Technology and Healthcare

Healthcare in the United States encompasses a variety of participants ranging from providers, pharmacists, insurance agencies to finally the patients themselves.  Information Technology is rapidly finding its way into the healthcare field and thus improving the quality of care, efficiency, compliancy with both state and federal regulations and information security.

What is Healthcare Technology?

“In general, IT allows health care providers to collect, store, retrieve, and transfer information electronically” (Medpac report 2004). This is supported by information systems that are comprised of hardware, software, telecommunications, data and people. Technology makes it possible for healthcare to be readily and safely accessible by more people. 

 

Figure 1: Technology helping healthcare to reach more people.

Quality of Care

The first thing when most people think about when are ordered a new drug is the potential side effects, adverse reactions and possible interactions with their current medications. With the automation of the healthcare delivery systems such as pharmacies, such problems can be a thing of the past as such systems can catch such potential problems prior to actually dispensing such medications to the patient.

You have also probably heard in the news harmful drugs such Avandia and Vioxx being recalled due to unforeseen side effects and patterns once released into the market. A well-structured IT network will make sure such information gets to the patient’s hands as soon as possible to avoid further exposure. As we all know information is priceless and it can save lives.

Efficiency

With growing populations and a limited number of resources at hospital emergency departments, hospital wait times have grown exponentially. Technology can be used to analyze hospital wait times by use of computer simulation software and using other studies such Queuing Theory. Three dimensional models of the waiting rooms can be developed can be used to predict any changes to the resource allocation, waiting times and so on. Further studies can lead to improved wait times which goes a long way in gaining a competitive advantage over other hospitals, improving the staffing ratio.

Figure 2: A 3D model of a hospital waiting room.

Information Security

Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a federally mandated law that prohibits the sharing of personal medical information to unauthorized people. It is meant to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system by standardizing the interchange of electronic data for specified administrative and financial transactions; and protect the security and confidentiality of electronic health information.

Technology makes it possible for healthcare providers to not only be able to quickly access a patient’s personal medical information but to also make it more secure.   

All in all technology is here to stay, it is either we embrace and optimize our efficiency as in being done in the healthcare field or idly let the opportunity pass us by. I believe the choice is an easy one to make and the benefits of which are immeasurable.