5 Technological Advancements Working To Better Our Healthcare

Technological innovation continues to allow for changes in all industries. This is especially the case in healthcare, where technology has become a greater part of all processes and procedures, from patient registration to lab tests and self-care. Usual monitoring and recording systems are being replaced by smartphones and other devices, and people now have the option to undergo full medical consultation in the comfort and privacy of their home. Because of key technological advancements, services are being expanded beyond the confines of medical center walls and integrated with user-friendly devices. Here are five recent technological advances that are improving our healthcare.

TeleHealth

Studies have shown the benefits of telehealth, especially in places that do not have access to the same medical resources that a metropolitan area may have. According to a large-scale study published in CHEST Journal, patients in an intensive care unit supplied with telehealth services were discharged from the intensive care unit 20 percent more quickly and with 20 percent less mortalities than regular ICU patients.

Remote Monitoring Tools

According to a Research and Markets report, at the end of 2012, there were a reported 2.8 million patients worldwide were using a home monitoring system. Monitoring a patient’s health at home can cut down costs and unnecessary visits to a doctor’s office.

Real-Time Locating Services

Real-time locating services are beneficial in making it easier for hospitals to instantly identify problem areas, allowing them to put more focus on efficiency. Tracking systems can be implemented devices, instruments, and even staff.

Electronic Health Records

Back in 2009, only 16 percent of U.S. hospitals were using electronic health records. By 2013, that number increased to 80 percent of hospitals that were eligible for a meaningful use incentives program. The widespread introduction of electronic medical records (EMR) has helped make major strides toward improving the accessibility of patient information. As EMR software improves, it is hoped that the quality of care its users are able to provide improves as well. While the implementation of new EMR software can present some obstacles for healthcare providers, using a legacy EMR data extractor like Health Data Archiver can keep IT costs down while making sure data retention mandates are met.

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Self-Service Kiosks

Processes like hospital registration can be expedited by self-service kiosks. Patients can save time and go through registration without having to talk to someone. This both adds a degree of comfort for patients and can be favorable as far as staffing savings.

The industry continues to evolve, thanks to technological tools. Efficiency and convenience often increases with the advances. Thanks to technological advancements like the ones we covered, medical care doesn’t always have to take place within the hospital setting.