The technology has reached to a pinnacle where it is touching lives of almost every individual. Be it any field, technology has created an impact and helped simplifying things in whatever way possible.
In healthcare field, putting the individual at the center is a natural thing to do. However, it is the advancement in health technology which is transforming this natural inclination into reality. The health care industry is striving to go further and ensure the system is designed to take care of patients when they are sick and keep them healthy over the long-term.
Here we will discuss some ways in which Heath Technology is simplifying the lives of medical community as well as people.
1. Building online health repository and making information more accessible
Health Information technology makes it possible to have a storage repository for medical information. EMR (electronic medical record) systems is one place where HIT is very useful. It helps in storing clinical information about patients and this information can be exchanged among doctors for better treatment of patients. Also, this can be helpful in reducing the information gap between doctors in rural and urban areas. The online repository can further be used for future analysis. Analytics can be applied to gain insights so that the information derived can be used for producing better outcomes and overall lower total cost. MediTouch, NueMD, Kareo are few companies providing EMR/HER softwares.
2. Remote care and telemedicine is bridging the doctor-patient gap
Telemedicine and remote care is the future of health care. Home healthcare services and innovative technology will allow for doctor-patient connectivity where it had not been previously possible, saving both lives and money. Patient monitoring before, during, and after a procedure can include autonomous robots to assist doctors in helping patients who are remotely located and not in reach. iRobot’s RP-VITA is one famous example for remote care and telemedicine.
3. Health and fitness apps and wearables to keep people fit
In last few years, health and fitness apps have seen a huge influx in market. There are different apps catering to the need of an individual. There are apps that help in maintaining hydration level, giving constant updates on calorie count etc. Also, the latest wearables like fitness bands can track our daily workout activities and suggest improvements. Nike run, Google Fit, Calorie Counter etc. are few apps that are pretty much used.
4. Helping doctors collaborate and communicate for better patient care
The skill gap in Indian health care industry is very wide and needs utmost attention. Developing apps that can help doctors communicate and connect with each other will help in bridging the gap. This also will ensure a coordinated patient care. Many such apps have been built recently. Curofy, Doximity, Sermo etc. are few to be named. These apps provide a discussion platform to doctors where they can connect to other doctors in network and get second opinion on cases. Also, it helps doctors in rural areas to get connect to doctors in urban places and seek help on a case. This coordinated care of patient is saving many lives and ensuring a healthier world.
5. Making doctors more accessible and reliable for patients
Waiting outside a doctor’s clinic is always a hassle. Thanks to technology that now appointment with a doctor can be done on app itself. Apps like Practo, Lybrate etc. help a patient to search a doctor in a locality and book an appointment online. Also, review and rating of a doctor ensures credibility.
(Nipun Goyal is Co-founder of Curofy.)
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