Technological Changes in Healthcare Industry

Discuss about the Current Technological Changes in Health Care.

The new developments and techniques in healthcare systems over the centuries have proven that the phenomenon is not a static product. In fact, as the dynamics in the system morphs almost on a daily basis, Medical practitioners spend sleepless nights in trying to determine where ‘’health care’’ will be in the next ten to twenty years. The essay focuses on the numerous studies that have been conducted on medical technological advances in healthcare industry besides unearthing various innovations and the general implication to the current medical profession (Abraham, 2010).

Health and medical care systems consider technology as the most crucial component to human interaction. It is a key indicator of current health costs and indeed the bearer of the future cost implications. Those in need have applauded this current move considering that practitioners in the field have adopted various methods of helping them. The technological advancement has enhanced easier treatment of cancer, delivery of babies, heart attacks, and many other health complications. Further studies indicate that massive changes in technology have the capability to become the main forces of chance in the healthcare firms as well as the major source of economic wealth builds up (Bilibin & Zorin, 2006).  Therefore the community has high hope in technology advancement especially when its implication is geared towards health address. Modern health and medical practitioners face rigid insurance companies and broken medical system as major hurdles in their line of duties. However, throughout this entire inevitable environment, they have excellently provided patient care and invented new health care techniques. It is believed that as the new advancement in this field continue beckoning; doctors will be better placed at dealing with health problems in a more cost- effective manner with regards to improvements in biomedical researchers (Chandra & Cheek, 2001).

Population Science for Treating Epidemics- Essentially, population science is the study of general illness and health within groups. During health outbreaks in the past public health, practitioners would apply this method as a way of mitigating its spread.  Currently, advancement of technology has enhanced the revolution medical field through the study of population science in medical institutions.  Besides physicians are in position assess and evaluate patients on a large scale, examine the lifespan and the death rate of people within a certain range and finally establish the frequency of illness along the health care pipeline. Diseases such as heart disease, obesity and cancer are currently on the rise. Therefore instead of treating them as individuals population science as a study will grant doctors permission to treat their epidemics in a large scale manner. Ideally, it will act as cost effective strategy to the management (Karakolias & Polyzos, 2014).

Health Care Field is Being Revolutionized by Three Main Changes:

Clinical Practice Guidelines- This is a principle that enables practitioners to find out the best way of treating the symptom of any illness and figuring out its cause. The introduction of the computers has made it easy for doctors to have access to these statistics instantly from their technological devise.  The health care system in Taiwan is the latest department to have embraced this new move. Many diseases and disorders have emerged since change hit healthcare field, and therefore almost impossible for a single doctor to carry out research to ascertain treatment of every disease in the world. In this regard they can, they integrate and consolidate their findings with   evidence-based guidelines making treatment of any illness easier (MACPHEE & SURYAPRAKASH, 2011).

Electronic Medical Records- This is the use of software in the process of medical billing and coding of items with the sole purpose of sending them electronically to the end users. The last few decades has seen medical billing and coding switch from paperwork to the computerized system. The HIPAA laws require all medical attendants to have technologically driven software for sending out electronic expenses (Kuan Kok, 2015).  The use of computer enables doctors to access all medical reports of the patient and find out the possible cause of illness they may be suffering from. Besides, it has brought massive transparency in the health care system through statistical documentation of the available population consequently preventing unnecessary costs. It can also act as a watchdog on the use of finance by the management being in the know of how much money should be reimbursed for treating patients.

The ways through which technology has changed the field of health care is immense. There is no doubt that many aspects of our lives are directly and proportionally impacted by any change made by management of these institutions.  To this end better and even more treatment has been made accessible to all. The introduction of IT has its sheer of incredible advantages to the health experts since they are better placed in exploring and doing research online hence being conversant with the cure of current illness.  There is also improved care and efficiency that continues to work perfectly in the patient care departments thanks to the information that patients are assured of through IT.  When patients enter the health care system, they are expectant of the high quality of lab results, proper and updated records of medical treatment and at least centralized area of information gathering. Subsequently, they will have a positive perception of increased level of efficiency in data collection (Vabø, 2009).

Conclusion

Most health care programs and disease control mechanisms are conducted and improved by application of specific software program. For example WHO has a database which constitutes more than 14,000 codes that classify illness, with regards to their causes and symptoms accordingly. This venue enables medical experts to retrieve and use valuable information to invent the right diagnosis for fighting and controlling emerging health illness. Patients acknowledge the fact that the introduction of software has evolved a new genre of transparency and accountability in the health care systems; while doctors take pride in the way incredible benefits accrued from the use of electronic medical records thus reducing paperwork levels.

The scope of the current application of technological changes in health care fields can be traced from the administration and clinical applications (Orlova, 2015).

Administration Applications of Information Technology

1. Automated referral and training
2. Patient records that are computerized
3. Accounting and billing/ computerized admission data
4. Managerial decision supports systems
5. Automated management information systems

Clinical Application of Information Communication

1. Smart cards
2. Pattern recognition and neutral networks
3. Computerized patient records linkages
4. Telemedicine and Tele health applications

This huge perspective on the roles of technology in the dynamic health care profession has several advantages.  As regards to decision- making the management be informed about contributions that the right software installed is adding to the issue of resources allocation in addition to addressing the needs the solving problems present (Sergeev, Stepanov, Akulinin, & Mitsik, 2014). Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation of medical technology regarding assessing the effect on health care will improve efficiency and performance of the medical institutions.

The health care industry is experiencing massive technological advancement that includes:

1. The cloud- Recent study allude to the fact that 77% of cloud services in the healthcare are medium –risk while more than 13% are said to have the high risk for security bleaches.
2. Digital diagnostics-The provision of digital diagnostics to persons who cannot access a doctor’s office is paramount to the health of an individual. Neurotrack is a diagnostic test software-based Alzheimer which discovers dislocations on the hippocampus.

• Ultra-fast scanners-These are devised that can capture the hearts image in the singular beat. The study shows that 60% of patients’ exhibits 60 beats per minute of which the scanner cannot measure therefore turned away by the scan (Soni, 2010).

1. Wearable-The report from consumer electronics association indicates that revenue and sales of smart watches and fitness trackers will hit $ 1 billion as years move by. For the instant, the characteristics of Parkinson’s disease were discovered by the teaming up of Intel and Michael J.Fox Foundation.
2. Concierge medical services-The system allows one to pay for services or products that are on demand in pay out of the pocket way. For example, some cities allow one to search for an office that fits your needs, get email access, online programs and appointments and get training classes from professional doctors (Zadjali M, 2014).
3. Networks and coaching- Technology enhances easier customization of diet and health plans. Thrive On is coaching tool for giving plans by taking care of one’s body image, anxiety, stress, mood and other mental disorders. Retrofit is essential for offering to coach regarding weight management and weight loss.

• Self-insurance-Most consumers consider managing their future health insurance data thanks to the advent of affordable Care Act. Jiff is a solving health problem that links employee interaction to the company which in return benefits and incentives are met.
• Hackathons- This is a digital tool that is speedily solving problems which emanate from the health care industry. Cloud systems, software developments, apps among others are as a result of hackathons.

Conclusion

The new technological advancement continues to poke holes in the field of health care. Therefore, there is no iota of doubt that these rapid changes must be embraced positively whenever they felt so as to remain relevant in the field. Software programs play an imperative role in linking administration and clinical, technological information. Additionally, tracking and billing applications enable the health practitioners to figure out patients past medical services so as to apply the right diagnostic. Physicians should always ensure quality health care is administered despite all these new developments (Zudov & Sadovnikova, 2015).

References

Abraham, S. (2010). Technological Trends in Health Care. The Health Care Manager, 29(4), 318-323. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/hcm.0b013e3181fa032c

Bilibin, A. & Zorin, I. (2006). Polymer Degradation and Its Role in Nature and Modern Medical Technologies. Cheminform, 37(34). https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chin.200634252

Chandra, A. & Cheek, R. (2001). The Emerging International Health Care Market: The Impact of Technology and Innovation. Journal Of Health Management, 3(1), 43-63. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/097206340100300103

Karakolias, S. & Polyzos, N. (2014). The Newly Established Unified Healthcare Fund (EOPYY): Current Situation and Proposed Structural Changes, towards an Upgraded Model of Primary Health Care, in Greece. Health, 06(09), 809-821. https://dx.doi.org/10.4236/health.2014.69103

Kuan Kok, J. (2015). When Socio-Culture Meets Socio-Economy. Health Care : Current Reviews, 03(02). https://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2375-4273.1000149

MACPHEE, M. & SURYAPRAKASH, N. (2011). First-line nurse leaders’ health-care change management initiatives. Journal Of Nursing Management, 20(2), 249-259. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01338.x

Orlova, A. (2015). Modern problems of medical care quality (review of literature). ??????? ????? ??????????? ??????????. ??????????? ??????, 9(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.12737/8114

Sergeev, A., Stepanov, S., Akulinin, V., & Mitsik, A. (2014). Modern problems of morphological studying of the human cortex cytoarchitecture in norm and during ischemia. ??????? ????? ??????????? ??????????. ??????????? ??????, 8(1), 1-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.12737/4789

Soni, N. (2010). Current anaesthesia and critical care – changes to the journal. Current Anaesthesia & Critical Care, 21(3), 105-106. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cacc.2010.02.008

Vabø, M. (2009). Home care in transition: the complex dynamic of competing drivers of change in Norway. Journal Of Health Organization And Management, 23(3), 346-358. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777260910966762

Zadjali M, A. (2014). Community Health Nursing In Oman. Health Care : Current Reviews, 2(2). https://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2375-4273.1000128

Zudov, A. & Sadovnikova, I. (2015). Modern Approaches to Etiopathogenetic Therapy of Broncho-Obstructive Disease in Pediatric Practice. ??????? ????? ??????????? ??????????, 22(1), 27-33. https://dx.doi.org/10.12737/9072