Importance of Technology in Healthcare

The way our healthcare system works today is far from the ancient medical treatment that existed centuries or even decades ago. Thanks to modern technological advancement, it surely has come a long way, which has changed, improved, or saved many lives.

Gladly, the steady rise in the demand for modern technology and solutions, which are meant to enhance the healthcare field, continues to double, especially in the most recent years. The Silicon Valley Bank found out that healthcare companies have garnered at least $15.3 billion to expand their reach in 2020. Significantly, with the onslaught of the deadly coronavirus disease, investors are said to have poured over $51 billion into the said industry.

In this day and age, the rise of digital healthcare companies makes perfect sense since people are now paying closer attention to their health. Thus, custom medical software and other digital healthcare solutions are gaining more popularity than ever. With the 614 record-breaking deals, health-tech has seemed to have already surpassed biopharma when it comes to funding.

Convenience and Accessibility

Not until the turn of the century, healthcare providers had often taken the traditional route when it comes to providing their services. Medical records, charts, and other information were often delivered through fax machines or couriers or shared through face-to-face consultations. More often than not, patients had to go through a tedious process to access different healthcare services. According to a ruling issued by FCC, if a patient gives his phone number to a healthcare service provider, that includes the consent that they can send text messages to the patient but that must abide by the HIPAA secure texting guidelines.

Fortunately, many breakthroughs in the health-tech industry have happened in the past years—an absolute game-changer in delivering efficient and quality medical services. Nowadays, the healthcare industry has relied heavily on advanced technological tools to ensure that health information will be shared appropriately, stored, and analyzed. It has also allowed healthcare professionals to help patients in far-flung areas without the need for direct consultation. In a nutshell, modern technology has helped bridge the gap between patients and reliable healthcare services.

For almost a quarter of healthcare consumers (23%), the integration of technology in the healthcare system has encouraged them to manage their health better by using secured and trusted digital tools and platforms.

Improved Healthcare Services

Monumental technological developments have paved the way for better healthcare services worldwide. Some of the most popular advancements in the past decades include 3-D printing, artificial organs, robotic surgery, virtual reality, and telehealth. With all these amazing discoveries, curing even the most severe medical cases has been possible. This state-of-the-art equipment has also allowed doctors to provide comprehensive care, especially for those who are suffering from life-threatening diseases.

Experts also believe that artificial intelligence will also minimize the clinical burden for many healthcare practitioners. Through the so-called natural language processing, computers can easily decipher verbally spoken remarks to effortlessly transmit patients’ data in the electronic health record.

On the other hand, virtual reality can help medical professionals improve their knowledge and skills by integrating augmented or virtual reality across the healthcare sector. Through specially designed software, they can attend surgical training programs and view images from a whole new perspective about specific health problems or conditions.

Faster Results

Back in the day, results from medical testing can take weeks to come, which can lead to unnecessary stress on the patients. Nowadays, lab results can easily be accessed as soon as they are released. Most hospitals and clinics have already streamlined their web portals to ensure that healthcare consumers can seek professional help right away, track their previous medical issues and bills, and schedule an appointment.

As healthcare tech continues to evolve, one can expect to see more cutting-edge tools and equipment in the healthcare industry that can be truly life-changing.