The Role of Technology in Modern Healthcare
In the 21st century, the impact of technology on healthcare has been extremely transformative. From electronic health records (EHRs) to robotic surgery, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence (AI), these methods have reshaped the way healthcare is experienced.
One of the most significant technological advancements in healthcare is the adoption of EHRs. These are digital records that have replaced traditional paper charts, offering numerous advantages. EHRs allow for the seamless exchange of patient information among healthcare providers, reducing the risk of errors and improving continuity of care. Patients can also access their records online, enhancing their engagement in their healthcare. The NIH has studied the benefits of EHRs, explaining that “EHR interoperability positively influenced medication safety, reduced patient safety events, and reduced costs.” Furthermore, telemedicine has gained prominence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic as it was dangerous for face-to-face contact. Haleem in 2021 writes that “telemedicine saves both the patient's and the health care provider time and the cost of the treatment. Furthermore, due to its fast and advantageous characteristics, it can streamline the workflow of hospitals and clinics.” This form of technology allows healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients remotely, breaking down any geographical and socioeconomic barriers preventing regular care. Patients in rural or underserved areas can access specialist care, and routine check-ups can be conducted virtually.
Although a different type of technology, robotic-assisted surgery has greatly improved medicine, specifically the field of surgery. These robots can provide greater precision and dexterity, leading to smaller incisions, reduced pain, and quicker recovery times for patients. Reddy in 2023 explains how vital robots are in surgery now, describing that it leads to “improved patient outcomes, reduced complications, faster recovery times, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced surgeon experiences.” As a result, surgeons can perform complex procedures with enhanced vision and control. Similarly, AI and machine learning have found applications in various healthcare domains, analyzing huge datasets to identify something that humans might miss. For example, “AI and machine-learning programs have entered medicine in many ways, including […] identifying outbreaks of infectious diseases that may have an impact on public health; combining clinical, genetic, and many other laboratory outputs to identify rare and common conditions” (Haug 2023). As seen, they can help predict disease outbreaks, personalize treatment plans, and even interpret medical images like X-rays and MRIs.
The role of technology in modern healthcare will continue to evolve: innovations like 3D printing of organs for transplantation, CRISPR gene editing, and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) hold lots of promise for further advancement. But, in the present, technology allows medicine to succeed and continue healing the lives of billions across the world.
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Haleem, Abid, et al. “Telemedicine for Healthcare: Capabilities, Features, Barriers, and Applications.” Sensors International, vol. 2, 1 Jan. 2021, pp. 100117–100117, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8590973/, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sintl.2021.100117. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
Reddy, Kavyanjali, et al. “Advancements in Robotic Surgery: A Comprehensive Overview of Current Utilizations and Upcoming Frontiers.” Cureus, 12 Dec. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10784205/, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.50415. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
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Li, Edmond, et al. “The Impact of Electronic Health Record Interoperability on Safety and Quality of Care in High-Income Countries: Systematic Review.” Journal of Medical Internet Research, vol. 24, no. 9, 15 Sept. 2022, pp. e38144–e38144, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9523524/, https://doi.org/10.2196/38144. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024.
