4 Ways Technology Is Changing How We Receive Healthcare

Some people like to reminisce about “the good old days” when doctors would make house calls. These days, many factors make it impossible for a doctor to visit a patient at home, but modern technology is making healthcare almost that convenient. Technological advances have made modern times the best days for medicine. Here are just a few of them that have made a significant impact on how we receive healthcare.

Health News Websites

Not many years ago, the layperson’s medical knowledge had to be gleaned from the dusty pages of the local library’s most-recent medical textbook. But now, the internet has made up-to-date medical information available through computers and mobile devices. Easily-accessible family health websites and other health news sources online provide the consumer with valuable information about medications, diseases, treatments.

This access to information has allowed patients to educate themselves and research their medical questions. Patients and families derive huge benefits from the ability to research health conditions, medications, and treatment options. Finding a trustworthy source of medical information online is priceless. Health news websites have revolutionized the patient’s ability to stay informed and to have meaningful discussions with doctors.

Efficient and Accessible Records

Technology has allowed medical records and test results to be quickly available to doctors and patients through online portals. This speeds the transfer of records between doctors’ offices, and it allows patients to access test results and treatment summaries from home when needed.

Medical imaging records are sent and received digitally in a fraction of the time that it took for old x-ray films to be developed and mailed. Information is transferred instantly, and digital communications are often more efficient and thorough than phone calls or postal mail. Doctors and nurses are also able to make more detailed notes and other documentation, beyond the traditional medical charts, which both improves communication and overall standards of care.

Telehealth

Statistics show that many healthcare providers are switching to telehealth. Many medical appointments can be provided long-distance through a mobile communication or video conference between a healthcare provider and a patient. Questions can be answered, simple diagnoses can be made, and standard prescriptions for common illnesses can be handled quickly and simply through the provider’s mobile communication system.

Because of the tremendous time and cost savings for providers and patients, many healthcare providers are switching to telehealth options. The virtual meeting allows both the provider and the patient to use their time more effectively, and the mobile device or computer allows for clear communication and documentation.

Improved Treatments

Due to recent technological advances, many complex procedures can now be performed with minimally invasive surgeries. Imaging technologies, such as ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI, have become increasingly more accurate and more comfortable for the patient. Digital monitoring allows healthcare providers to get valuable real-time information about a patient’s condition, whether the patient is across the hall, across the hospital, or across town. Strides in technology have also allowed doctors to use natural remedies that were previously not widely available or easy for patients to use.

Modern medicine has improved outcomes for patients through better research and the best available treatments. Patients and providers are able to communicate more effectively than ever.

While human interaction and a personal touch will never be fully replaced, technology has given priceless tools to both the healthcare provider and the patient. Only time will tell what other technological advancements in the healthcare field we’ll see in the future.

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