How Technology Helps in Healthcare l Decklaration

Healthcare August 16, 2022

With the development of digital technology in healthcare like AI, VR/AR, 3D printing, robots, and nanotechnology, healthcare’s future is evolving right before our eyes. We must become acquainted with the most recent advancements for us to have the capability to take authority over technology instead of the other way around. Integrating technological solutions into health services is essential if the healthcare industry is to thrive in the future, and professionals in the field must adapt to new healthcare technologies or risk becoming obsolete.

Relationship Between Humans and Technology

With the help of digital technology, healthcare can be improved in many ways, including making inefficient processes more efficient, bringing about a greater relationship between medical experts and patients, and offering less expensive, faster, and more effective treatments for diseases (technological advancements may one day allow us to defeat cancer, AIDS, and Ebola). This, in turn, may result in healthier individuals and societies.

However, as the old proverb goes, one must be the master of his own house; therefore, it’s important to begin “the future” by improving our health using digital technology and altering our perspective on health and medicine.

By 2025, the yearly value created by technology-driven innovation is expected to range from $350 billion to $410 billion, thanks to better patient understanding and more convenient, personalized treatment implementation.
80% of healthcare facilities reportedly intend or have already implemented artificial intelligence applications.

The healthcare business has been drastically altered by technological advancements, some of which are described below.

1. Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence can revolutionize the medical field. Algorithms developed by artificial intelligence can mine medical records, devise treatment plans, and develop new medications faster than any human healthcare provider. Many companies are using artificial intelligence to improve healthcare, from medicine design and imaging disruption to record mining.

During 2019-2025, it is anticipated that investment in AI will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.9%, bringing the total amount spent on AI from $463 million in 2019 to $2,452.7 million by 2025.

In light of these figures, think of the possibilities that may be unlocked for humanity if we started using AI right away, leading to breakthroughs like these.

2. VR/AR

Medical professionals and patients are benefiting from the revolutionary advancements in virtual reality (VR). Shortly, patients in hospitals may be able to observe procedures as if they were the ones performing them or even go on virtual vacations to Iceland or their own homes without leaving their hospital beds. The technique has also been shown to be useful in treating pain, another area in which patients benefit. To help ease the discomfort of labor, virtual reality headsets are being given to women.

Future surgeons are being trained with VR, and current surgeons are using it to hone their skills. These kinds of software applications and equipment are developed and made available by firms like FundamentalVR and Augmedics, and they are currently being used with encouraging results.

In two important respects, augmented reality is distinct from virtual reality (VR):

Users do not become disconnected from the real world
Information is presented to users as quickly as is physically possible

Because of these unique qualities, AR has the potential to play a significant role in the future of medicine, benefiting both healthcare providers and patients. Regarding the medical field, it could aid both medical students and practicing surgeons in improving their skills and preparation for actual procedures.

The market for augmented medical reality will grow at a CAGR of 23% between now and 2023.

The healthcare sector of the virtual and augmented reality industry was valued at $2.14 billion in 2018, with a predicted increase to $11.14 billion by 2025.

3. Wearable Medical Devices

The market value of wearable medical devices is projected to increase from $7,859.4 million in 2017 to $27,255.6 million in 2023.

In the past, one annual checkup was considered sufficient for health purposes. When something was wrong, that’s when they would visit their doctor. Nowadays, however, patients are less concerned with fixing problems and more interested in preventing them altogether. They want more regular and more up-to-date reports on their health status. The creation of new products is a direct result of consumer demand. Healthcare providers today are investing in wearable tech that can constantly monitor a patient’s vitals and issue advanced warnings in the event of a serious medical emergency. Included in this category are examples such as:

Fitness monitors
calorie trackers
Heart rate monitors
Oximeters
Sweat meter

The healthcare industry can gain many advantages by investing in these intelligent wearable gadgets. Some fitness trackers add points or badges to your overall score when you reach certain fitness milestones, making it more like playing a game than just keeping track of your exercise. As a result, people are more likely to pay attention to their eating habits and get enough exercise.

The patient is now actively involved in their care due to these technologies. They have a strong motivation to monitor and better their health because of this. Insurance companies can improve their risk assessments of their clients by using data collected from wearable devices.

4. Blockchain Technology

To simplify, a blockchain is a distributed digital ledger of all financial transactions. This database allows hospitals and their contractors to exchange sensitive financial data in a safe online setting. Some may not give Blockchain technology much credit (thinking it won’t have a substantial influence). Yet, it has the potential to play an important role in ensuring the integrity and security of electronic health data and financial transactions.

Reports estimate that by 2023, the healthcare blockchain market will be worth $890.5 million. Because of this, it is not surprising that organizations in the healthcare industry are supporting and participating in this sector.

5. Robotics

From robotic companions and surgical robots to pharma-bots and cleaning robots, robotics in healthcare is a rapidly expanding and intriguing industry. Assisting people with chronic illnesses, the elderly, or those with mental illnesses can all benefit from having a robot friend.

Several models include touch sensors, cameras, and microphones to facilitate communication between robot and owner. For instance, Ikki, developed by an Australian firm, provides vitals monitoring, temperature tracking, and companionship for kids with chronic illnesses by playing music and reading stories.

6. 3D-Printing

For quite some time, there are numerous sectors that have been making use of 3D printing. in healthcare sector, the use of 3D printing has revolutionized healthcare in ways beyond par.

3D printing plays a role in the production of artificial organs and other types of medical implants, which were not thought of before, a few years ago. It is also used extensively in the field of prosthetics, where it is utilized to manufacture artificial limbs that appear and feel very similar to the patient’s real limbs, resulting in increased usability and flexibility of movement for the patient.

Not to forget dental care, the treatments have been not only became convenient, but cheaper. In the field of orthodontics, 3D printing may be used to build digital models of the patient’s teeth. These models are used in the process of determining the kind of misalignment present. In addition, it offers the most effective, dependable, and accurate treatment strategy after diagnosis.

7. Nanotechnology

This new era of nanomedicine is only beginning to emerge. Nanoparticles and nanodevices, in my opinion, will soon be in use as precise medication delivery systems, cancer therapy tools, or miniature surgeons.

More medical applications of nanotechnology are likely as the field develops. In the future, PillCams may even be able to take biopsy samples for additional examination, and remote-controlled capsules may one day make the possibility of nano-surgeons a reality.

As shown by data from medical technology, this technology has been used since 1991 and has continued to advance gradually. The technology has the capacity to transform the healthcare system completely, and experts anticipate it’s worth to reach over $125 billion by 2024.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that technology plays an essential part in the healthcare sector. The advancement of technology has made it possible for medical professionals to be better prepared to handle the in-hospital treatment of their patients as well as the therapy that comes thereafter. The methods have seen significant advancement thanks to the incorporation of contemporary equipment.

How Technology Helps Healthcare