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Technology has been transforming medicine
and healthcare in a big way for decades. Our very own Christiaan Barnard
changed the medical field forever when he performed the first successful heart
transplant on December 3, 1967. South
Africa is among the countries that quickly adapted within the digital
transformation era to develop amazing healthcare technologies and services such
as health insurance solutions and medical
aid schemes.
Today, using big data and technology like smartwatches, mobile phones, live streaming, and better doctor-to-doctor communication has made technology the fastest growing area in health according to the Global Observatory for eHealth Report by the United Nations. Start-ups are tackling numerous problems with quality care and healthcare access by using technology to improve the industry. How do these industry disruptors affect your healthcare?
Data Mining
Data mining is the process where computers analyse massive data sets to find patterns and solve problems. It’s a no-brainer then, that the medical field would jump on this technology to improve medical care.
Constant advancements in medical technology could make diagnosing patients a quicker and more accurate process. A research team at IBM developed a supercomputer that helps doctors give patients improved diagnoses and treatments. It does this through years of data mining and creating formulae for detecting and solving general medical examination issues, such as prescribing the right medication or performing improved diagnosis.
Brian Eliason, healthcare expert at Health Catalyst, believes data mining holds amazing potential for the future of healthcare. ‘Some believe the opportunities to improve care and reduce costs concurrently could apply to as much as 30% of the overall healthcare spending in the US alone,’ said Eliason.
Advancing medical technology could mean the average cost of production of medical equipment, medicines, and medical facilities in general, could eventually decrease as the need for certain outdated equipment decreases.
Communication
Advanced translation programs have improved communication among doctors, as well as between doctors and their patients. Omnifluent Health is one such program. It reduces translation costs for doctors and hospitals and improves efficiency by overcoming the language barrier.
Patients have also benefited from online medical programs such as Sherpaa, where doctors can consult with patients within minutes through an app, assisting with over 1,500 medical problems. With the help of this app, doctors can also order blood tests, fill prescriptions, and recommend local specialists.
Wearable Tech
Remember when your watch only gave you the time, date, and possibly compass directions? Today, wearable tech enables people to monitor their every move. Smartwatches record steps, calories, heart rate, and sleep cycles. Depending on your personal preferences, a smartwatch can remind you to exercise, drink water, or to get up from your desk and walk around at specific intervals. Medical professionals can use this data to create more accurate medical evaluations of individuals. One day, your smartwatch might even be able to pick up on clues that you may be heading for a heart attack and contact the nearest hospital for emergency assistance along with your medical aid.Technology is now so widely used in the medical field that you or someone you know has probably been helped by it in some way. So, the next time you visit your doctor, you might be amazed to think that a stranger in another country may have helped to make you feel better.
Prices quoted are correct at the time of publishing this article. The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or medical advice.
Sources: World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations/health, www.healthcatalyst.com
This post and content is sponsored, written and provided by Hippo.
