What Does the Future of Technology Look Like in the World of Healthcare?
There have been plenty of technological developments in the healthcare world over the past few years, but what does the future of technology and healthcare hold in store? Read on to find out more…
Technological developments have always been essential to improving standards of healthcare around the world. Just think – technologies that appeared to be science fiction just a decade ago are now common practice. This pattern is unlikely to change any time soon.
In fact, as technology becomes increasingly advanced, there are bound to be plenty of changes to the way the general public accesses healthcare. New tech could be used for a variety of purposes, from removing delays in diagnosis for medical treatment, to improving access to otherwise unobtainable healthcare treatments. Even medical data can’t be effectively stored and analyzed without tech tools developed by healthcare data analytics company.
So, what exactly is the future of technology in healthcare going to look like? What’s more, how are changes to technology going to be made? To find out more about the future of technology in the healthcare sector, read on…
What are the Most Significant Advances in Healthcare Technology?
As we’ve briefly mentioned, technology has been essential to the development of healthcare standards around the world. So, what healthcare technologies have we seen introduced over the past few years?
Well, to put it simply – plenty. Healthcare technologies have come on leaps and bounds, particularly when it comes to helping medical professionals to quickly and accurately diagnose conditions in their patients.
Artificial Intelligence
A prime example of this in action would be the implementation of artificial intelligence (A.I.). While this is by no means something that has been rolled out on a wide scale, there have been numerous examples of it in action.
Pioneering this technology, Google’s Deepmind created an A.I. for breast cancer analysis. Amazingly, the algorithm that was created managed to identify breast cancer more accurately than the human radiologists it was compared to!
While this is, of course, just one trial, it does point towards the fact that the future of technology is heading in the right direction. Just imagine what A.I. could achieve with years of consistent development! Exciting, right?
Virtual Reality
For many people, virtual reality might just be seen as something of a novelty, used in video games and not a whole lot else. Well, the reality (see what we did there?) is somewhat different.
Virtual reality is already beginning to change the lives of both patients and physicians. This indicates that it’s something we’re much more likely to see in the healthcare sector moving forward.
Virtual reality is currently being used to help train surgeons, allowing them to improve their overall performance when it comes to performing real-life surgeries. This could, theoretically, be used for all manner of healthcare professionals to help improve future diagnosis of patients for medical treatment.
Augmented Reality
Virtual reality and augmented reality – what’s the difference? Well, augmented reality means that users don’t lose touch with reality.
Using augmented reality could allow medical professionals to enhance their abilities and get a better understanding of the human body. Trials have already seen students at Case Western Reserve University study virtual depictions of the human body without the need for real bodies.
Healthcare Trackers
Chances are that you, or someone you know, has a healthcare tracker. We all use them for a variety of reasons but, most importantly, they are used to make sure that we are as healthy as possible.
So, how are they linked to the future of technology?
Well, as you might expect, as healthcare trackers become more advanced, they will be able to monitor more complex features of our health. We may just be able to diagnose issues ourselves before we even need the support of a doctor.
What Does the Future of Technology in Healthcare Mean for Us?
Quicker and More Accurate Diagnosis
The most obvious benefit to improve technology would be that we will likely see a huge improvement in the diagnosis – both in terms of speed and accuracy.
By using any one of the previously mentioned technologies – or a combination – the healthcare sector will be able to better recognise the signs and symptoms of certain conditions. Importantly, it may even be possible to recognise certain symptoms that are otherwise difficult to spot, both for ourselves and for doctors!
Better General Health
The future of technology in the healthcare industry could, in turn, play a part in improving our general health.
Not only will we be able to speed up the process of diagnosis, but we will also be able to better understand what might cause certain conditions. Improved standards of general health amongst the public are likely to follow, putting less strain on the system all round.
Alternative Treatment Plans
Brand new technologies could open up opportunities to pursue alternative treatment plans that aren’t currently possible for patients.
Using Google’s Deepmind experiment as an example, if A.I. is able accurately diagnose breast cancer at an early stage, a patient may be able to undergo treatment plans that wouldn’t otherwise be possible if the cancer was identified at a later stage.
Reduced Mistakes
We’ve long been searching for an integrated approach to healthcare, where we work in tandem with technology. With the future of technology looking so promising, this may well be possible sooner than you expect.
While doctors and other healthcare professionals have to be incredibly skilled, they are only human. Mistakes happen.
By adopting an integrated approach to healthcare, the chances of medical misdiagnosis and other mistakes will be greatly reduced. Ultimately, that’s what we all want.
Reduced Burden on Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers around the world are constantly being pushed to the edge of their capacity, especially in recent times, as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll.
Advancements in technology will reduce the often-overwhelming burden on doctors which, in turn, will mean that they constantly perform to the best of their own abilities.
How do You See the Future of Technology and Healthcare Developing?
So, that’s our guide to the potential future of technology and healthcare. There’s plenty to go around already, and it’s clear to see that even more brand-new technologies are still on the horizon.
How do you feel about the future of technology in healthcare? Keep the discussion going by leaving a comment down below!
About the Author
Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.
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