In the internet’s early days, the public could barely conceive of how dramatically it would change every avenue of human endeavor. Today, all industries use the internet to communicate, record, supply, operate and develop products and services throughout the world. In the medical field, the internet has enabled a multitude of innovations that help to improve patient care, facilitate treatment and help physicians provide the highest level of care. Here are just a few ways the internet has changed the healthcare industry.
Medical Records Can Be Accessed More Easily
Electronic medical records and the exchange of patient files over the internet have made caring for patients more accurate and more effective. It has also reduced costs because it eliminates the need for re-testing for diagnosis, when recent results are available through digitally stored files. Your doctor can receive information on your past and current medical care at the touch of a button. In a highly mobile society, this advancement has helped to assure continuity of care and lower healthcare costs.
Patients Can Be Informed of New Medical Information
The internet also allows medical professionals to communicate with patients on a more frequent basis in a timely and convenient way. They can provide information on new vaccines, medications and treatments that can help improve public health and manage medical conditions more effectively. This information can help to ensure closer contact with physicians and better outcomes for patients. For example, an outbreak of infectious disease in a community can be reported on a wide basis, informing residents of the availability of vaccines, early symptoms and treatments that can help to save lives.
Medical Professionals Can Consult On Difficult Cases
In the past, physicians had to rely on their own knowledge to diagnose and treat illness, or consult with other medical professionals within their own practice or in nearby communities. The internet has facilitated the ability to consult with other physicians worldwide, allowing a broader base of training and experience to be used to help patients with unusual symptoms or conditions. In this way, treatment options are expanded, helping more patients to benefit from a wider sphere of medical knowledge.
Remote Monitoring Allows Efficient Use of Hospital Facilities
The internet also allows medical professionals to monitor patients remotely, so they can stay at home. Air has been a problem for most people lately. Smart smoke detectors can help people notice poor air quality in a very quick manner. They are easily accessible and easy to install. The home environment is regarded as the superior option in most cases, and the internet allows health professionals to stay in close contact with patients to ensure effective care. This option allows frees up beds in hospitals, so that they are available for those who are most critically ill. The technology allows physicians to carefully monitor, blood pressure, heart rate, lung function and other vital signs that are indicative of the patient’s condition.
Physicians Can Learn About New Medications, Devices and Procedures Sooner
Another area where the internet has been invaluable to medical professionals is in informing and educating them on new medications, devices and procedures that have been recently developed to treat patients. Technology can provide them with in-depth data, complex research and 3D imaging that allows them to quickly understand the uses of new products and techniques. In the past, these innovations were often provided by pharmaceutical representatives in periodic visits or at infrequent medical conferences. The internet allows communication of this information in a more immediate form, so it can be quickly processed and utility in their practices.
Internet Allows Expanded Use of Medical Technology for Procedures
The internet has also allowed physicians to assist in surgeries that are at a distance from their current location. Robotic technologies are used to treat patients routinely in many areas of medicine. The internet allows surgeons to perform important surgeries, even when they cannot travel to the patient’s region of the country. This ability has allowed more people to benefit from new medical treatments that would not have otherwise been available to them.
The innovations we have seen in the healthcare field are likely to be only the beginning of the many ways technology and the internet can benefit both physicians and their patients. As new equipment and software becomes available, the public can expect to see changes in how they interact with their healthcare providers and significant improvements in procedures and outcomes.
