It is an undeniable fact that technology has played a vital role in improving the lives of millions of people around the globe by removing inefficiencies from every field. And one of its most significant contributions is in the field of medicine. There are numerous advancements that we have seen in the health care sector. From the innovation of x-ray machines to improvements in general practices, health tech is evolving immensely with time. However, even though we are all aware of its benefits, several countries are notoriously slow in adopting change, especially regarding technology, and this is not just due to the cost.
Medical technology, also known as MedTech, has introduced products that help diagnose and treat patients. It pathas made us a lot healthier, thus improving the life expectancies of severely ill individuals. Using advanced tools helps safeguard patients’ safety, gives timely alerts of medications, and easy access to diagnostic data. However, medical technology is an extensive sector, with various aspects. Some aspects include patient database management, system analysis, biostatistics, and many more. Therefore, the demand for such individuals who have strong skills in operating and managing such technologies is increasing. Thus, if you wish to prosper in this field, you need a master’s degree in healthcare informatics to help you push the boundaries and be successful. In recent years, medical technology has led to some groundbreaking advancements that have propelled the health care sector in the future. Let us share some of them:
1. 3D printers:
The health care system is revolutionizing rapidly, and so is the 3D printing system. It has gained massive popularity in medicine. There are numerous benefits of 3D printing that can help improve the quality of life. It trains the physicians and prepares them for any surgical preparation. They provide a 3D rather than a 2D image that mimics the human organs in a more realistic approach. This way, complex surgical procedures become a lot easier. In addition to that, trainee doctors can practice on 3D printed human organs to enhance their skills. Similarly, 3D printers can produce low-cost prostheses, which is helpful in poverty-stricken countries and remote areas of the world.
2. Artificial organs:
Vital organs of humans can fail due to chronic diseases, genetics, lifestyle, and aging. The prevalence of organ failure has led to a long waiting list of recipients as fewer donors exist. The existing waiting list is problematic, especially for patients with end-organ failure. Thus, we have human donors, xenotransplantation from animals, and artificial organs to meet the demand for organs. The actual challenge in transplantation is matching the tissue, blood type, and probability of organ rejection. However, artificial organs are gaining popularity with the advancement in technology. Currently, physicians are transplanting artificial hearts as a stopgap until the patient receives a biological heart. In addition, artificial kidneys are under trial and soon will be available for transplantation.
3. Robotic surgery:
Robotic surgeries are also known as robot-assisted surgeries. It is generally a minimally invasive procedure that consists of a small video camera that goes inside the body and gives a 3D and magnified image of the surgical field. There are several benefits of robot-assisted surgery, including helping surgeons perform complex surgeries with ease, minimizing pain, shortening the hospital stays, and reducing bleeding so chances of postoperative complications are low. However, not all surgeons feel comfortable doing surgeries with robots. Therefore, surgeons need additional training to operate it efficiently. Also, robot-assisted surgeries are expensive, which is a primary reason why few hospital setups have this facility.
4. Health wearable:
Did you ever think that there could be a technology that would track how many calories you burn or your blood volume? How about having your heart rate monitored and getting a reminder to get up and be active? Well, now it is also possible thanks to health-tracking wearables. Wearable technology helps you be proactive about your health rather than reactive, as it helps identify problems before they get worse. Through wearables, patients can access real-time data about their health, which improves patient engagement. Furthermore, some wearables perform functions beyond just blood pressure monitoring. They can detect blood sugar levels and dispense insulin in the blood whenever required.
5. Virtual reality:
Virtual reality (VR) has made its way into the healthcare system. It has several benefits that have eased the work lives of physicians. Virtual reality helps in diagnostics, treatment, surgeries, and even counseling for patients. It is beneficial in training medical and paramedical staff by allowing them to learn about the human body in a virtual environment. Virtual reality can help individuals with a phobia of public speaking receive adequate counseling within a comfortable environment to minimize their fears, so the therapy is more effective. In addition, virtual reality aids physicians in using exposure techniques, desensitization, muscle relaxation, and hypnotic treatment for mentally ill individuals. It reduces the efforts of the patients and increases their therapeutic adherence.
6. Telemedicine:
When the pandemic struck, we were not allowed to step out of our homes unnecessarily. Hence, during this pandemic, the demand for telemedicine increased significantly. Health care setups started offering virtual appointments, so there is minimal contact between the physicians and patients. While it might seem ineffective and complicated, there are several benefits. Patients can easily book an appointment for themselves by using a mobile application or through the website. Hence, you won’t have to walk from your home to the doctor. Instead, you can easily get consulted within the comfort of your home. Through telemedicine, infectious diseases are in greater control as it maximizes social distancing. In addition, people in remote areas can quickly consult physicians living in some other part of the world.
A take-home message:
Technological advancement in medicine has saved the lives of countless ill people and improved their quality of life. It has also impacted the processes and practices of physicians. Even though the benefits of these technologies are worth mentioning, they require highly skilled individuals for better operation. Therefore, hospital setups should arrange workshops and training programs to help them tackle these advanced technologies easily for a better, brighter and healthier future.
