7 incredible breakthroughs in the realm of healthcare technology

7 INCREDIBLE BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE REALM OF HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY

The previous year brought to light multiple innovations in the area of healthcare, allowing the industry to expand and evolve in the coming years. One of the guiding factors of these innovations in the healthcare sector is the implementation of advanced technology to support the institutions to operate more efficiently.

This is a great time for the advancement of the healthcare sector as the innovations keep pouring in one after the other, which will lead the healthcare providers to work more diligently. So, let’s shed light some of the most promising trends in the healthcare industry that will enhance the way healthcare is provided.

  • The appropriate implementation of data science

Treating a patient with an acute health condition can offer a great deal of insights to the practitioners, but finding and compiling all the data into something concrete can be a tedious process. However, the progress in data science and predictive analytics, have made it incredibly convenient for healthcare professionals to gather valuable details.

Now, a doctor can feed the relevant data about the patient’s ancestry and family histories into the AI-based systems to create a strategically grounded patient profile and to diagnose the issues faster. Important details can be gathered from sources about the patient’s surrounding environment, which will ultimately help the doctors to decode the problems that are endemic to regions, families, and other population clusters.

The data can also be scanned and evaluated to enhance the efficiency within a healthcare organization. Also, the patients who are at an increased risk can be treated for longer periods.

  • Cloud Computing in Healthcare

Cloud Computing is again a revolutionary approach in the domain of healthcare, allowing patients and doctors with an increased accessibility. With this technology, patients will no longer have to wait endlessly for the doctor’s appointment and can go through the records of their health condition from the cloud. Today, a lion’s share of the communication process with the healthcare providers and facilities is carried out on mobile devices with the help of various healthcare apps.

Filing the patient’s record on the paper is already an outdated process and thing of the past. Healthcare practitioners and facilities are now pushing for a system that stores the patient records in the cloud, which will enable the patients to access their own medical records and test results any time of the day. However, there is a lot of work still left to be done in case of maintaining the privacy of the patient before deploying the technology in a full-fledged manner across the healthcare industry. But this issue is likely to resolve by the end of 2018.

  • The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

The combination of IoT development with telehealth and telemedicine technologies has paved the way for Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). This approach promotes the use of a number of wearables, like ECG and EKG monitors. It also prompts several other medical measurements, like monitoring the skin temperature, blood pressure, and glucose level.

According to a study conducted by Frost & Sullivan, nearly 60% of operations in the healthcare sector had used the IoT or IoMT systems in 2017. This trend has prompted significant improvements in aspects like patient experience and profitability. By 2020, 20 to 30 billion IoMT devices are slated to be deployed. By 2021, the market for IoT devices in healthcare is estimated to touch close to $136 billion. With these developments, the practitioners will have many intriguing options for offering care in a more efficient manner.

  • Data security and blockchain

Managing a vast database could pose a huge problem if it doesn’t come with a proper security system. Keeping the valuable records unprotected could result in a breakdown.

However, such situations can be countered with the technology known as Blockchain. This is a potent solution to the security issues that cause data decentralization and minimizes the instances of data theft or modification. Using a single security protocol will help safeguard the information disseminated through EHRs (electronic health records), and also the transmission of data will be much easier and quicker.

The significant of blockchain technology is only going to be on the rise in the coming years. Healthcare app developers, who have opened up to the implementation of this technology, will definitely flourish in the nearest future.

  • Use of robots in the healthcare facilities

Researchers have predicted that by 2020, one hospital in four with 200 or more beds will use robots to carry out time-consuming activities, and also decrease labour and avert mistakes to up the sustainability of the overall operations and enhance patient safety.

These technologies are being adopted in healthcare and life sciences to automate the existing functions and revamp the established systems. Hospitals that are already using robots, have mostly engaged them in supply chain functions, but they are also being tested for clinical applications.

  • Telemedicine and Telehealth

We are in the age of Smartphone and innovative applications. Now, the pertinent question is, would you rather consult with your medical practitioner using chat or video call instead of paying him/her a visit? If you are intrigued by the former option, then the telemedicine technology is for you. Telemedicine and telehealth make the consultation and diagnosis of illnesses a lot simpler.

“Users would never want to come back to the traditional procedures of healthcare as and when they warm up to the multitude of advantages of this technology that effectively allows the users to stay connected with their doctors at all times”, says Ted Atkins, an IT expert with Allessaywriter.com.

This crucial element of current technology trends in the healthcare sector is consistently upgrading, keeping pace with the evolution of communication methods. It suggests that so long as people network among themselves, telemedicine will continue to flourish.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare

This is another healthcare technology trend that is in its formative phase. Designing AI-powered machines that are capable of processing information and offer concrete insights has given rise to a whole new arena of innovative health technologies. AI applications can enhance the speed and accuracy of how the illnesses are diagnosed.

AI also allows the medical practitioners to start paying attention to the possible approaches for early treatment. Machine learning algorithms can also be utilized to safely evaluate the chemical and biological interactions in the drug discovery process, bringing new and more advanced drugs to market. All in all, applications of these algorithms in clinical processes depend on developing good training sets to make sure that AIs are as informed as possible.

Parting note,

With the latest innovations and reforms in the domain of healthcare, it is expected that the patient-doctor interactions will become more convenient. Also, the management and security of patients’ data will be simpler. With time and proper implementation, these technologies will completely redefine how healthcare is perceived.