With the increase in the rate of transport, we are prone to accidents now, more than ever. There has also been an alarming increase in various fatal diseases, heart attacks and heat strokes (because the sun has fun seeing us all as charred up meat), it’s like the medieval times again.
Geez, we wouldn’t want that now, would we? It might be like the medieval times but we have certainly come a long way from that era. Technology has reached such heights, mankind thought to be impossible. Continuous technological developments in healthcare have saved countless lives and improved the quality of life for even more. Not only has technology changed experiences for patients and their families, but it’s also had a huge impact on medical processes and the practices of healthcare professionals.
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH
Clinical researchers are provided with immense valuable data by the EHRs,which advances the path of medical knowledge and the development of new treatments for common health problems.
EASE OF WORKFLOW
EHRS affected Medical billers and coders as the number of medical codes recently jumped to great extend.Despite of this huge jump,EHRS have made life way more easier for medical billers and coders
Entering data into computer system is a much easier work now than paper-based methods.It definitely reduces the risk of errors in patient data and financial details.Within an instant, the patient’s data can be accessed and viewed via portable devices,increasing efficiency and productivity.
ENHANCED PATIENT CARE
EHR can automatically alert the treating physician to potential issues,such as allergies or intolerance to certain medicines.It can be accessed in any medial facility,which is extremely useful for doctors to access their medical history.It is extremely beneficial for unconscious patients.
LOWER HEALTHCARE COST
According to a report from the University of Michigan,the shift from paper to electronic health records reduces the cost of outpatient care by 3%.These researchers estimate this is as a huge saving per patient each month.
TELEMEDICINE
The term “telemedicine”and “healthcare” can be used t refer to two-way video consultations,or the transmission of healthcare data like electrocardiograms(ECGs).Telemedicine can be used in many fields such as cardiovascular healthcare.
Telemonitoring technology can monitor viral signs and symptoms remotely.There are even plans to develop remote ultrasound technology which is exciting news for anyone and everyone who are interested in a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF MEDICAL TECHCNOLOGY
Medical technology has reached it’s peak in today’s world.This includes equipment,surgical procedures,electronic records and way more advanced software.However despite all the positives,there are few negatives for patients that are caused by medical technology.
IMPERSONAL HEALTH CARE
Of course,while technology is beneficial,it is only as good as the person who has programmed it and the medical professional that is using it.In some cases,health care providers lean too heavily on this technology and don’t spend enough time getting to know their parents as individuals.Instead,they spend their time interacting with the equipment.Because of this,they could end up missing a symptom that may not necessarily fall into the “black and white” areas of the electronic medical records.
NEGATIVE RESULTS
While it’s true that many technological advancements have been life-saving,many of them created great risk for patients.Such radiations or chemotherapy can be beneficial for cancer patients.However,it can also have some very negative effects.Of course this is true even of the simple medical procedures,such as aspirin when its’s inappropriately used.
INVASION OF PRIVACY
With the new technology,patients records are kept electronically through Electronic Medical Records or EMR stores.With EMR patient information is managed and shared both with the patient as well as with other health care professionals.The medical history that is shared can include results of testing,any medications you are on,your billing etc.While this is truly convenient ,it also offers the possibility for misuse, which can result in a loss of personal data as well as privacy.
Technology has it’s advantages and disadvantages. In this case, it’s advantages overpower it’s disadvantages a tad bit more. In the healthcare industry, the dependence on medical technology cannot be overstated, and as a result of the development of these brilliant innovations, healthcare practitioners can continue to find ways to improve their practice from better diagnosis, surgical procedures, and improved patient care. Software also plays a pivotal role in tracking procedures and using billing methods that not only reduce paperwork levels, but also allow practitioners to use this data to improve quality of care and all around efficiency. The impact of technology on healthcare is immense.
