The Latest and Most Innovative Healthcare Technology Available In 2021
There’s no question that healthcare technology is changing quickly. Part of this sudden and significant change is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Getting to know some of the changes and innovations that are occurring is the best way to know what to expect.Keep reading to learn about some of the latest tech to help with everything from patient care and satisfaction to improving enterprise sales.
A Healthcare Experience That Is Patient-Driven
More healthcare facilities and hospitals are dealing with high-risk patients. They are also working to deliver long-distance and remote care for cases that are not acute. Because of this, it is necessary for patients to step up and take a much more active role in their health.
Something that helps ensure this self-care is personal technology that is being used to address the shortfalls found in the delivery of home healthcare services. Organizations are starting to support this movement by optimizing and expanding the telehealth programs they offer and setting up various digital portals that provide messaging services and self-service functions.
New efforts are being taken to help reduce the prevalence of read missions to hospitals, which has recently taken higher importance. This is being done by expanding the use of wearable health devices and monitoring programs for remote patients. With this technology, healthcare providers can care for patients without being near them or even in the same building.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
While AI is promising, it is still in its early days. While this is true, it does hold promise as a type of healthcare technology for patients. It is predicted that AI will (or currently is) being used to reduce staffing challenges, determine symptom severity, notify a nurse if someone’s parameters are off, and help homecare service providers remain informed about a patient’s ongoing health and needs.
Cleaning and Design Technologies For Hospitals
Keeping hospitals and other healthcare facilities clean and sanitary is more important today than ever before. Because of this, healthcare providers are looking for different tools that will let them tackle the important process of deep cleaning and enforce good hygiene among staff and patients. Some hospitals have also begun to change layouts and the entire check-in process to reduce any clustering and identify contagious visitors before they come into a building.
Some of the deployments being used include robots that provide UV light for decontamination and the use of RFID technology, which helps staff track how often and how long staff is washing their hands. Some hospitals are even using thermal cameras in entryways to detect anyone with an elevated body temperature.
It’s also predicted there will be additional changes in design to buildings. There are several changes you can expect to see. These include convertible spaces that will provide an area for an increase in critical patients, along with plastic or glass walls, which will allow healthcare providers to see patients in isolation.
Blockchain
You have likely heard about Bitcoin and how it has grown in value. While blockchain may seem unrelated to the healthcare industry, this is not entirely true. This technology aims to create a decentralized record system through blockchain that is independent of EMRs that control the data. Unfortunately, this is something that cannot happen until the EMRs open up the data silos in place.
The Changing Face Of Healthcare Technology
In the healthcare industry, things are always changing and developing. Because of this, it is important to stay aware of what is going on. When you know about the available new technology, you can take advantage of what it offers.
Conclusion
Be sure to keep the information above in mind. This gives you a brief overview of what is going on in the healthcare industry and what technology can do to help improve patient care, and more. Being informed and aware of the technology options available is the best way to know what to expect in the future.
