Technology is evolving in all sectors. However, the 2020s
have been when medical technology has grown in leaps and
bounds. Not only do medical professionals benefit from such
advancements, but so do their patients. The next time you
seek help from a doctor, you might be able to take advantage
of some of the following innovative
technology:
Referral Management
Software
Something as simple as referral management
software between GPs and therapists might make a huge
difference in access to mental health services. Rather than
GPs providing a list of suggestions with no guarantees, they
can use referral management software to know which
therapists are available to help. They simply need to input
their clients’ needs and view a list of available
therapists that can deliver the personalised service they
require.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality has
been touted as a fun form of entertainment, but it also has
real merit in the medical field. Medical professionals have
been using it to treat psychological illnesses and help
patients with pain management. According to the United
States Chamber of Commerce, VR exposure therapy reduced the
fear of heights in some patients
by 68%.
It is also improving surgical efficiency.
Surgeons can virtually explore a patient’s brain before
performing neurosurgery and thoracic surgery. A Harvard
Business Review study found that VR training improved the
participants’ surgical performance
by 230%.
3D Printing
Many people own 3D
printers to print small trinkets and fun toys. However,
it’s a game-changer in the healthcare industry. High-tech
3D printers are now being used to print joints and implants
for surgical procedures. Due to the advanced digital
functions, these printers can match parts to patients down
to the millimetre. The closer the fit, the more comfortable
patients can often be.
However, it’s not just
plastic and ceramic being used in printers. We’re also
seeing living cells being used in printers in a process
called bio-printing. Bio-printing was initially developed to
regenerate skin cells in burn victims. Now, scientists are
exploring it for
creating blood vessels, ovaries, and
pancreas.
Telemedicine
The COVID-19 pandemic
temporarily shut down the world. People needing medical
treatment found it hard to access the advice and services
they needed. However, telemedicine services soon got
underway. Telemedicine lets patients access healthcare
professionals without having to see them in person. Instead,
they can consult over the phone or on a video call. It is
also proving popular in
veterinary practices.
Artificial
Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) seemed to
come out of nowhere. Now, it’s in nearly every facet of
our lives, healthcare included. Doctors are using AI to help
diagnose illnesses. In this arena, it’s proving effective.
According
to studies, mammograms are reviewed 30 times faster with
99% accuracy. This might reduce the need for many
unnecessary biopsies. Clinicians are even relying on AI to
help with treatment programmes to help patients manage
health conditions.
Medical technology in the 2020s
has been advancing so quickly that it has been hard for many
people to keep up. In a short space of time, medical
professionals have been able to provide more efficient,
effective, and advanced patient care to benefit both
patients and care providers
alike.
© Scoop Media
Discussion about this post