Technologies were once viewed as risky experiments in the healthcare industry. However, providers and patients have changed their perceptions over the past few years due to the convenience that technologies offer.
Kate Huey of IBM Healthcare stated that what seemed like science fiction has become a science fact, now that experimental devices drive innovation in the medical industry. Healthcare professionals widely accepted these innovations because they have played a big role in reducing the burden on providers and improving the recovery of patients. As a result, the healthcare industry is undergoing a big digital shift to enhance providers' and patients' quality of life.
To illustrate, here are the following roles that technology plays in the healthcare industry:
Boosts the accessibility of clinical research trials
There are big gaps in clinical research because professionals need more time and money to contact participants. With the help of technology, it is now possible for medical researchers to contact, survey, and interview participants from different parts of the world.
Our article entitled ‘What Are the Benefits of a Remote Platform for Clinical Trials?’ highlights that digital platforms make it easier for researchers to send e-consent forms, conduct remote monitoring, and get updates from participants. Medical researchers also won’t have to worry about losing critical documents because the contact information, observations, research findings, and data are all available on the platform. Most of all, research teams can save lots of time and money because they won’t need to travel far to collect data.
Addresses the high demand for healthcare workers
Healthcare workers have been in demand for a long time in the US. Unfortunately, mass resignations and increased patient needs further increased the demand for medical professionals in the past few years, especially in US states like Arizona, Ohio, and South Carolina.
As such, providers and institutions fully adopted telehealth solutions to boost the accessibility of their services. These telehealth solutions have opened up remote jobs for nurse practitioners in Ohio and South Carolina who can offer virtual primary and urgent care treatments for patients with non-emergency conditions. Patients won’t need to delay their treatments or travel long hours now that they can use telehealth to contact a provider 24/7.
Improved disease mapping in remote areas
Besides conducting remote research and consultations, technology makes it possible for healthcare professionals to conduct disease mapping remotely. The use of technology in disease mapping is highly advantageous because it reduces the costs and risks associated with the project.
A research study pointed out that remote sensing technologies have made it possible for healthcare professionals to identify the spatial distribution of malaria vector breeding sites in Eswatini. Through these technologies, professionals can use the data from remote sensing technologies to predict the distribution of diseases, vector populations, and disease transmission risk within specific areas. These remote sensing technologies better inform healthcare professionals on how they can control diseases without risking their health.
Sheds light on the everyday struggles of patients
With the help of technology, medical professionals can also have a deeper understanding of their patient’s symptoms and daily struggles. This innovation is especially important for people with disabilities because their day-to-day experiences and challenges outside the doctor’s office may be overlooked.
Amy Huotrow, a pediatric rehabilitation doctor at the University of Pittsburgh, explains that medical professionals must understand the full context of people’s health conditions, environments, and personal choices to deliver the best care. Thus, providers leverage natural language processing and other technologies to extract specific and relevant patient information. By going beyond the standard data in electronic health records, providers can have a clearer picture of their patients’ struggles and be able to craft a more personalized treatment plan.
Technology plays a big role in bridging the gaps in healthcare. Through these innovations, healthcare professionals can learn more about their patients and deliver better care.
Article written by Renee Jackie
Exclusively submitted to Infiuss Health