Since people first started to turn to medicine to help them, there have been huge advances in the way procedures are performed and the way medicine has improved. Along with advances in medication, the technology that is used has also become better.
We now live in a world where many diseases are curable and many surgeries previously thought impossible, are now commonplace. How much further can technology go to help doctors and patients? What are the biggest breakthroughs that have helped medical professionals in their daily work?
The Internet
Without a doubt, the internet has helped many people do things that they would otherwise never be able to do. In medicine, the internet has helped not only in the research and development of new drugs and procedures but also in the amount of information they now have access to.
Even patients can now tap into this wealth of knowledge and find out things about their condition and how to manage it. Not only that, but the internet has offered a way for people with serious illnesses to come together and offer each other support. No matter where in the world you are, there are others who have been in the same situation.
Another benefit of the internet is the way it has given patients the power to find their own help. They can seek the advice and help of medical people all over the world and find treatments elsewhere.
Social Media
Social media and the tools it provides are increasingly being used by doctors, hospitals and other medical professionals all over the world. They are using the power of social media to reach those they were previously unable to see. Thanks to these platforms, more doctor’s surgeries are able to handle patient queries, launch public health campaigns and even perform community outreach.
Along with the help, it gives to the local communities, and social media is also helping people across the world to get second opinions and help and advice from other doctors.
Probably the biggest impact social media has had on health is the way it can be used to inform and educate people on a range of medical issues. It also provides a place for those issues to be discussed openly and raise public awareness.
Better Treatment for Patients
Advances in technology have made huge leaps forward in the treatment of patients. Not only are their more sophisticated machines that can help treat and heal patients, but there are also advances in the way doctors and medical staff monitor and support people in their care.
There are many diseases including diabetes, heart conditions and cancer that have seen improved treatment rates as a result of the advances in technology. It has also made the process of treatment and the way it is administered, more manageable for the patient.
Along with helping patients, technology has also assisted healthcare professionals in performing their jobs easier and more efficiently. There are many computer applications and medical apps for healthcare solutions that are making the whole process of treatment and management much better.
Patient Care and Worker Efficiency
With computers in all healthcare environments, and the internet linking them all together, patients now have the benefit of always having access to their records. It also helps doctors and nurses to accurately treat patients because they have access to their medical history.
Never is this more important than in an emergency situation, when a patient is unable to communicate, having access to their files not only help to provide the right treatment, it also helps to highlight any underlying conditions.
It is these advances in information sharing that has made the process of treating and handling patients safer and more efficient. With all the systems linked, you doctors can now see lab and scan results as soon as they are available. It can be vital in getting the patient the right treatment in a timely manner.
Greater Access to Doctors
Smartphones have given doctors greater access to other professionals in real time. Now, they can access medical notes, textbooks, and other information at the touch of a button. They can then use this information to contact other doctors from anywhere in the world.
The sharing of knowledge in this way makes healthcare better for the professionals and the patients. Doctors can email, message or even video call their colleagues to get opinions or advice on patient’s conditions.
One area where this type of technology is really helping is in disaster zones. Often there is little or no access to local medical information, so the ability to seek details from elsewhere is invaluable.
Predicting Medical Trends
Technology is not only helping those that are currently suffering, but it is also trying to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Many systems are now used to try and predict things such as flu outbreaks and other viruses.
Search engines like Google, have been able to track the course of flu by the information its users search for in their browsers. Although it isn’t 100% accurate as not everyone searching for ‘flu’ is sick, it can show a pattern that could be a cause for further investigation.
It is this type of predicting that can help experts to react quickly to trends in health and hopefully respond with preventative measures and treatments.
With the world now more connected than ever before, people from all walks of life now have the opportunity to get the medical help they need without having to travel for miles or wait for long replies to letters.
It also means that should a patient feel that they have any concerns regarding their treatment, the details of their case and any treatment provided are fully documented and available for anyone investigating to see.
It is this transparency and organization of information that is as much help to patients as the machines and medicine that helps them physically. With future advances, who knows where the future of medicine will lead.