Patient Care Technology and Future

Patient care technology has become more important in patient care industry, technology professionals and healthcare providers must work together to find the best, most innovative, and most effective solutions to revolutionize the field and improve patient experiences.

Suppose there is one benefit to an unprecedented global epidemic. In that case, it spurred the healthcare sector to innovate at a rate we have never seen, leading to amazing, state-of-the-art improvements in patient care technology. Although patient care is one of the most crucial facets of the medical industry, technology and healthcare have always complimented and advanced one another. This is still true, of course, but cutting-edge technology can improve how people provide individualized, superior care rather than diminish it or displace the people in charge.

A global pandemic required the patient care industry to embrace and work with technology to provide better experiences. Whatever the reason, we are witnessing unprecedented innovation and widespread adoption.

Patient Care Technology Innovations

1. Telemedicine

Telehealth has forever altered the patient care landscape. While the concept existed long before COVID-19, it took hold once the pandemic made office visits far less safe. Many providers continue to provide services and communicate with their patients entirely through the internet.

Platforms that allow communication and service delivery without in-person contact have become commonplace. Using them has numerous benefits, such as increased accessibility and convenience. People in rural areas who do not have access to healthcare can now access it through these platforms. Many are HIPAA-compliant or offer HIPAA compliance.

In addition, most major insurance companies provide some telehealth options.

The technology exists, and the benefits are numerous. While telehealth is not a panacea for all health problems, it has resulted in unprecedented access and healthcare availability.

2. Wearable Technology

Fitbits and Apple Watches have been popular for years for tracking steps, exercise, sleep cycles, heart rates, and other data. However, wearable technology has advanced tenfold, far beyond simple metrics such as movement.

Wearable technology can now monitor vitals such as blood oxygen levels, lung function, medication levels, and blood sugar levels. These vital values are useful for healthcare providers when developing patient plans and monitoring patient health. They can, for example, use data from wearables to set up reminders about when to administer medication doses.

3. Automated intravenous pumps

In recent years, automated IV pumps have grown in popularity.

Nurses and other healthcare professionals can use the technology to monitor and change the drip amounts in the pump, saving patients from having to wait for the adjustments to be made in person. There are even self-pumps available that allow patients to control their medication levels when necessary.

This automated process is a significant step forward in assisting healthcare professionals in saving time and devoting more of their schedules to patient care that requires the human touch. It also eliminates much of the human error that is too common in IV drips and pumps.

4. Electronic Medical Records

As straightforward as it may appear, the distribution and access to patient records are anything but. That was, at least, the case in the past.

Because of electronic health records, data sharing among facilities and providers is now easier (EHR).

EHR uses various technologies, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain, to build a robust network and record patient care. EHR enables secure and efficient file sharing and documentation.

Healthcare providers can easily deliver patient records to other providers using technology without exchanging physical data or paperwork. This enables real-time electronic updates, reducing time spent on paperwork, delivery costs, unnecessary healthcare, and instances of error.

5. Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is transforming many industries, including patient care. These incredible tools have forever changed medicine in general.

VR necessitates using technology such as headsets to allow the user or wearer to perform tasks, travel to locations, or interact with a completely fabricated reality and landscape. It has been used in medical training for several years, allowing students to practice procedures without risk.

They can, for example, learn how to perform surgeries without touching a cadaver or holding a scalpel!

6. Portable Monitors

Nursing professionals in large medical facilities are responsible for checking on patients regularly, usually hourly. They must monitor critical vital signs and ensure that the tools that help them do so correctly.

Portable monitors provide these professionals with round-the-clock assistance, allowing them to check on patients no matter where they are.

They can quickly assess vital signs, check levels, and ensure everything is in order. In an emergency, they will receive an alert via the portable monitor.

Patient Care in the Future

Patient care is a journey that will never end. Numerous technologies, including those on this list, are already changing the face of the field and the entire healthcare industry, ranging from telehealth to electronic health records to automated pumps and beyond.

As technology becomes more important in patient care, technology professionals and healthcare providers must work together to find the best, most innovative, and most effective solutions to revolutionize the field and improve patient experiences.

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