Many innovative leaps in health technology have occurred over the centuries that people have practiced medicine, but few have had the widespread influence or impact that digital technology has. Significant advancements in networking and computer technology have not only expanded medical treatment options but have also transformed how clinicians perform their jobs.
Although forward-thinking individuals discussed the use of computers in medicine as early as the 1960s, computers were initially too expensive and unreliable for medical practices to rely on.
As hospitals and health systems embrace value-based health reimbursement models, these solutions assist healthcare professionals in improving patient care, creating better experiences, and reducing burnout.
Benefits of technology in healthcare
Improving patient care and satisfaction
Using technology to measure and capture data across the entire patient care system provides health organizations with a big-picture view of how they’re doing. Technology also assists in automating that measurement, allowing organizations to continuously review their results, identify issues that need to be addressed, and discover new ways to improve care and the patient experience.
Information exchange in real-time
Many different groups, from clinicians to patients to payers, require access to health records for various reasons. Traditionally, organizations had to keep separate records for each group. However, with new technology that makes it easier to standardize and securely store digital patient records, more organizations are integrating their data so that authorized people can access it.
Patients’ and clinicians’ adaptability
Patients are busy, and scheduling appointments can be difficult. Telemedicine and patient portals enable people to communicate with health professionals in new ways. Wearable technology, such as heart monitors, also provides clinicians with more ways to assess their patients’ well-being and more options for recording and evaluating symptoms as patients go about their daily lives.
Healthcare AI technology
Many current efforts to incorporate artificial intelligence in healthcare are centered on clinical decision support and gleaning useful insights from large data sets. Healthcare organizations have amassed so much data that it would be impossible to analyze it without the assistance of AI. Artificial intelligence-enabled tools can sift through large and complex data sets generated by electronic records, notes, images, sensors, and devices to identify trends that could improve patient care and assist researchers in developing better treatments for medical conditions. Although AI technology is still in its early stages, there are numerous applications that could benefit organizations throughout the healthcare industry.
Blockchain technology in healthcare
Blockchain technology in the healthcare industry provides a user-centered method for securely gathering, verifying, and sharing health information. Most blockchain systems provide a transparent, distributed ledger of records that cannot be changed without having the changes recorded. The technology can be used to anonymize and secure patient data while also ensuring complete transparency and interoperability across diverse, distributed, and highly fragmented healthcare systems.
Telehealth technology
During the COVID19 pandemic, many providers shifted to telemedicine appointments. Many payers have also adapted to these changes by providing more equitable reimbursement for telemedicine and improved billing options. Even after the pandemic has passed, the technology ecosystem that supports telemedicine will most likely continue to exist due to the convenience and flexibility it offers. Patients, particularly those who live in remote areas or work outside of traditional business hours, value having more options for communicating with clinicians, whether they use video software on a computer or a mobile app on their phones.