The healthcare industry in the 21st century is highly dependent on technology. And with the advancement in technology, the costs of medical ailments are increasing alarmingly. Though this technology is a luxury, an average person might find it difficult to bear its cost.
Admittance of Technology in the medical industry
Today’s era is marked with a desk-bound, lazy lifestyle and bad eating habits. This has led to an upsurge in serious conditions such as chronic diseases, heart conditions, and Alzheimer’s disease.
These conditions are long-term and their costs may seem like a burden to many. But this cost can be reduced with proper diagnosis and treatment.
Technology is no doubt costly, and its admittance in medicine will indeed take some time. This technology not only helps to deliver better treatment but also saves the patient’s time and money. Every now and then, healthcare providers need to justify their high costs. From medical equipment, online medicine delivery to the software used to store information, the healthcare industry runs largely on digital technology.
Technology – a Blessing for Healthcare
No doubt the emergence of technology has made healthcare expensive, but its benefits sufficiently counterbalance the cost. Here are a few ways in which digital technology has proved to be a blessing in the medical industry.
1. Reduced the time spent in hospital
Thanks to battery-operated ultrasonic, RFID and laser enabled tools, minor surgeries and treatments can be carried out even in clinics. You don’t have to go to a hospital for small surgical procedures.
These smaller and self-powered electronic tools are minimally invasive and show better results. They are also capable of reducing and controlling infections during surgeries. As a result, the patient needs to spend lesser time under care. Sure, the initial costs of such instruments are high, but the savings will definitely show in the future.
2. Precise Diagnosis
The painstakingly long biopsy procedure has been replaced by visualization and virtual pathology. The patients can now receive the results in a matter of minutes. OCT was previously used only in ophthalmology but is currently being used for cancer detection and vascular disease imaging.
Virtual MRI and CT scans have made disease detection a lot simpler and easier. With the development of technology, the diagnosis has become significantly comfortable, both for the patients and doctors.
3. Remote Patient Monitoring
There are countless apps and websites that allow the patients to consult doctors online at any time from any place. The remote monitoring provided by these e-health apps has largely reduced the need for hospital visits.
Apart from smartphones, this technology is also provided by smart sensors and advanced user interfaces. For instance, the glucose monitoring system works with a wireless transmitter, a sensor, and an app. It just takes a few minutes to detect your blood sugar level.
4. Automation of Administrative tasks
Stats reveal that doctors spend 2/3rd of their time doing paperwork. Automating this process with the use of artificial intelligence will not just minimize the work of a doctor, but also save time.
From updating patient details to retrieving test results to appointment fixing- everything can be automated. This will significantly reduce administrative pressure and staff’s paperwork.
5. Use of scheduling apps
The use of scheduling apps will help reduce hospital staff. Presently, the hospitals enforce voluntary overtime which turns out to be quite expensive for the hospitals. It even overloads the staff.
The use of scheduling apps allows circulating schedules among doctors and nurses in real-time. The scheduling apps integrate the existing staff potential and current patient needs to form their schedules.
6. Target more patients through Digital Marketing
With healthcare costs reaching the sky, patients are more likely to search the web until they find the best doctor or hospital. Today’s patients don’t hesitate before switching their doctors if they are not satisfied with the treatment.
With everyone carrying a smartphone in hand, searching for a good doctor, it becomes easier and is even cost-effective. Patients can get to know about online doctors and their services via digital marketing.
Along with booking an appointment with a doctor, ordering medicines online have also proved to be a very handy solution. The ontime door to door delivery makes sure you get your prescribed medicines without any unnecessary delay.
7. Early detection of deadly diseases
Technologies like machine learning and data analytics have significantly contributed to the detection of diseases in early stages. Early detection is a blessing as it has been found to successfully reduce the mortality rate.
Advanced algorithms and analytics were used by many industries and have now crept into medicine as well.
8. Automation of supply chain
There are software tools that have automated the whole supply chain. From inventory tracking to allocating the resources, this programmed supply chain has found to help reduce wastage.
Hospital equipment and drugs have RFID tags similar to barcodes. Their location, shipping, manufacturer and expiration date- all can be tracked. This digital information is also useful in keeping a track of disposable supplies, which would otherwise remain piled up in a corner in the hospital.
Believe it or not, technology has immensely contributed to the healthcare industry by providing quicker and more effective treatments to the patients. To some the cost may seem high, but it is definitely worth the advanced treatment you are provided.