Radiology
In this discipline, physicians use CT scans, ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and fluoroscopy to aid procedures by improving precision in such processes as insertion of catheters, wires and other tools in the body. Using these technologies, modern-day medicine can treat patients with much smaller incisions, hence reducing bleeding (Barrett & Swindell, 2018). The technologies make detecting and treating conditions in any part of the body much more manageable without requiring open surgery. Through interventional radiology, cancers and tumours are treated in integration with other medical specialists. Fibroids are also treated through radiology, and blockages in arteries and veins are removed using this technology. Besides, back pains, kidney problems, and liver problems are treatable by using these technologies. Procedures in radiology are quick, effective, and less demanding (Barrett & Swindell, 2018). They include angiography, cancer treatments, tumour ablation, needle biopsies, breast biopsy, and feeding tube replacement.
Health information technology
With continued technological development, computers equally evolved in the 20th century to significantly excellent levels. The late Steve Jobs played a significant role in the evolution of computers. In 1984, he introduced the first Macintosh computer, which began a new revolution in the computing industry (Levy, 2000). The computer incorporated such technologies as the mouse, a graphical user interface in the form of an operating system that had windows and icons to facilitate human interaction with the computer. Steve Jobs perfected the mouse for computer use, making it more efficient to utilize the technology (Levy, 2000). Information technology was introduced into healthcare through the implementation of electronic health records.
Electronic Health Records
Various research indicated that lack of proper medical records was a leading cause of otherwise preventable deaths. As a result, stakeholders worked hard in developing records systems that could help reduce unnecessary risks that patients are exposed to due to poorly maintained or unavailable medical records (Hoerbst & Ammenwerth, 2016). This evolution has come a long way and is still improving with technological improvements within the computing arena.
Medical records were introduced in the 1920s to document patient care’s details, complications and outcomes (Hoerbst & Ammenwerth, 2016). Paper records were utilized in documenting healthcare services until the 1970s, when computers began to creep into health information management (Hoerbst & Ammenwerth, 2016). Dr. Lawrence Weed created the first medical record that was problem-oriented. The system was used in organizing the information and made all historical records of patients available to clinicians. By 1965, electronic medical records were being utilized in 73 hospitals (Hoerbst & Ammenwerth, 2016). The University of Utah and the Latter-day Saints Hospital collaborated in designing a clinical support system through logical processing. Later, Massachusetts General Hospital collaborated with Harvard University to develop computerized ambulatory records. The federal government began investing in electronic health records with the development of the Veteran Information System and Technology Architecture (Hoerbst & Ammenwerth, 2016).
After the introduction of the original Macintosh by Steve Jobs, personal computers became widespread in medical offices in the late 1980s (Levy, 2000). at the time, computers were used mainly for patient billing services (Blumenthal, 2019). It was discovered that computerized registration made check-in processes much more manageable, more efficient, and practical. 1n 1991, the Institute of Medicine published the results of a study conducted on electronic medical records (Blumenthal, 2019). The results showed that despite its effectiveness, electronic medical record systems had challenges in security, data privacy, lack of standards and high investment cost. However, Steve Jobs stated that the most significant technological innovation of the 21st century would involve the integration and intersection of biology and technology.
In 2004, the Whitehouse made clear its plan to provide most Americans access to electronic health records (Blumenthal, 2019). 2009 President Obama signed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act in to adopt electronic health records in five years (Blumenthal, 2019). The primary goals to be achieved by implementing electronic health records were the ability of software applications to interact effectively with users, systems to communicate with each other, information to be processed and managed effectively, and the integration of consumer devices. However, by 2014, systems could still not widely share information (Blumenthal, 2019).
Challenges in health information technology
The development of health information technology has experienced many challenges that have reduced the pace at which the discipline grows. These challenges have significantly encouraged governments, non-governmental organizations, individual stakeholders, medical practitioners, and computing professionals to work together to develop efficient, effective, and reliable systems (Chaudhry et al., 2018). The common challenges include the cost of creating infrastructure, lack of standards, patient privacy and data security issues, and the pace of IT.
Cost is a significant challenge in developing health information systems. The systems are tedious and time-consuming to design and develop. Besides, they require the integration of different technologies and technologists. And are time-consuming. As a result, the cost of producing them is high. In 2018, it was estimated that healthcare organizations would spend $ 1.5 trillion on health information technology (Chaudhry et al., 2018). Following the high cost, small and private organizations might be unable to effectively and adequately implement these technologies. Continued integration of patient data gives different people access to information. Lack of standards, on the other hand, limits control on who, how, and why they access patient data and how they use it. With continued development in the sector, there is a continuous need to enhance the security and privacy of patient data.
The pace of IT is equally a challenge in healthcare. The IT sector is actively and rapidly evolving. As the health sector strives to incorporate technology into its operations, it might be challenging to keep up with the pace at which IT is evolving. A healthcare organization may invest millions in a new technology, but a new innovation renders the investment outdated and obsolete within a short period. Moreover, continued use of the old technology might be hampered by incompatibility with innovations and a wide range of security issues.
Trends in Health Information technology
Technology has revolutionized the health industry, and modern-day healthcare is far better than a decade ago. Through integrating artificial intelligence, internet connectivity, cloud computing, data mining, big data, and the Internet of Things, healthcare systems have reached state-of-the-art standards with much flexibility, precision, and effectiveness (Chaudhry et al., 2018). The common trends include automated healthcare and remote monitoring, telehealth and distance care, connected emergency response, and intelligent hospital management.
Automated healthcare and remote monitoring
Technology has made it possible for physicians and clinicians to remotely monitor the health of their patients. Improvement of biosensors to small wearable gadgets that can be connected to the internet and share data helped in tracking the spread of COVID-19 in the recent past. Many people across the globe are using smartwatches and fitness trackers. These devices have proved to be instrumental in tracking such components as heart rate, blood oxygen level, and blood pressure, among other vital signs in the body (Chaudhry et al., 2018). These devices are connected to handsets and the internet and can adequately store data and even send it to physicians who keep track of their patients’ health conditions.
Besides, intelligent beds keep track of the patient’s movement and notify nurses whenever there is a need for their intervention, especially if the patient leaves the bed. Connected inhalers, on the other hand, keep track of the patient’s progress and intake of the drug and can remind the patient to take the drug immediately when the time is right. These advancements rely on the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, making it easier for more patients to stay healthy.
Telehealth and distance care
During the COVID pandemic, movements were restricted, and patients could not readily access health services or visit clinicians. As a result, there was a need for patients and physicians to find a way through which physicians could examine their patients, diagnose them, treat them and even perform routine checkups. The result of the urgent need was telehealth. The advancement involves patients seeking medical services remotely through teleconferencing (Bitar & Alismail, 2021). Medical portal technology played a significant role in making the process a success. A patient can book an appointment with a doctor online on a specific date and time through the portal. At the maturity of such an appointment, the patient connects with the doctor through video conference and standard services of diagnosis and prescription are conducted.
Besides, medical portals store patients’ medical records and history. On booking an appointment, the doctor can review the patient’s medical history and have the information beforehand during diagnosis and treatment. This advancement has proved to be effective even after the pandemic. It is faster and less costly since patients do not have to travel far to visit a doctor unless necessary. It also reduces hospital congestion, allowing them to serve emergency cases more comfortably (Bitar & Alismail, 2021). Moreover, an online appointment is much more effective because it is scheduled when the patient and the doctor are available. However, it is less effective in emergencies, and patients might still need to visit a healthcare organization.
Connected emergency response
Connectivity can be effective in improving emergency response. Patient’s medical history can be made available to and shared among ambulances, first responders, physicians and emergency departments to make it easier for physicians to effectively handle patients. This technology has developed from having emergency information on mobile phones where a patient can save such information as blood type, allergies, drugs, chronic illnesses and other disorders and even emergency contacts (Gossink & Souquet, 2021). In an emergency, first responders can access the information from the patient’s mobile phone and share it with other interveners.
Connected emergency response is effective in fast communications where doctors can be video-called from inside ambulances, and medical histories can be obtained quickly (Gossink & Souquet, 2021). In such a case, hospital admittance can be quicker since preparation for admittance to the hospital is done long before the patient arrives. On arrival, the appropriate measures are established, and the patient is treated within a short period since the doctors will have the patient’s record on such vital signs as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and medical history. Emergency response could be made quicker and more effective.
Smart hospital management
Intelligent hospital management involves connecting digital devices to a standard system to share information and resources effectively and efficiently. Such a system may keep a record of bed occupancy at all times. Therefore, emergency cases can easily be referred to institutions where the required services and resources are available well in advance. Besides, the condition of resources and equipment can be monitored at all times to increase efficiency (Gossink & Souquet, 2021). This means that maintenance can be done in time, and all systems will be kept running without interruptions. Such interventions as automated generators and uninterrupted power supply also play a vital role in ensuring that power outages do not interrupt services.
Intelligent hospital management could also help track materials usage and supply with warnings on the depletion of materials and reminders when resupply is needed. Therefore, hospitals can adequately keep track of their materials and supplies and know when to place orders. Incorporating data analytics and data mining could also help determine the materials most needed and their quantities by studying trends in usage and depletion (Gossink & Souquet, 2021). These technologies make decision-making much faster, easier, and more accurate while wastages are significantly reduced.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence integrates data from different sources to develop intelligence on a patient’s health and the condition and progress of healthcare organizations. This technology can be used to predict possible more significant complications among patients (Yu, 2018). AI uses machine learning to integrate medical data and create new knowledge and insight. Implementation of the technology may be crucial in improving health outcomes and patient experience. Artificial intelligence provides faster data analysis and decision-making (Yu, 2018). Besides, expert systems can be developed through AI to enhance proactive healthcare, predictions, diagnosis, and more accurate healthcare services (Yu, 2018). The advancements make AI a game changer in the healthcare industry.
Conclusion
Technology has evolved significantly over the last century with much influence on healthcare. Incorporating technology in healthcare has made diagnosing and treating various health conditions and disorders easier. Such disciplines as radiology and nano-science have contributed much to the invention of drugs and vaccines, diagnosis of infections, as analysis of various health conditions. Steve Jobs predicted that the innovation of the 21st century would be at the intersection of biology and technology, which turns out to be continuously being fulfilled. With the invention of the first Macintosh, a more user-friendly computer, the concept of electronic health records started spreading wildly.
The 21st century has seen continued health records and information technology development. Governments have invested in health information technology, and the results are evident. Current trends in health information technology include automated healthcare and remote monitoring, telehealth and distance care, connected emergency response, intelligent hospital management, and artificial intelligence incorporating the Internet of Things. These trends make it practical for healthcare providers to monitor and keep track of their patient’s health progress as they provide healthcare services (Gossink & Souquet, 2021). Effective hospital management and emergency response save lives and bring about customer satisfaction. However, the challenges in health technology cannot be underscored. The significant challenges are that the systems are costly to acquire and maintain and pose risks in patients’ privacy and data security.
References
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Yu, K. H., Beam, A. L., & Kohane, I. S. (2018). Artificial intelligence in healthcare. Nature biomedical engineering, 2(10), 719-731.
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