Tuesday, January 1, 2013

How does technology impact healthcare?

In today's healthcare world, technology has made a tremendous impact. The impact can be seen in nearly every facet of the healthcare industry, from drug development to the pharmacy, from the hospital room to the doctor's office, from home care to the nursing home. Technology has created new medical devices to care for patients, such as defibrillators and heart monitors, and most recently 3D printing for prosthesis development. In a hospital environment, in particular, technological advances assist in the care of a patient from the time they are admitted until they are discharged.


As soon as a patient is admitted to a hospital, that is referred by a doctor for admission, technology is used. The computers that store patient data and patient medical records are used. Next, insurance companies are automatically contacted who also have a data repository of patient information. Patients are given identification wrist bands which have special code for a computer to recognize them. Once admitted, patients are given diagnostic tests also developed through the advancement of technology. The wrist band comes into play further when medication and allergy information is attached to the patient record identified by the wrist band. Lives are saved on a daily basis because of new surgical tools, instruments, and procedures developed through technology. Technology is even used for patient education in the hospital room through closed caption television and the internet.  


Even in only one patient admission, an array of technological advanced in healthcare are used for that patient's treatment.

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