Technology and Health

Hi all! Today we have a guest blog post. Below is Tyler's article on how technology is helping us MTWABP! Enjoy!

Erik Bustillo

MTWABP!

by Tyler F.

A Better Day is on the Horizon: How Healthcare Innovation is Changing the World
No matter where you’re from or what your background is, everyone on the planet should have the same goal: help make the world a better place. Though we all may have different ideas of what the ideal world looks like, or how we can get there, one thing is certain: improving the health and wellness of people all over the world will help us achieve this goal. Let’s take a look at the shifts on the healthcare front that are allowing for easy access to high quality care for everyone.

Better data means a laser-like focus on prevention over treatment
Everywhere you look, there are apps and electronics monitoring health. From apps being used as pedometers, to calorie counters, millions of Americans use technology to improve their health. Most people are familiar with interactive devices like the Apple Watch, Jawbone and FitBit, but you may not be aware that these apps are changing the future of healthcare.

Technology companies are currently working on ways to share data collected by fitness monitors with a patient’s doctor. They can then use it as part of their diagnostic toolbox. The more information they have about the lifestyle of their patients, the better doctors can diagnose issues early and can offer solutions to prevent disease from occurring at all. This is not only the most cost effective approach to medicine, but prevention can help patients avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.

Virtual visits with doctors mean easier access to healthcare
One of the main factors standing between Americans and better health is their lack of access to qualified medical professionals. This is often because people don’t want to visit the doctor over something they believe may not be a serious issue, qualified doctors aren’t available in their area, or they simply don’t have the time to get to the doctor. Virtual doctors visits can make these issues a thing of the past.

Board certified doctors are now offering online visits. These are not nurses, they are real doctors who can give real diagnoses. Of course many medical issues require an in-person doctor’s visit, but having access to these online services makes it more likely that patients will consult with a doctor before a minor symptom turns into a major health emergency.

Cloud resources make it easy for doctors and patients to communicate
The widespread availability of online medical charts allows patients to instantly access their test results, vaccine history, and all relevant information from their physician. It allows doctors to instantly respond to their patients about any questions or concerns they have. These online charts are safe, secure, confidential and HIPPA compliant. They allow patients to be more involved in their own healthcare, and empowering people to take their health seriously makes the world better, one person at a time.

Physicians can focus more acutely on their patients
If you ask any physician how they’d prefer to spend their working hours they’ll tell you they’d like to spend it with their patients. What gets in their way are the many essential tasks that must be completed but don’t add value to the patient experience: appointment setting, insurance billing, etc. With the newest innovations in healthcare outsourcing, physicians are able to turn these tasks over to specialists - leaving them with much more time to spend with their patients.

Physicians can communicate easily with each other
People with serious health concerns often have numerous doctors. They may have a general practitioner, an oncologist, a surgeon, and a physical therapist. Just a few years ago, getting information from one doctor to another required faxing or sending paper documents. Faxing results in suboptimal copies and mailing documents takes time – time that critically ill patients don’t always have.

These days mobile data is available and can be shared safely and securely from one doctor to another. This cuts down on the need for redundant testing, allows doctors to communicate instantly with one another, and gives patients a more efficient experience.

Innovation and technology are essential parts of every country’s health and well-being. As technology in healthcare improves, the results are higher quality care for everyone. These innovations are leading to the world truly becoming healthier and happier, and in turn, a much better place.

Guest Post written by Tyler F. on behalf of TrueShore