Despite technology advancing over the years, there have still been numerous health crises and issues that we continue to face as a society. Limited access to healthcare, disease treatment, patient care, and even just simple human error and limited capabilities are all things that the healthcare industry has struggled with even modern medical advancements throughout the decades.
However, with recent advances, it’s almost as if technology has suddenly transformed the healthcare sector overnight. We are seeing major breakthroughs unlike anything before. Though it will undoubtedly take time for the healthcare industry as a whole to come up to speed, new technologies are enabling healthcare professionals to tackle health crises on a whole new level. And in the years to come, we can only expect continuous improvement and solutions to health issues that will completely change the world and how we live as a society concerning our health.
How Technological Advances Are Transforming Healthcare
As patient care and high tech merge, the healthcare industry is being reshaped and transformed into something revolutionary. New devices, apps, systems, tools, and more are enhancing healthcare professionals’ capabilities, enabling them to provide superior patient care and treatments.
Though many of these technologies are still considered to be in their infancy, as things rapidly advance, they will have a huge impact on the industry in the near future. Already, we are seeing significant improvements in numerous areas of the healthcare sector, and yet we are only just on the cusp of what these kinds of technologies are truly capable of.
Below are some of the various technologies and advancements that are changing the healthcare industry today:
IoT
IoT (Internet of Things) technology is one of the latest advances sweeping across the healthcare industry. IoT devices are gadgets built with sensors that are connected to one another through a network or system. In the healthcare industry, IoT wearables are having a significant impact on patient care. With these devices, patients can more easily be tracked and monitored from remote locations.
Now, patients who might otherwise not be able to easily access healthcare can receive the care and treatment they need from the comfort of their homes. With IoT wearables, physicians and nurses can more efficiently monitor vitals and other information to provide improved care. IoT also enables healthcare professionals to have access to better data which enables them to make more informed decisions and improve operations.
Bioengineering
Bioengineering, another advancement in the medical field thanks to technology, is enabling scientists to better fight cancer with immunotherapy. Traditional forms of cancer treatment have included radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery, but with immunotherapy, doctors can more effectively treat and even cure aggressive forms of cancer.
The issue with cancer is that the t-cells in our bodies do not recognize cancer cells, allowing cancer cells to go unnoticed and spread. However, using advanced tech, scientists are now able to engineer the t-cells in our bodies to better recognize and attack cancer cells. This form of treatment is what is known as immunotherapy.
Telemedicine
One of the most successful advances in the healthcare industry has been the development of telehealth or telemedicine. One of the greatest issues facing our society is a lack of access to healthcare for certain individuals and populations. However, with telehealth services, people can more easily access the healthcare they need without having to drive to a facility.
Behavioral health disorders, for example, affect millions of adults in America, but many individuals were previously unable to get the help they needed due to stigmas surrounding mental health and lack of access to care. Now, behavioral health is not as much of a crisis as people are able to better access the help they need.
Telehealth services also enabled healthcare professionals to continue providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people were unable to leave their homes and facilities needed to limit face-to-face interactions, there was initially a struggle to stay on top of patient care. But with advances in tech, medical facilities and hospitals were quickly able to update their systems to allow for telehealth services.
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have numerous applications in healthcare. In the classroom, AR is being used to help medical students study anatomy and practice on virtual patients, which allows them to advance their skills before they graduate. Doctors are also using AR and VR to test out new procedures more efficiently without the need to practice on live patients, enabling them to provide better care and perform more advanced surgeries. These technologies are even being used to identify and treat neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Stemcell Transplants
Just recently, medical advancements using the latest technology have enabled doctors to start curing HIV. The first identified patient, a U.S. woman with leukemia and HIV, was cured using a stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood. The process of extracting umbilical cord blood and using it to create a cure is highly advanced but is now possible, thanks to the latest technologies.
Wrapping Up
With these latest technologies and many more to come in the near future, the healthcare industry will be able to better tackle the various issues and healthcare crises that we face as a society. Though there is no way to predict what will happen, what we’ve seen thus far is a good indicator of what is to come. As things continue to advance, the healthcare industry as a whole will be revolutionized in a way that is life-changing for everyone.
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