10 Emerging Healthcare Technologies
Healthcare means provision of health care services
for the maintenance of physical and mental health. Health IT industry has
changed the way we look at healthcare today. IT has played a major role in
accumulating patient data and making use of it in our daily lives. EHR, and
EMRs are some of the basic healthcare IT technologies being used today. But
what are those emerging technologies that will shape the future.
Let’s look into top 10 technologies that are going
to revolutionize the way we look at healthcare IT today.
1. Live video
consulting: Doctors are able to consult with other providers sitting
virtually anywhere in the world and can discuss the situation of the patient:
details about his/her present condition and treatments, or possibly a surgery
if it is required.
2. The intelligent
pills: A pill has been created by Philips Research to deliver a specific
amount of medication to the patient, for patients who have Crohn’s disease or
other digestive disorders. Think about how it can be used in the future. Maybe
in future, patients’ with diabetes can use this kind of medication for their
Type 1 diabetes.
3. Mobile
EHR: With the popular use of Mobile EHR, you can see your lab test results
or you can even send a text message to your doctor. By using a mere application
in the future you will be able to do a whole lot more. Your Mobile EHR also
allows you to schedule appointment with your doctor. So, this emerging
technology will be the most common thing to be used in the future.
4. Eyeborgs:
Emerging technologies are making cyborgs who will bridge the gap between the
unknown senses and the newly created ones. Take the example of an Artist Neil
Harbisson who is a cyborg. He can hear a symphony of color, and even has the
ability to listen to faces and paintings. Harbisson was born completely color
blind, but these days a device attached to his head turns color into audible
frequencies.
5. Bionic
eye: The technology named as artificial retina will transform the
healthcare industry for the blind. The device is essentially sheet of
electrodes that are implanted in the eye. The patient with his/her specialized
glasses with a camera and video processor attached to it can see when the visual
signals bypass the damaged part of the brain.
6. Smart
lens: What if Glaucoma is detected by a contact lens? Well, it is possible.
Sensimed has made a contact lens with a microchip in it which monitors
intraocular pressure allowing the patient’s glaucomic symptoms to be detected
in a day, just by wearing it.
7. Artificial
Pancreas: Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University have created
artificial pancreas for diabetic patients. The trend will continue and you will
see healthcare IT taking new strides into making the artificial into the new
real.
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