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Future of Health Care Technology

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Submitted By christmom
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President John F. Kennedy, during an address on June 25, 1963 in the assembly hall at Paulskirche in Frankfurt, Germany said: "For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." Health care technology has come a long way from the past, the present, and is definitely moving on into the future. It seems that only yesterday many of our parents were watching the "Six million dollar man" and "Bionic Woman" on television and "Robocop" on the big screen with all this innovative medical technology leaving them in total awe. For the younger generation there is the futuristic equipment used by Dr. "Bones" McCoy in the Star Trek TV series and movies. Little did those who watched the films and TV shows then, know that all of these "ahead of its time paraphernalia" would soon become part of their everyday lives.

Future of Health Care Technology Advancement in health care technology is moving at a very fast pace in the world today and there are no signs that in the future it would slow down. Computers have provided technological advancements in every field, but in the field of medicine, this advancement has been very noticeable. Many have been witness to the numerous changes in health care technology in the last decades. Patients have noticed how with special software now available used to create and maintain paperless medical records has allowed for the immediate access to all their medical history. In the office this special software also assists in keeping track of the stock of medicines, purchases and sales, billing, charts, and staff information to name of few; all this information is available at the click of a button. Storing medical reports of millions of patients is easier with computers, and with environmental concerns being a part of today's world, maintaining the data in computers is an eco-friendly way of storing this information. It seems like only yesterday that a visit to the doctor's office meant that when the doctor entered the examination room, if you were a long time patient, there would a fairly thick folder filled with information about the patient; the doctor would then have to go through those papers to find the information he needed, and when found, he would take precious minutes from your visit trying to read through them. Today, the doctor either comes in with a laptop or has a computer in the room where with just a click of the mouse he can retrieve all the necessary information within seconds allowing him more valuable time with the patient. These electronic medical records (EMRs) make it easier to send them to specialists when patients are referred. Waiting time to receive test results, as well is minimal since these too are transmitted directly to the physician's office. Available today, there is specially designed software and automated equipment used to treat various disorders and diseases. MRIs, CT scans, ultrasound tests, and radiation technology all require computer technology for their operation. In recent years we have also seen new computerized technologies that have brought about laparoscopic surgeries, the use of micro-cameras used in procedures such as an endoscopy, and laser surgery with a lesser loss of blood, which have led to shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries. With improved computerized specialized equipment the detection of cancer is diagnosed earlier thus significantly increasing chances of survival. Computers are also used for DNA research, radiation treatments, treatment of premature infants, and detection of defects while the fetus is still in the womb. Also, in hospitals, ICUs are equipped with computerized machines that monitor the health of the critically ill patients (Kirmayer, 2011). Remember the Star Wars robots R2-D2 and C-3PO? They would envy the functions that today's robots play in the health care industry. Today robots are used by laboratories to deliver specimens and laboratory information from floor to floor in hospitals, and even have the capability of deciding the best routes, avoid obstacles, maneuver around corners, and enter and exit elevators to achieve their mission. Robots are also used for surgeries. This robotic surgery is a new development that seems to be taking the surgical profession to exciting levels by overcoming many obstacles found in laparoscopic surgery, increase dexterity by restoring proper eye-hand coordination, improve visualization, and create ergonomic positioning making surgeries that were previously technically difficult or unachievable, possible(Lanfranco, Castellanos, Desai, & Myers, 2004). In the not so far future, we will also be seeing more and more use of telemedicine. Telemedicine pertains to information technology used to exchange medical data and deliver it over geographic distances for consultations, procedures, exams or monitoring services. Telemedicine also allows a patient to connect directly with the physician, no matter where in the world they may be as long as they have access to a computer. Patients visit their physicians live over video conferencing or immediate care or they can create a video or still imagines along with data and send it on the physician for diagnosis and follow-up treatment at a later time; the physician can also review the consultation and if necessary forward the information to a referred specialist for further treatment (Telemedicine.com, 2011). Telemedicine can save time when time is a crucial factor. In urban and suburban areas patients with chronic conditions could benefit from remote patient monitoring technologies, which allow them to be at home while still being under a provider's care. Also, health care facilities in any area could take advantage of telemedicine to tap into the expertise of specialists in other regions. The drawback to telemedicine preventing it at the present time to advance at full force is that this technology requires broadband network capabilities setup. This type of communication may be inaccessible for rural clinics and small health care providers; and setting up telemedicine technologies can be costly, involving significant investments in hardware, software and services (SearchHealthIT, n.d.). One important point that physicians should take into consideration is that although many private insurance companies will not reimburse for these telehealth services, Medicare will reimburse for telehealth services performed in a physician's office, rural health clinic, critical access hospital, or federally qualified health center or hospital (SearchHealthIT, n.d.). As technology continues to advance, the health care industry will continue to provide more and better services that will improve the quality of life in this fast paced world. A large portion of the population is using the Internet and other forms of electronic communication as a source of communication for health information, advice, support and services. Mobile health is also a new health care innovation which include applications, devices and communications networks that allow patients and physicians to give and receive care anywhere at any time. Physicians will be able to download diagnostic data, lab results, images and drug information to handheld devices like PDAs and Smartphone's; emergency medical responders use field laptops to keep track of patient records and information; and patients use health monitoring devices and sensors that accompany them wherever they go offering a convenient means to improving consumer engagement and clinician responsiveness (Broadband.gov, n.d.). The future of healthcare technology is endless as the capability of the human mind is endless, as long as the will to provide a better life through better health and healthcare remains an important goal for humanity.

References
Broadband.gov. (n.d.) National broadband plan: Connecting America. Retrieved from http://www.broadband.gov/plan/10-healthcare/#s10-1

Lanfranco, A. R., Castellanos, A. E., Desai, J. P., & Meyers, W. C. (2004, January). Robotic surgery. Annals of Surgery, 239(1), 14-21. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356187/

Kennedy, J. F. (1963, June 25). Address in the assembly hall at the Paulskirche, Frankfurt. Retrieved from http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPOF-045-023.aspx

Kirmayer, A. (2011, June 1). What is medical technology? Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-medical-technology.htm
SearchHealthIT. (n.d.). FAQ: What is telemedicine technology, and how can it save money? Retrieved from http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/tutorial/FAQ-What-is-telemedicine-technology-and-how-can-it-save-money

Telemedicine.com. (2011). What is telemedicine? Retrieved from http://www.telemedicine.com/whatis.html

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