Introduction Innovations in technology has sky rocketed in the medical field. Incorporating these technologies systematically has lead to increased life span. Since time immemorial, struggle of humans to gain immortality has motivated them to explore different options that would give them longevity to the least if not immortality. Technology has come as an answer to humankind’s quest and has not disappointed us in any way. Today Technology has broken all boundaries in healthcare. Non-invasive surgeries with aid of laser technology were still in its infancy when the prospect of complicated surgeries like that of brain and heart with the aid of nanotechnology using nanorobotics is ready to be born. There is another breakthrough in the …show more content…
The likelihood of having at least one chronic condition increases with age. Care for patients with chronic conditions accounts for more than four-fifths of all health care expenditures, or more than $1.4 trillion annually. This amount is predicted to increase by at least 25 percent over the next two decades. Wireless health technology provides physicians with several solutions that assist them in monitoring health conditions, diagnosing, managing treatment and preventing complications, through effective communications and timely intervention. Thus enabling everyone to comply with, the proverbial saying of ‘Prevention is better then the cure.’ Types of Application There are two applications of wireless technology in medical field: 1) Physiological monitoring and 2) Patient communication and support 1) Physiological Monitoring: This application of wireless technology can monitor physiological functions and send the information to the physicians. With aid of wearable devices or adhesives, the patient vital signs are monitored. In addition, information is then sent to the physician for further reference. Examples of this application are: • Portable external physiological monitoring devices, which can be used for monitoring cardiac, blood glucose and vital signs. These devices are connected to the sensors placed on or near the body for wirelessly
The level of technology that concerns the health of people in the United States has grown dramatically in the last twenty years. With this new wave of advanced technology numerous controversies have risen up into the public eye. At the top of this list, in health technology is the materials and methods used in keeping humans alive. There are many different viewpoints on how far technology should be allowed to go. Technology cannot effect the patient’s way of life.
The use of mobile technology in the healthcare industry has exploded in the last ten years. Mobile health or mHealth, provides an entire new aspect of the relationship between patients and their doctors and other medical providers. Mobile devices place important and critical information into a medical professional’s hands in real-time. Doctors can monitor a patient’s condition more frequently, allowing them to make better and more informed decisions and diagnoses.
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.
Life expectancy has increased over the last century. With this greater survival rate, there needs to be an increase in the rate of spending for Medicare. Despite what one does to improve their health behavior, the need for medical care cultivates as one ages. This need will continue to increase significantly as medicine continues to modernize.
Many experts in healthcare economics point out that chronic medical conditions are directly associated with higher costs (G., 2010). This association is mainly attributed to the high usage of all types of care (Kongstvedt, 2013). Reports show that the number of people suffering with chronic conditions is radically rising and forecasts suggest that the number of American’s with one or more chronic conditions will continue to grow by an estimated 37% between 2000 and 2030 (G., 2010). It is in our patient’s main interest to shift our current focus from treatment for acute conditions to target a better utilization of the recorded 78% of health spending devoted to people with chronic conditions. The new strategic approach is one of developing quality medical care for people with chronic conditions which require ongoing care and care management to improve their health status (Kongstvedt, 2013).
As consumers utilize smartphones, tablets, and other devices for other functions like social media and email, they are starting to look at these features to assist them with their healthcare. Mobile body area network devices will be a growing trend in the coming years as a way to get patients engaged in their healthcare and also to give providers routine updates on the status of patients with chronic conditions. As DeGaspari (2014) indicates, these devices can lead to improved functionality for other devices used in hospitals, such as sensors for monitoring patients that might get up and wander or be a fall risk. Telemedicine will continue to grow as payers, providers, and patients all start to realize the mutual benefits that can be
Advances in medical technology and processes are a double edged sword in regards to patient Quality of Life. Chronic-disease management has changed such that previously, people who would have died are now being kept alive due to the technological and medical advances dramatically increasing life expectancies over the centuries. With the advent of chemotherapy, surgeries and medications, life expectancy can sometimes be prolonged at the expense of Quality of Life.
The baby boomer generation is expected to grow to 18.2 percent in 2025 (Strunk, Ginsburg, & Banker, 2006). This has been compared to 12.4 percent in 2005, which is a significant difference and will dramatically impact hospital services in the years to come. As this generation ages they will continue to experience more than one chronic illness in which will require more managed care and eventually require inpatient services. Research varies with this topic and some state that life longevity along with new technology continuously expanding and being more advanced will make a difference on how this will impact inpatient services. However, most agree that this generation will start to develop multiple chronic illnesses and the need for knee replacements and hip replacements will continue to increase. In the development of these conditions will increase the need for hospital inpatient
The advancement of medical science impacted greatly on our specie and resulted in improvised life expectancy. Though progression of medical science brings cure for unlimited eternal illnesses it doesn’t however bring any remedy for the havocs caused by aging on our bodies. There
In 2012, about 56 million people died worldwide (“The Top 10 Causes of Death”). Killing more than 1.7 million Americans every year, seven out of every ten deaths in the United States are caused by chronic disease (The Growing Crisis of Chronic Disease in the United States). This results in an economic impact of 75% of health care costs (About Chronic Diseases). According to the National Health Council, “Four of the five most expensive health conditions (based on total health care spending in a given year in the United States) are chronic conditions- heart disease, cancer, mental disorders, and pulmonary conditions.” At the rate that the American population is going, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by 2020, about
As millions of Americans suffer from the preventable illness and chronic disease, more than 75% of nation’s health spending is on treating the chronically ill people. The website
The aging population will create many new obstacles for the healthcare industry because as people age they are more likely to develop illness and disease. According to the EWA, nearly 65% of all people 65 and over and 60% of people between 50 and 64 have at least one chronic illness. The healthcare workforce is not nearly large enough to treat the number of patients that will require medical attention. Health professionals will be in high demand because it is estimated that over 3,000,000 additional medical workers will be needed to meet the needs of the aging population. Diseases that are associated with aging are very expensive to treat
In today’s world, as technology is advancing around us, some of the major effects that can be seen are medical technology advances, ease of communication with the growing technology, and the negative effect on our body.
Over the course of many centuries, medical technology has developed to a great extent. Studies show that recent equipment has evolved more in the last ten to twenty years than in the past thousand years. Before human time, people learned to treat themselves by just using natural substances. Now-a-days, our hi-tech systems in the medical field have been created for the most effective tools for a high level of patient care. While they advance the tools, it will then allow for quicker diagnosis, less pain, and fewer costs, which in the end will help save more lives. Some people are accepting that modern technology can buy them more time to live while others might find it quite alarming because they fear
In today’s medical field technology plays a big role when it comes to patient care. Technology is huge when it comes to giving the patient the best type of quality care when they are in the hospital. In the old days people would just write it down on a sheet of paper and record it by hand, which caused mistakes. Now with the Electronic Health Record those mistakes are drastically declining. Statistics have shown that using the Electronic Health Record has lowered Nursing mistakes as well as improved patient care. Our society has progressed through the years and has been introduced with the Electronic Health Record which has drastically improved our health care system. The Electronic Health Record provides great communication between