providers to stay connected to each patient’s recovery. Typically adhering to the outside of the patient’s body, connecting to a smartphone via the cloud and sending important activity information directly to the healthcare provider, wearables are valuable because doctors can view a patient’s recovery progress and make informed short-term and long-term care decisions at the press of a button. The TracPatch Surface Senor technology provides the healthcare market with evidence-based care, data analytics, and remote monitoring that allow healthcare providers to make individual care decisions for each individual patient. Wearables are on the rise in the healthcare industry and are already on track to revolutionize the way healthcare providers care for patients in the future.
- Big Data Analytics
The rapid advancement in mobile apps and smartphones has led to big data or the collection of all information stored in our devices. Strategic Business and Technology Advisor Bernard Marr notes that “beyond improving profits and cutting down on wasted overhead, Big Data in healthcare is being used to predict epidemics, cure disease, improve quality of life and avoid preventable deaths. With the world’s population increasing and everyone living longer, models of treatment delivery are rapidly changing, and many of the decisions behind those changes are being driven by data.”2 Our smartphones and mobile apps are allowing us to collect immense amounts of data which can now be shared seamlessly with our healthcare providers. Ultimately, this data is helping healthcare providers make better informed and individualized care decisions, reshaping the industry in its entirety.
- Mobile Apps
Mobile applications are advancing every day and have already drastically changed the healthcare industry for the better. Patients now have the ability to track fitness, food intake, medical appointments and much more all through centralized mobile applications. Similarly, healthcare providers can stay organized and view patient health information giving them the ability to make individual and informed treatment decisions for each individual patient. Mobile apps are especially valuable when connected to a wearable device. When paired with a wearable, a mobile app can track patient activity in real-time and share it with a healthcare provider directly. This has opened an entirely new realm of communication between a healthcare provider and patient ultimately leaving the industry with a plethora of new opportunities for personalized care solutions.
- Monitoring is Easier Than Ever
The days of a patient needing to get in their car and drive to see their healthcare provider in person have reduced significantly. New healthcare wearables and advanced mobile applications have made it easier for healthcare providers to monitor their patients remotely and make informed care decisions at the press of a button. Tracking fitness activity, diet and progress levels through new technology has made it so healthcare providers can now access a streamlined view of individual patient information easily. Remote monitoring of patients is something new to the healthcare industry, but certainly, an efficient way to care for patients.
Although these new advances can seem overwhelming at times, it’s comforting to know that it’s ultimately reshaping and advancing the way we care for each other and ourselves. Technology has created a new avenue for communication which has ultimately improved the healthcare industry and paved the way for better care and more advanced technology to come. Marr notes that “In the very near future, you could also be sharing data with your doctor who will use it as part of his or her diagnostic toolbox when you visit them with an ailment.”2 With new Surface Sensor technology like TracPatch, this idea has already become a reality. For more information about TracPatch contact us today and follow TracPatch on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
References:
- Demographics of Mobile Device Ownership and Adoption in the United States. (2019, June 12). Retrieved from https://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/
- Marr, B. (2015, April 21). How Big Data is Changing Healthcare. Retrieved June 25, 2019, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2015/04/21/how-big-data-is-changing-healthcare/#42999c392873
