The Health Care Industry And The Impact Of Technology

Mhealth has reached the poorest of communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). More than 9 million patients email their physician in 2009 (Digital Health Care, 2010), because patients’ busy lifestyles do not allow time for an office visit for non-emergent health conditions. . In recent years, the expansion of mobile health (mhealth) technologies, including health text messaging, mobile phone applications, remote monitoring, and portable sensors, have changed the way health care is being delivered in the U.S. and globally (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Patients like the convenience of communicating with his or her physician through advanced technology.

Health care costs are a longstanding concern to policymakers. For years, health care spending has been rising faster than the rate of economic growth, raising the question of what factors are responsible for rising health care costs. This paper explores published articles that report results from research conducted on technological innovations in health care and its relation to rising health care costs. The cost increases have a significant effect on households, businesses, and government programs. Health care experts indicates the development and diffusion of medical technology as primary factors in explaining the persistent

Over the past decade, virtually every major industry invested heavily in computerization. The heath care industry was no exception to the rise in the use of technology. These technologies are starting to allow health care practitioners to offer faster, and more efficient patient care than ever before. No doubt this is the right direction we expect health care to follow.

Medical technology encompasses a wide range of healthcare products and is used to diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases or medical conditions that affect humans. This may included but not limited too, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical equipment. Such technologies are intended to improve the quality of healthcare delivered through earlier diagnosis, less invasive treatment options and reductions in hospital stays and rehabilitation times. Recent advances in medical technology have also focused on cost reduction. Medical technology may include medical devices, information technology, biotech, and healthcare services. The impacts of medical technology may involve social and ethical issues. For example physicians may seek objective information from technology rather than listening to subjective patient reports. A major contributor of healthcare expenditure in America is the advancement of medical technology. According to several studies it is shown that there is a correlation between the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and money allocated to healthcare. One of the leading theories is that medical technology is growing faster than expected.

The medical home concept is not new, as it is built on health care practice innovations that have arisen over the past 40 years (Kilo & Wasson, 2010). From these principles, a multitude of medical home projects and demonstrations across the United States have grown (PCPCC, 2011). Given the unique characteristics of each of the numerous projects promoting the PCMH model, it is difficult to obtain generalizable evidence of the effectiveness of the model (van Hasselt, et. al., 2015). However, the most fundamental aspect of the medical home model—the primary care provider – can be the source of the effective functioning of the model, and its direct benefit to the Medicare-eligible population. The role of primary care within a health care system has been tied to health services’ costs, with some evidence supporting the idea that health care delivery systems that place an emphasis on primary care have lower overall health costs (Starfield & Shi, 2004). Although the medical home model is not just about primary care, it places a priority on this type of care as a critical aspect of patient care. As a result, evidence of the success of primary care can carry through to the PCMH model.

To save America’s health care system, we need to focus on lowering the costs of health care and raising the standards for our health care system. There is no reason we cannot meet our demands for quality health care and advances in technology while employing a system for cost containment. Home health care is one of the most promising areas in health care today and investing in it could bring us a step closer to achieving this

The health care industry is one of the most dynamic and delicate industries in the U.S. having experienced healthy and substantial changes for the last thirty years most of which have aimed to improve health care management and services delivery to the patients. The changes have enabled the integration of technology into the industry such as in the area of informatics, science and research and payment services and clinical treatments. The health care sector has introduced various changes to address disease and health care management such as the Modernization Act of 2003, the Patient Protection Act and Affordable Act, which aim at improving health provision and most

The three systems consist of hospitals, long-term care, and the mental and behavioral health system. Hospitals before the 17 and 1800’s were institutions for the poor and sick. Middle class people preferred to receive their care in the comfort of their own homes. Hospitals have evolved tremendously since the 17 and 1800’s. All people are treated in hospitals today, despite their social class. The key factors of hospitals are to deliver care for acute illnesses and injuries and maintain advanced technology. Many hospitals provide specialized centers in order to provide the best care for patients. Because hospitals are overcrowded, the goal is to stabilize the patient, and send them home to follow up with their primary care physician for further treatment. Hospitals are under constant pressure to admit only the patients that are facing life threatening illnesses. Technology is the driving force behind transforming healthcare. Patients will gravitate to hospitals that provide the latest technology for the best treatment options. Technology can also reduce stress, improve errors, and reduce healing time for certain surgeries. Long-term care is for those requiring more

Over the last few years, there has been rapid advancement in the areas of technology and medicine. These advances in the health care sector have made it possible for people to remain at their residences even in their golden years as they continue to benefit from the therapies and services that were previously only available at the hospitals.

The world of technology is revolving at a faster pace than ever before and has therefore brought the greatest challenges to businesses and individuals alike. Spartan Home Health Center (SHHC) is one of the many constituents that is affected by these rapid changes and seeks to gain more evidence to improve their overall business processes. A risk assessment is made to evaluate whether SHHC should continue the implementation of “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy. A qualitative analysis predicts that the pros outweigh the cons for this case which in part is complemented by a quantitative analysis that determines whether or not it would be profitable. After much thought and candor it has been decided that for its purposes, SHHC should indeed continue its BYOD policy.

Kristi Henderson talked about the transformation of healthcare using technology for the improvement of accessibility, health, and to lowering costs (attachment VI.A).

It is inevitable that individuals are bound to need medical attention at least once within their lifetime considering no person is immune to an illness or injury. However, many people dread going to the hospital or staying in a nursing facility since they lack privacy, they’re expensive, uncomfortable, crowded and too busy. Many people today are seeking home health care because it’s less expensive, convenient and they prefer to receive medical attention in their home environment. Amazingly, home health care allows patients to receive health care services within the comfort of their own home for their illness or injury and requires the nurse and other needed healthcare professionals to work around the patient’s schedule. Visiting Nurse Health Systems (VNHS) is an organization that strives to help patients successfully manage their health and provide patients with the best quality care in the comfort of their own home through using their wide range of health care services and through the teamwork of their health care professionals. They provide structure within the workplace to try and meet the needs of their patients and employees and to achieve the goals of the organization. VNHS uses it’s funding to help all who are in need of home health care services.

There are several tipping points that have been a part of the major development of healthcare over the past one hundred years. There are changes over time in the healthcare system that played a significant role in how healthcare has evolved. Target areas of healthcare have evolved over time, going from epidemics and acute care to trauma and infection, to chronic disease and behavioral and emotional illnesses (Williams & Torrens, 2008). The reason these targets have changed over time is because living conditions have changed along with the population. Technology in healthcare has changed over time. Technology was very basic and knowledge of medical sciences was once limited. There has been a huge expansion of technology which has allowed the

Health care is always in constant flux of improvement, due to innovated technique in surgical instruments and surgical procedure; advancement technique in medical equipment, and improvement in information management and information technology. The greatest impact that these improvements are felt in local health care facilities. Local clinics, hospitals, and private health care providers all use some type of new medical advancement to give their patience the best medical care possible.

Healthcare is rapidly changing. From the 1850s until now, the focus of healthcare has shifted from an acute illness mentality to the overall long-term well-being of patients with the management of chronic illnesses (Williams & Torrens, 2008). This change is in large part due to the eradication of several deadly diseases such as smallpox and polio (Roser, n.d.). This step forward can be attributed to the development of antibiotics and more recently vaccines. Vaccines are now widely available and helped eradicated once deadly diseases (Paulson & Hammer, 2002). As the change in healthcare shift to a more patient-centered focus, we will see a great use of technology in the system.