Rapid advancements in technology and AI have revolutionized most of the industries we are dependent on, and the healthcare industry is one of the most important and dynamic of them. Healthcare providers and patients are benefiting from technology, from disease management to diagnostics. But, when it comes to addressing patient needs, ensuring patient safety, the efficiency of the system, and quality improvement, the healthcare system performs far below acceptable levels. The ability of technology to overcome gaps in healthcare delivery is among its most important advantages. These gaps can arise due to geographical barriers, resource limitations, and the need for access to care.
Following are a few ways that technology can close healthcare delivery gaps:
1Mobile Health Application
Healthcare professionals can communicate, review, and export patient data using diagnostic apps. The Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is where the majority of this data is kept. Laboratory tests such as blood tests, urine tests, etc. are examples of diagnostic data. Several diagnostic mHealth apps include built-in symptom-checking technology that enables doctors to assess the patient’s health and schedule them accurately. Similarly, a general health and wellness app might allow a diabetic to monitor their blood sugar levels—a health management app would enable sending those results to their doctor. Health apps make it easier for us to monitor our overall wellness as well as for doctors to treat their patients more effectively.
2Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
Medical practitioners can swiftly enter data on new patients into an electronic health record or EHR, software, which creates a digital record that they can update with each new interaction. The records include information about each patient’s family history, the cause of their initial complaint, their diagnosis and treatment, prescription prescriptions, lab tests, and other crucial details. EHRs are more user-friendly than paper-based records, which is why their popularity has increased recently. This help practices more securely limit access to patient data.
3Wearable Devices
A cultural and technological change has occurred in recent years, moving away from wellness-focused wearables and toward those that are intended to support real-time tracking and monitoring of patient vital signs. If a patient has a chronic illness or needs to track a certain physical activity, a wearable medical device can collect data on physiological and biochemical characteristics. In the healthcare industry, wearable technology is essential, and doctors should use it more frequently.
4Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a service that facilitates appointments over video or phone calls between the patient and the doctor. It can prevent the spread of flu and other infectious diseases. Telemedicine can be advantageous for some specialized practitioners due to the ability to see patients in their homes. Experts in allergies, for instance, may be able to pinpoint environmental triggers. You can be seen and evaluated by neurologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists for your capacity to live independently and take care of yourself in your home. A fantastic option to receive psychotherapy and mental health assessment is through telemedicine.
Overall This may be helpful for hard-to-reach groups including ethnic minorities, places that are geographically disadvantaged, elderly people, and people with disabilities. Because mobile technologies are so widely used in ethnic minority groups, there are numerous chances to collaborate with communities to eliminate health disparities as a result of the enormous development in the usage of health tech.
