Technology In Healthcare
Every year, new developments in health technology are unveiled. Physicians boast on their web sites that they’ve the most recent equipment and technology, and patients flock to hospitals and clinics that promise the most recent advances in technology. New is frequently equated with better in American society, especially with regards to healthcare, and also with regards to technology. These advances in medical technology are frequently very useful because they can save patient lives, save time, or conserve money.
Nevertheless, physicians and healthcare administrators must take care to use the technology ethically to avoid harming patients instead of helping them. Health Records – Probably the simplest application for healthcare technology is the advent of electronic records. Electronic records are frequently heralded as a large benefit to busy hospitals and clinics because they help office workers and physicians alike keep track of patients in an efficient manner. For instance, instead of having to order copies of a patients medical records, a professional can pull up their entire medical history on their computer. This saves time and money since the doctor knows which tests the patient has undergone and may proceed accordingly as opposed to wait around for the records or redo them.
When records are kept on-line or in a database, there’s always the possibility of an info leak that may lead to a devastating invasion of privacy. Lastly, the question of ownership has emerged. Patient advocacy groups argue that the patients own their very own health records, but a lot of hospitals argue that because the data is contained on their record systems, they own the data. Many healthcare providers charge patients to request copies of the data be transmitted to another clinic or hospital. Equipment – There’s without doubt that advances in medical technology saves lives. Health Care technology makes diagnosis and treating conditions faster, more accurate, and much more comfortable for the patient.
Nevertheless, critics also question some of the uses of this technology. For instance, tests using new technology are sometimes less affordable as opposed to less, and several physicians order these expensive tests without considering the impact the cost may have on the patient and the insurer. This could actually drive up the cost of healthcare, as does the purchase of the latest equipment. These costs get passed along to the patient and also to the taxpayer in case of patients on Medicaid and Medicare. For instance, patients who exhibit signs of certain conditions, like AIDS, must undergo obligatory tests to help manage their symptoms.
Nevertheless, in a lot of cases, these tests aren’t necessarily to the patients benefit. Since newer tests are usually less affordable, they can drive up the cost of healthcare. The Verdict – it’d be short sighted and inaccurate by stating that new advances in medical technology don’t help patients, the technology, when used judiciously, nearly always help the patient.
