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You have likely heard all about medical technologies revolutionizing healthcare but you may not have considered how much they could benefit your practice. Instead, these improvements only apply to bigger organizations and hospitals. However, technological advancements in medicine and healthcare can benefit every level of the healthcare pyramid.
It doesn’t matter if you run a small or medium-sized practice. There are various tech solutions available to help improve patient care and service. Eager to learn more? Here are some examples you can consider.
Robot Surgery
Although robotic surgery might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, advancements have brought medical care closer to the future. Some larger hospitals with substantial budgets may be able to introduce literal robots operating with a precision that humans could only dream of.
However, most robotic surgeries, especially for smaller clinics, specialize in the minimally invasive approach that reduces patient stress and recovery time to minimize disruption in their lives while still ensuring they can overcome whatever issues trouble them. Although robot surgery is not the norm yet, it could be something every hospital can offer in the future.
Picture archiving and communication systems
PACS software, such as pacs for radiology, can help to improve your healthcare practices in many ways. This is because this innovative software can be used to speed up the process of gathering accurate results from tests so that radiologists and other healthcare professionals can diagnose (and begin to treat) patients as quickly as possible. It also takes a considerable amount of work off their shoulders, which will never go amis in a healthcare setting. After all, this can help to prevent workplace burnout and exhaustion while also ensuring that they have more time in their schedule to dedicate to patient care and concerns.
Wearables
Wearables have quickly become a common part of your everyday life. Most of the time, people are talking about smartwatches when they refer to wearable tech, but this technology can also benefit patients experiencing various medical issues or conditions.
These products can track your heart rate, measure stress levels, and monitor your sleep quality, which doctors can use to determine your current condition and overall health. There are various levels of wearables, ranging from expensive, in-depth products like your Fitbit or Garmin to much more affordable options with basic technology used to measure your heart rate.
Patient and Client Platforms
Online platforms are an excellent way for patients and clients to view everything they need to see regarding their health details, insurance, waiting times, and more. One of the most impressive uses of this technology is an NDIS platform that benefits those with disabilities to empower them and make it easier to live their lives.
This is not the only example, though. Modern practices can use in-house platforms or subscribe to similar setups to help patients create profiles and remain up-to-date on everything they need to know. They can also use it to communicate with their healthcare professionals.
Enhanced Medication Development
Typically, developing drugs and medication takes a long time. It is a careful process with many trials involved to ensure the product is not just effective, but also safe for human consumption. While the process is still lengthy, the development of the COVID-19 vaccine highlighted a speedier approach without cutting corners. Modern technology has made developing medication more efficient while still ensuring the same level of quality to ensure safe and effective medicine that helps people manage illnesses or conditions.
Automated Appointments
If you’ve tried to book a doctor’s appointment over the past few years, you know how frustrating it is. Many practices are overbooked or cannot take on new patients. This issue can impact people’s health and well-being, especially in severe and urgent cases.
One solution is hiring more healthcare professionals and incentivizing them to remain in the industry, but automated appointment booking can also benefit your practice. You can provide an immediate time and date for the patient, so check out comparisons of the best products to choose from.
Telehealth Services
The pandemic introduced several solutions that have helped doctors attend to their patients and even offer treatment options without needing to be physically present. One example of this is telehealth services, which enable you to reach patients who are unable to attend your office.
While some people believe this is no substitute for in-person appointments, it is an ideal solution for those experiencing mild symptoms or mobility issues. Instead of clogging up the waiting room or putting themselves through discomfort, they can get updates on their health and discuss the next steps from the comfort of their homes.
Reporting Tools
Using reporting tools to measure data and maximize the effectiveness of analytics has become an essential feature for many practices. This improvement has enabled them to improve efficiency and understand why something has yet to progress correctly rather than simply seeing that something has gone wrong.
From here, practices can improve their approach and enhance the patient experience by focusing on the most common problem areas that have been highlighted because of data/
Personalized Portals
Specialized patient portals, similar to platforms, can benefit patients and prevent stress as it gives them more control over their appointments. It enables them to change their appointment date or booking in case something comes up while also checking on the progress of their orders if they have purchased medication.
This approach benefits the younger generation of patients since they are more familiar with technology and are comfortable using it. For senior patients who may not be as comfortable or prefer the old way, you can offer workshops that teach them how to use the portal to ensure they also get the benefits.
3D Printing
Ideas surrounding 3D printing for the medical industry are nothing new. However modern technology has made these improvements more accessible for the average patient. The most obvious benefit is with prosthetics, especially when you consider how expensive a standard prosthetic can be. If insurance doesn’t wholly cover this treatment, it could put your patients in financial jeopardy.
Utilizing 3D printing can alleviate many of the financial concerns they may have and offers a more convenient way to provide vital accessories and equipment to help your patients recover and live normal lives.
AI
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have been a huge topic over the past year with the likes of ChatGPT and similar AI services. It can also help improve your practice and enhance patient treatment. The most common way to do this is by using AI to tailor treatment plans for the individual patient. Furthermore, artificial intelligence can identify common trends in specific conditions, such as cancer, that human medical professionals may not identify as rapidly. This approach can reduce the time it takes to diagnose issues and means you can catch potentially life-threatening problems in time.
VR and AR
Likewise, virtual reality and augmented reality can provide comfort when discussing conditions and surgery with patients. You can use this technology to walk them through the surgery process and even simplify things to make them more comfortable and confident regarding their treatment.
The same technology can also benefit doctors who can use VR to put themselves in the patient’s shoes, which improves compassion and understanding. It will also benefit their training. Doctors can run a mock surgery using VR to prepare adequately for surgeries and avoid potential problems in the operating room.
Recycling Equipment
While many technological improvements benefit the patient, you can also make the most of new tech to dispose of old or broken equipment. Medical waste can be challenging to get rid of due to biowaste issues, while expensive but worn-down machinery can be impossible to dispose of correctly. Improvements in the recycling process will find better ways to break down machinery and reuse parts that still have some life in them, reducing waste and creating a more sustainable industry.
Moving Forward
Like any other business, healthcare must progress to make the most of available technology and provide the best service. While you don’t need to introduce all of these advancements (and your budget may not allow for that anyway), you can still consider some improvements here and there to set the tone for your practice’s future.
