Technology has provided medical practitioners innovative tools and new ways to practice medicine, improving the experience between patient and provider. Thanks to the latest innovations, healthcare is now more accessible.
Because the health sector, from doctors to patients to consumers, are already feeling the improved quality of care that technology can contribute, tech companies are eager to continue finding innovative applications of technology in healthcare.
Here is a list of technology that is predicted to revolutionize digital health allowing people to live better lives and healthcare professionals to offer better care:
1. Mobile healthcare applications
Because mobile devices have become commonplace in healthcare settings, we expect the demand for quality medical apps for the smartphone to increase. While the most popular health app today targets to track fitness, more advanced apps are aiming to give patients access to reliable healthcare.
Some hospitals already have their doctors and nurses carry tablets instead of the traditional clipboards to record and share patient data in real-time. This practice is proving to be more efficient as it is less prone to error caused by illegible handwriting and delayed handover of records.
In the future, mobile health apps will allow healthcare practitioners to monitor their patients through real-time monitoring regardless of their location. With healthcare apps already able to monitor mental health, track heart activity and even diagnose an ear infection; the research and development sector for digital health is motivated to create even more innovative mobile health apps.
2. Smart drug delivery systems
Drug delivery via implantable pumps has considerably improved the quality of life for patients who need a steady dose of medication but want to stay active and live their lives. Perhaps the most recognizable and widely used implantable pump is the device used by people with diabetes that automatically inject them with their insulin dosage.
Engineers continue to research and develop smart devices that control drug release whether remotely or on a schedule. This type of technology allows the patient to go about their daily life while still being closely monitored.
3. Digital Therapy platforms
Technological advancements in healthcare aren’t just for machines and devices but also in therapy. With the growing concern for undiagnosed mental illness, this platform would make therapy more accessible or appealing for those who either live in remote places, avoid the embarrassment of being seen at a specialist’s office or whose disabilities restrict them from committing to regular appointments.
Patients will be in the comfort and most importantly, security of their own home allowing them to express their feelings with ease. People who suffer from depression, stress or even a mental health disorder will have access to digital health therapists or counselors via digital therapy. Online counseling therapies will prove to be more accessible, private, and cost-effective.
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