IT Products Health Care Will Be Using in 2022
One industry that has been shaped and transformed by information technology is undoubtedly healthcare. Not only has the healthcare industry been able to improve its operations on almost every level, but it’s also been able to expand its scope and reach to the general population. And the possibilities are virtually limitless. Here are just a few ways that IT will be used by healthcare in 2022.
1. Teaching Tools
Medical and nursing schools of all varieties present a lot of challenges to everyone involved. Students are responsible for learning a plethora of information that will have to be applied practically later on, and teachers are responsible for ensuring that students are prepared for real-world situations. Innovations in Virtual Reality might make it possible for students to be engaged in simulations that can help teach them what they would be unable to learn in the classroom, such as witnessing and assisting in surgeries.
While practical experience is irreplaceable, it can often be difficult to arrange students’ schedules around what’s happening in an operating room, so the VR option provides a lot of flexibility. For the classroom, tools like a remote annunciator are examples of the very simple but effective changes that technology brings. A whole new level of education, and therefore healthcare, is now going to be possible for future healthcare workers.
2. Wearable Indicators
A big obstacle that faces many physicians is the inability to constantly be with patients, tracking their health and monitoring their progress. For patients with chronic conditions, this can be especially concerning. In the past, doctors have had to simply let the patient monitor themselves to the best of their ability, checking in whenever possible. Now, however, wearable technology has made constant health monitoring a possibility for everyone.
Patients wear a device that gives them actionable health information and feedback, allowing patients to constantly have reminders and helpful indicators flooding in. The idea is that these indicators act as a replacement for the typical advice given by in-home healthcare workers, helping patients to build a healthier lifestyle. Accountability can be incredibly helpful for conditions such as diabetes, where the patient is responsible for remembering a lot of information and keeping to a strict schedule.
3. Increased Security
While technology has allowed for a lot of doctor-patient transactions to be performed online, it has also opened up a whole new world of security threats. What the healthcare industry is anxious to protect is the enormous amount of sensitive patient data that is now being stored on devices. Thankfully, many telehealth platforms have stepped up to the challenge by ensuring that video conferencing technology is up to HIPAA standards, such as Skype for Business. This is a good indication that any future platforms, such as healthcare apps, are going to be providing multi-layered cybersecurity on any software. IT is always finding new solutions to problems by having these amazing new tools at your disposal.
4. RPA Bots
RPA (Robotic Process Automation) bots are probably the most futuristic-sounding IT innovation you’ll read about on this list. While the real job description of these bots is a little less exciting, they essentially perform the role of a healthcare worker in implementing actions that have already been outlined. RPA bots can save institutions tons of money by cutting down on costs and freeing up staff time for more specialized tasks.
If you’ve ever booked a doctor’s appointment online, you may have been doing so via RPA technology. On the front, it just looks like your average scheduling system. But, behind the scenes, these bots are gathering information about you that allows them to make the best possible appointment for both sides of the transaction. Patients will receive better care, and doctors will have more time to devote to giving that to them. In the end, improvement of patient outcomes is the desire of the healthcare industry, and information technology is going to be a big part of that.
