Exclusive Article By Donna Jo at EMRIndustry
In the modern world, technology plays an increasingly important role in daily life. The internet has connected people and things in a radical way that was unforeseen a hundred years ago. As the availability and exchange of information continue to grow, many new opportunities to promote health maintenance have developed.
Health maintenance via Smartphone Applications is a Game-Changer
You may use your phone already for a variety of functions that extend well beyond simply making calls. The functions of various applications cover many activities and are nearly endless – things like ordering food, embarking on guided meditations, or monitoring a home security system.
In recent years, health monitoring applications for phones have revolutionized the way that patients take care of themselves. Real-time data can be gathered to monitor blood sugar, heart rate, oxygen levels, physiological responses to medications, and more. They can also alert the user to health emergencies such as heart attack or stroke, allowing for immediate potentially life-saving intervention by urgent care providers.
The medical journal Applied Clinical Informatics studied the use of these applications and found that “smart watch technology supplied with biosensors has the potential to be useful in a variety of healthcare applications”
Dietary Planning is Now Simple and Straightforward
In the old days, adhering to strict dietary protocols was difficult. Activities like counting calories, measuring macronutrient ratios (fats, proteins, and carbohydrates), and individual meal planning were tedious and time-consuming. Now, thanks to diet apps specifically designed for these functions, maintaining an ideal diet for your health goals is easy and quick. Most of these apps also provide expert advice and useful information for users, which can come in handy in conjunction with the advice from your healthcare provider. Using an Apple Watch you can track what you eat and the exercise you do.
Online Support Groups Can Improve Health Outcomes
For those struggling with particular health issues, becoming involved in a community of peers can significantly help the recovery process. Exchanging experiences, coping strategies, and navigating challenges together allows the user to understand that they are not alone. Online support groups now exist for all types of conditions such as diabetes, cancer, mental health issues like depression, and more.
Australian researchers who looked at support groups in relation to mental health concluded that “there is a consistent pattern of evidence, over a long period of time, which confirms the effectiveness of mental health support groups for carers and people living with mental illness.”
Use Technology to Get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th Opinion
While primary care providers remain the most important tool for any patient looking to improve or optimize their health, the vast trove of information available via the internet can help patients explore on their own. Whereas in the past medical literature was the sole domain of medical students and researchers, now respected organizations like the National Institutes of Health publish thousands of peer-reviewed scientific studies on all aspects of healthcare. These resources are free and easily searchable, streamlining the self-education process for patients who want to take charge of their own healthcare.
While a doctor has only a limited time to address each patient’s individual case, a patient who takes the initiative to research on their own and then collaborates with the doctor can significantly improve their health outcomes.
5G Internet Will Transform Access to Care
Recently, Chinese doctors became the first group to successfully perform brain surgery remotely, using the new ultra-fast 5G internet connection. Although more development is needed before the practice becomes widespread, it is not difficult to imagine that in the future this will be the norm. The implication is that access to life-saving care will become available to whole new populations of people currently limited by their geographic location.
These are just a few of the notable ways that technology is rapidly changing the healthcare landscape. Moving forward, innovators and entrepreneurs will continue to develop exciting new methods to deliver crucial healthcare services to more and more people across the globe.
