Exciting Ways that the Healthcare Industry Is Evolving
The healthcare industry is a vital industry that provides the necessary services that patients need to stay healthy and live a full and enjoyable life. As the needs, expectations, and demands of potential patients have changed, healthcare facilities and practitioners have risen to the occasion. In recent years, the healthcare industry has evolved to better serve patients to provide greater satisfaction with care and the best possible outcomes.
Increased Use of Technology
Modern technology has made many advances that benefit patients and providers alike. One of the best new trends in healthcare is the use of electronic records. Paper-based patient files take up a lot of room, can be misplaced, and are difficult to locate information promptly. Electronic records are easier for everyone involved.
Each provider can use a rugged laptop that can withstand constant use and is transported from place to place for each appointment. They are also great for home health visits. Electronic records allow for the most up-to-date information that is instantly saved and accessible to several providers. This makes it easier to coordinate care, upload and locate past test results, and provide the patient with the best care. Some practices also have patient portals where the patient can log in to the system to access their records safely as they are needed.
Telehealth
Another great improvement in healthcare is the implementation of telehealth. Patients no longer must find a way to visit a practitioner in the office. Video calls allow an appointment to be conducted right in the patient’s home. While additional testing or a follow-up may be required, telehealth has made healthcare more accessible to several people who have difficulty leaving their homes. Some may have even opted to not seek medical attention due to the inability to attend an appointment. Telehealth has bridged this gap in care.
Patient Focus
The switch to a more patient-centered focus has been gradually taking place. Healthcare providers are making more of an effort to involve each patient in their care by offering better ways to communicate. Email and social media can now be used to find information and ask questions. Online appointment requests are excellent for busy patients who are unable to make phone calls during regular office hours. These are just a few of the ways that more emphasis is being placed on providing greater accessibility and faster access to necessary services.
Total Body Wellness
In recent years, more attention has been placed on treating a patient as a whole person, and not just focusing on each symptom separately. Total body health and wellness concentrates on the body and mind and how they affect one another.
More doctors and patients alike are starting to recognize that everything is connected. A symptom of a mental health disorder may be caused by a physical imbalance in the body. Working together to address all the patient’s symptoms as a whole and discover the root of the problem is a fantastic way to treat the cause and promote healing. Some providers have started to offer or suggest complementary therapies like meditation, reiki, acupuncture, and more. These modalities work side-by-side with medications to enhance positive results.
Care Coordination
Patients that require care from several different sources benefit from careful coordination of care. Providers have started to find ways to share medical records and communicate with one another so that the patient’s full treatment plan can be worked on together. Coordination of care is essential to ensure that all offered treatments and therapies can be done at once, without contraindications. Provider involvement also helps the patient connect with services they may have a difficult time identifying or locating on their own.
Healthcare continues to evolve as new technologies become available and better care practices are discovered. This is good news for patients, who can expect skilled and compassionate care that is designed to meet every individual’s needs so they can live a full and healthy life.
