Effective communication is essential in healthcare, and the latest communication technologies are enabling doctors to communicate more efficiently with patients. From mHealth to remote patient monitoring, these advancements are revolutionizing medical practices.
EHRs digitize your medical records, making them easily accessible to any new healthcare provider you visit. This simplifies medical processes and promotes seamless collaboration.
1. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare with applications that improve diagnostics, automate manual tasks and help manage patient health. From robots in hospitals to virtual assistants guiding patients through the billing process, AI has become an integral part of patient care and hospital operations.
Using the power of machine learning, artificial intelligence can help doctors and medical staff diagnose patients more quickly and accurately. It can also be used to monitor patient data and alert doctors to potential issues such as changes in heart rate or blood pressure.
In addition, AI can aid in the diagnosis of rare diseases by comparing patient data to other cases. This can reduce the time needed to find a diagnosis, as well as show clinicians examples of treatment options that have worked in similar cases.
AI can also be used to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, an AI system that examined airplane itineraries and ticket prices helped to quickly pinpoint where the virus was spreading. This enabled authorities to proactively monitor and contain the outbreak.
AI can also help with a variety of other healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring patient status and alerting care teams when patients are at risk of deteriorating or need to be transferred to a different facility. It can also be used to help with operational and capacity management by optimizing workflows, identifying bottlenecks and reducing wait times. With technological advancements in healthcare, providers can now offer more precise treatments, streamline patient management, and improve overall clinical outcomes.
2. Digital Twins
Digital twins are a unique type of simulation that model specific real-world assets and provide detailed, granular data. They’re used by businesses and organizations to design, build, and operate physical objects, as well as improve their performance. Compared to traditional simulations, which run in disconnected environments, digital twins are outfitted with sensors and continuously updated, which allows them to operate and monitor real-time processes, providing a more accurate prediction of outcomes.
In healthcare, digital twins are a powerful tool for monitoring and optimizing patient care. They can help physicians identify and understand patterns and correlations in large amounts of data, predict disease progression, and personalize treatment strategies. Digital twins can also be used to develop and test new medical devices, speeding up clinical trials by enabling simulated testing and reducing the risk of human error.
For example, in the ninth episode of The Good Doctor, two physicians use virtual reality to experiment with surgical approaches on a digital replica of a patient’s heart, then check their work against the real thing. This approach reduces risk, saves time, and ensures that doctors have a complete understanding of the patient’s health before they perform surgery.
But the same digital twin technology that makes it possible may also pose a threat to patients’ privacy and security. Especially in the context of healthcare, where patients can be vulnerable to discrimination and biases that are present within the system. Interviewees have pointed to concerns about the possibility of digital twins becoming the “ultimate gatekeeper” of a patient’s information and that the technology could increase inequality by only giving access to the wealthy. They have also raised questions about the potential for digital twins to be used as a substitute for a physician’s judgement.
3. 3D Printing
3D printing is a manufacturing process that creates products by adding layers of material one at a time. This allows for a more streamlined design process and lower production costs. It also means that any adjustments that need to be made won’t take as long—which is invaluable in a healthcare setting, where the speed of response can make all the difference.
Medicine and healthcare are among the first industries to embrace 3D printing, with a plethora of applications. The technology has been used to make anatomical models that help surgeons prepare for procedures and plan their approach. It has also been used to produce personalized medical devices, such as prosthetics and implants.
These implants can be printed from a variety of materials, including titanium, ceramics, plastics and even living tissues. Scientists have already successfully bioprinted blood vessels and bones, and the ability to print organs is not far away. In fact, scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have recently developed a low-cost ventilator that can be produced using 3D printing technology.
Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, the use of 3D printing in healthcare is significantly more eco-friendly and keeps waste to a minimum. It is also much faster and more cost-effective, with less manual labor and tools required.
Furthermore, 3D printing enables for on-demand creation of medical supplies, which reduces the need for large inventories and shortens patient wait times. It is particularly beneficial in emergency situations, where rapid responses are needed. For example, in the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and small businesses were able to quickly produce 3D-printed nasopharyngeal testing swabs, face shields and viral filter adapters. They can be customised to suit each hospital’s unique needs.
4. Wearable Biosensors
Wearable biosensors enable healthcare staff to remotely monitor and collect health data, helping to reduce the need for costly visits to the doctor. These sensors can track and record vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure, as well as identify any potential irregularities in an individual’s health such as a fever or abnormal blood sugar levels.
The use of smart biosensors is also becoming more popular for individuals who want to improve their own health and fitness. Wearable sensors with artificial intelligence (AI) can analyze collected data and provide feedback that helps users make more informed choices about their health. This can help encourage healthy lifestyles by encouraging people to be more active and stick with their medical treatment plans.
Some examples of wearable biosensors include oximeters that use light to measure oxygen saturation in the blood and pulse oximetry systems used to monitor cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Other biosensors include EMG sensors that are used to monitor muscle activity and provide real-time feedback to therapists during rehabilitation exercises, as well as help control prosthetic limbs by translating intended movements into commands for the device.
Future advancements in biosensor technology could lead to a more integrated, multiplexed approach that combines electrophysiological measures with biochemical marker monitoring. This would allow for the tracking of a wider range of markers and improve clinical adoption rates by lowering the cost of implementing wearable biosensors. Achieving this goal will require significant improvements in a wide variety of areas including sensor performance, data acquisition, processing and transmission, and signal to noise ratios.
5. Telehealth
Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies to provide healthcare remotely. It can include a web-based visit with your doctor or nurse practitioner or an at-home monitoring device. It has many benefits including:
Reduced transportation costs: Telehealth eliminates the need to travel to a medical appointment, which can save money on gas, parking, and lost wages from missing work. This makes it especially beneficial for people with limited incomes and those living in rural areas. Eliminates geographical barriers: For people with limited mobility or immune systems, telehealth can help them get health care services they would otherwise miss. This is a huge benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it has helped keep people safe by allowing them to seek care without traveling or risking exposure to the virus.
Increased efficiency: Telehealth increases the productivity of everyone involved in the patient’s care. By reducing paperwork, scheduling difficulties, and the need to prepare rooms between appointments, telehealth can help lower overall costs and improve the quality of care provided.
Specialist input: Patients at smaller hospitals can get virtual consultations with specialists from larger regional facilities via telehealth to address physician shortages. Additionally, home monitoring devices, such as Lifeline’s button that patients can press in an emergency, allow physicians to monitor patients at home and prevent complications like hospital readmissions.
While many doctors and nurses may be hesitant to embrace telehealth, its popularity has proven that it is here to stay. It allows them to see more patients with fewer resources, while saving time and reducing travel costs. Plus, it is critical for implementing value-based care and success in new payment models. As such, it’s important for all healthcare providers to embrace this technology and start offering their patients the flexibility of telehealth.