As we progress deeper into an age of consistent technological advancement, new and innovative technologies in healthcare are propelling the practice of medicine forward. From making home care more convenient to effectively treating acute illnesses, these new developments are quickly equipping medical professionals with a greater ability to heal people.
To gain a deeper understanding of the state of healthcare and its trajectory, it can be helpful to stay aware of some key technological advancements that are making beneficial impacts on the field. Here are some tech advancements paving the future of healthcare.
Nanomedicine
Nanomedicine is an exciting new field in medicine that uses nanotechnology to help treat various ailments in a variety of people. The nanotechnology utilized in this field consists of extremely small devices — comparable to the size of molecules — that are ingested by or inserted into the patients being treated.
While the use cases of nanomedicine seem endless, the field and practice is still in their infancy. Some promising studies are being conducted to test nanomedicine’s ability to release hormones in patients’ bodies and even regenerate brain cells. Unfortunately, these have not yet become widely available treatments.
Though some applications of nanomedicine have not yet become normalized, others are becoming increasingly more utilized with each passing day. A common use of nanotechnology in medical environments right now is the use of nano-sized lights and cameras to monitor internal organs with striking accuracy and minimal invasiveness.
As time goes on and nanomedicine technology becomes more advanced, there is no doubt that it will surely become a routinely utilized form of medical technology in a variety of cases.
Photodynamic Therapy
Today, advances, breakthroughs, and innovations in cancer treatment are becoming a welcomed common occurrence. A slew of new methods, medicines, and technologies are beginning to offer themselves as potentially effective treatments for the harrowing ailment. One notable form of cancer treatment that has recently arrived on the healthcare scene is photodynamic therapy.
Photodynamic therapy utilizes both light and specific types of cancer-killing drugs to effectively target and attack cancerous and pre-cancerous cells. This form of treatment involves patients taking a drug that is ineffective until it comes into contact with a specific type of light wavelength, after which it becomes extremely potent.
Given the tremendous amount of accuracy needed to do this type of treatment, medical professionals typically use a specialized laser as their light source to pinpoint cancer cells. As time goes on, it is likely that more highly developed lasers and accompanying technology will be developed to help make this treatment more accurate and effective.
While results from this form of cancer therapy have been beneficial, it has resulted in some discomforting side effects for patients undergoing the treatment. Though it has yet to be perfected, the innovative use of light and light-activated drugs in photodynamic therapy is sure to result in similar forms of treatments and technologies being developed in the future that have the potential to effectively treat cancer along with many other ailments.
Nursing Apps
Although innovations in technologies associated with the treatment of illnesses are making beneficial and significant impacts on the field of healthcare, innovations in the ways that medical workers utilize technology in order to better perform their roles are having positive results as well. In particular, nursing apps are having a profoundly positive effect on nurses’ ability to treat their patients and perform their duties.
Today, more and more medical facilities are incorporating nursing apps and technology to optimize patient care and improve organization among nursing staff. The uses of nursing apps range widely, making them powerful tools in a variety of contexts, situations, and practices.
While some nursing apps offer nurses the most current information about various procedures and ailments, others offer simple-to-grasp graphic representations of schedules that make it easier for nurses to coordinate shift exchanges with their peers. In addition, there are even apps designed to help nurses avoid being overworked and burnt out, increasing their ability to provide all patients with the best care possible.
Uses such as checking new medical research, organizing schedules, and avoiding burnout may seem inconsequential to some, but for those in the medical field, these can have a significant impact on a medical worker’s ability to do their job. These apps allow nurses to save time and focus more of their energy and mental resources on the patients who need their care.
As time goes on, apps designed for healthcare workers will likely become a staple in all medical facilities and a common tool utilized to streamline processes and improve the efficiency of medical staff.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine, also referred to as telehealth, is a new form of healthcare that allows patients to interact with their medical providers through electronic means. Common devices utilized in telemedicine include smartphones and computers. In recent years, telemedicine has exploded and an ever-increasing amount of healthcare providers are utilizing this form of healthcare to provide patients with care.
Some examples of telemedicine include having an appointment with one’s doctor through a video call and checking the status of a prescription via a mobile app. Given that many people have access to a telephone, smartphone, or tablet, this form of healthcare has made healthcare more convenient and accessible to patients in a variety of ways.
Although telemedicine has had amazing results in many types of care, it does have some drawbacks. One significant weakness in healthcare is its inability to offer treatments for all types of ailments. As of right now, there are many instances in which medical treatment received through electronic devices isn’t feasible and medical professionals must see individuals in person in order to treat them effectively.
While telemedicine is far from perfect at this point in time, it is setting a valuable precedent in that it features medical providers utilizing technology to make healthcare more convenient and accessible for patients. It is likely that we will see new innovations of this nature in the near future which will make receiving treatments remotely a normalized part of healthcare processes.
Mobile Home Healthcare
Mobile home healthcare is an emerging form of treatment and health monitoring in healthcare that utilizes specialized technological devices to allow medical professionals to monitor their patients whilst patients are at home. Though these devices have only recently emerged as an option, advancements in this form of care have the potential to revolutionize home care and positively impact medical facilities in a number of ways.
Today, typical ways that medical professionals utilize mobile home healthcare devices include uses such as monitoring glucose levels and blood pressure. When something such as a patient’s glucose level seems off, doctors can contact the patient immediately and inform them of the proper steps to take to remedy the situation.
Unfortunately, devices in this field of healthcare are still in their early stages and aren’t yet connected directly to medical facility databases. However, this seems like an advancement that will be possible very soon, and the near future will probably see mobile home healthcare as a viable option for an increased number of patients.
The power of mobile home healthcare reaches beyond making healthcare more comfortable and convenient for patients and can actually have a tremendously positive impact on medical facilities. One way in which this is the case is events in which medical facilities are at capacity and have no room for more patients. Mobile home healthcare devices offer medical facilities the chance to provide care to more individuals while also decreasing their chances of reaching capacity. As such, this form of medical care and the associated technology could likely transform ongoing healthcare treatments for both patients and medical professionals in the near future.
Technology Is Propelling Healthcare into the Future
Innovative technologies in the healthcare space are transforming many aspects of medical care ranging from how specific illnesses are treated to how patients receive ongoing treatment from home. Though many exciting new forms of medical technology are still in their early stages of development and use, they are planting the seeds of a radically more effective and optimized state of healthcare in the future.
