HCS 533: Future Trends In Health Care
Future Trends in Health Care HCS/533 2014 Future Trends in Health Care
Introduction
Health care providers depend on technology more now than in the past. Health care facilities are changing to electronic medical records, participating in videoconferencing to exchange health information, utilizing remote health care services remotely as in telemedicine (Health Care Business Technology, 2014). The use of mobile technologies like smartphones and tablets are beneficial to the patient and health care provider. The use of the internet is also useful to health care providers and the patient. The application of health care technology can help improve the quality of life for the patient by improving access to health care in rural communities. …show more content…
This paper will take a look at the future trends in health care. An assessment of how the internet, or other electronic communications devices may be used as an external delivery source in communication patient-specific information. The impact of distance delivery on health care will be addressed. The paper will present the use of e-mail, telemedicine, and the electronic transfer of records. Lastly, the sharing of the impact of these issues on health care today and how health care may be impacted five years from now.
Future Trends in Health Care Technology
The future trends in health care technology depends on one’s imagination. The technology is growing and frequently changing. Looking at the past one can see vast changes. The future of health care technology can be seen in the advanced use of robotics. The use of robots in the operating rooms, pharmacies to sort and deliver medications throughout the hospital. Improvement of Robotic limbs for amputee patients. The use of 3-D printing in the medical profession “where "bio-ink" is now being used to create human tissue from scratch” (Lepton, 2014). One can quickly realize the usefulness of this device, yet controversy will ensue. Patients will have better home monitoring of blood sugars, oxygen saturations and blood pressures. The ability to download to a database to one’s personal medical records. The future in health care technology can see devices that will incorporate the best practices and top technology of current day emerging technological devices. The future can be an exciting time.
Current Trends in Health Care Technology
Advancements in health care technology are moving rapidly in a fast-paced society with no chance of this technological world slowing down.
The goal for the technology is to enhance patient outcomes, increase patient’s quality of care and improve patient safety. The computer has become a tool for documentation in patients’ medical records. The ability to care for a patient and acquire only a few pieces of paper is astonishing. The hand written paper medical record is being replaced by an electronic health record (EHR). The rolling storage shelves is replaced by electronic storage or servers. These servers are digital repositories where multiple individuals can access vital information. Patients have access to portions of their medical records and other facilities gaining access to vital patient information to improve patient care. “Most medical records are still stored on paper, which means that they cannot be used to coordinate care, routinely measure quality, or reduce medical errors”(Health care Business Technology, 2014). The comprehensive adoption of the EMR will lead to health care savings, a reduction in medical errors, and improvement in health. Sadly, the United States have been slow to adopt the EMR and trails behind other …show more content…
countries.
Another trend in health care is the use of effective radiological imaging. The use of GE Health Centricity used with the PAC system. The goal of the future is for the PAC system to interface directly with the EMR (Jacobs, 2011). The application of digital radiology storage and rapid transferring of data allow the facilities to use teleradiology. The teleradiology companies use licensed radiologist from anywhere in the world to read medical imaging tests. This service allows for coverage in rural hospitals and communities that have limited resources. The health care facilities using teleradiology must comply with state, government and federal regulations. In the state of West Virginia, the radiologist are required to be credentialed for the facility.
Telemedicine uses medical information that is exchanged from one site to another. The communication takes place in the form of electronic media. The goal is to “improve a patient’s clinical health status,” (American Telemedicine Association, 2012). Telemedicine incorporates services like videoconferencing or telecommunication, emails, using smart phones and any other source of telecommunication equipment. The use of telemedicine is rapidly growing and is not exclusive to rural health care facilities and are being combined with home health, private physician offices, emergency departments and behavior health.
Internet usage with computers, smart phones, and tablets have been used by both the public and health care practitioners. The public uses the information for self-care such as reviewing side effects of medications, and information related to diagnosis. A deterrent for health care providers can be the patients self-diagnosing. Health care providers use the internet for many health care related practices. Unsure of a specific medication dosage, or potential side effects. Health care calculations can be accessed as well as putting symptoms with a diagnosis. Email can be used as a means of communication between the patient and health care professionals especially the primary care physician. Searching for an appointment can be as easy as accessing the website or emailing the office. The downfall with some of the technology for rural communities is the limited availability of internet coverage and families with computers, tablets and smartphones.
The Impact of Distance Delivery The impact of the EMR, Telemedicine, and Teleradiology are areas that are beneficial to rural communities.
The technologies of the EMR allows for easy access by other facilities with the same EMR. Telemedicine and Teleradiology provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. The benefits are noticed especially where resources such as a cardiologist, neurologist, or psychiatrist are limited or absent. A drawback for telemedicine can be the patient may feel uncomfortable with the new technology. Most patients admitted to the rural facility of this individual’s employment are Medicare age. The downside of the many forms of internet access for patients to use at home in rural communities is the lack of the internet access, families do not own computers and they do not know how to access the
information. The cost for facilities to provide EMRs, telemedicine, and teleradiology can be costly. The implementation of the EMR requires the purchase of the product as well as intensive training to all staff. The order-sets and evidence-based research reporting criteria will need to be built. Telemedicine requires the purchase of videoconferencing equipment that is private. Staff will need to have training to operate the videoconferencing. Telemedicine can save time when time is a crucial factor. The physicians examining the patient from a remote area will need to be licensed in the state of West Virginia as well as credentialed at the facility. Licensure and credentialing are critical for the facility where I am employed as four hospitals are in Virginia and two in West Virginia.
Health Care Delivery in Five Years The EMR in the United States continues to remain behind the other countries in being implemented. The Medicare and Medicaid execution of meaningful use will force health care facilities to install an EMR. The affordable care act expects patients to have access to their medical records as well as other health care facilities.
Conclusion
Technology continues to advance, and the health care industry will continue to provide improved services that will increase the quality of care in a fast-paced world. Health care technology come in many forms and requires devices that are small and inexpensive to large and very costly. The use of the EMR, telemedicine, and teleradiology increases the patient’s ability to have continuity of care and access to better health care. Technology can be costly however patient safety is increased. “Health information technology makes it possible for health care providers to manage patient care better through secure use and sharing of health information”(HealthIt.gov, 2014).
.
References
American Telemedicine Association. (2012). What is telemedicine? Retrieved from http://www.americantelemed.org/about-telemedicine/what-is-telemedicine#u-g6nE0g-EU
Health Care Business Technology. (2014). Medical Technology. Retrieved from http://www.healthcarebusinesstech.com/medical-technology/
HealthIT.gov. (2014). The official site for health IT information. Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov
Hillestad, R., Bigelow, J., Bower, A., Girosi, F., Meili, R., Scoville, R., & Taylor, R. (2005). Can electronic medical record systems transform health care? Potential health benefits, savings, and costs. Health Affairs, 24(5), 1103-1117. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.24.5.1103
Jacobs, A. (2011). Efficient & effective use of imaging technology. Retrieved from http://www.healthtectrends.com
Lepton, K. (2014). Future 3D printing. Retrieved from http://www.nebulabot.com/future-3d-printing.htm
Introduction
Health care providers depend on technology more now than in the past. Health care facilities are changing to electronic medical records, participating in videoconferencing to exchange health information, utilizing remote health care services remotely as in telemedicine (Health Care Business Technology, 2014). The use of mobile technologies like smartphones and tablets are beneficial to the patient and health care provider. The use of the internet is also useful to health care providers and the patient. The application of health care technology can help improve the quality of life for the patient by improving access to health care in rural communities. …show more content…
This paper will take a look at the future trends in health care. An assessment of how the internet, or other electronic communications devices may be used as an external delivery source in communication patient-specific information. The impact of distance delivery on health care will be addressed. The paper will present the use of e-mail, telemedicine, and the electronic transfer of records. Lastly, the sharing of the impact of these issues on health care today and how health care may be impacted five years from now.
Future Trends in Health Care Technology
The future trends in health care technology depends on one’s imagination. The technology is growing and frequently changing. Looking at the past one can see vast changes. The future of health care technology can be seen in the advanced use of robotics. The use of robots in the operating rooms, pharmacies to sort and deliver medications throughout the hospital. Improvement of Robotic limbs for amputee patients. The use of 3-D printing in the medical profession “where "bio-ink" is now being used to create human tissue from scratch” (Lepton, 2014). One can quickly realize the usefulness of this device, yet controversy will ensue. Patients will have better home monitoring of blood sugars, oxygen saturations and blood pressures. The ability to download to a database to one’s personal medical records. The future in health care technology can see devices that will incorporate the best practices and top technology of current day emerging technological devices. The future can be an exciting time.
Current Trends in Health Care Technology
Advancements in health care technology are moving rapidly in a fast-paced society with no chance of this technological world slowing down.
The goal for the technology is to enhance patient outcomes, increase patient’s quality of care and improve patient safety. The computer has become a tool for documentation in patients’ medical records. The ability to care for a patient and acquire only a few pieces of paper is astonishing. The hand written paper medical record is being replaced by an electronic health record (EHR). The rolling storage shelves is replaced by electronic storage or servers. These servers are digital repositories where multiple individuals can access vital information. Patients have access to portions of their medical records and other facilities gaining access to vital patient information to improve patient care. “Most medical records are still stored on paper, which means that they cannot be used to coordinate care, routinely measure quality, or reduce medical errors”(Health care Business Technology, 2014). The comprehensive adoption of the EMR will lead to health care savings, a reduction in medical errors, and improvement in health. Sadly, the United States have been slow to adopt the EMR and trails behind other …show more content…
countries.
Another trend in health care is the use of effective radiological imaging. The use of GE Health Centricity used with the PAC system. The goal of the future is for the PAC system to interface directly with the EMR (Jacobs, 2011). The application of digital radiology storage and rapid transferring of data allow the facilities to use teleradiology. The teleradiology companies use licensed radiologist from anywhere in the world to read medical imaging tests. This service allows for coverage in rural hospitals and communities that have limited resources. The health care facilities using teleradiology must comply with state, government and federal regulations. In the state of West Virginia, the radiologist are required to be credentialed for the facility.
Telemedicine uses medical information that is exchanged from one site to another. The communication takes place in the form of electronic media. The goal is to “improve a patient’s clinical health status,” (American Telemedicine Association, 2012). Telemedicine incorporates services like videoconferencing or telecommunication, emails, using smart phones and any other source of telecommunication equipment. The use of telemedicine is rapidly growing and is not exclusive to rural health care facilities and are being combined with home health, private physician offices, emergency departments and behavior health.
Internet usage with computers, smart phones, and tablets have been used by both the public and health care practitioners. The public uses the information for self-care such as reviewing side effects of medications, and information related to diagnosis. A deterrent for health care providers can be the patients self-diagnosing. Health care providers use the internet for many health care related practices. Unsure of a specific medication dosage, or potential side effects. Health care calculations can be accessed as well as putting symptoms with a diagnosis. Email can be used as a means of communication between the patient and health care professionals especially the primary care physician. Searching for an appointment can be as easy as accessing the website or emailing the office. The downfall with some of the technology for rural communities is the limited availability of internet coverage and families with computers, tablets and smartphones.
The Impact of Distance Delivery The impact of the EMR, Telemedicine, and Teleradiology are areas that are beneficial to rural communities.
The technologies of the EMR allows for easy access by other facilities with the same EMR. Telemedicine and Teleradiology provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. The benefits are noticed especially where resources such as a cardiologist, neurologist, or psychiatrist are limited or absent. A drawback for telemedicine can be the patient may feel uncomfortable with the new technology. Most patients admitted to the rural facility of this individual’s employment are Medicare age. The downside of the many forms of internet access for patients to use at home in rural communities is the lack of the internet access, families do not own computers and they do not know how to access the
information. The cost for facilities to provide EMRs, telemedicine, and teleradiology can be costly. The implementation of the EMR requires the purchase of the product as well as intensive training to all staff. The order-sets and evidence-based research reporting criteria will need to be built. Telemedicine requires the purchase of videoconferencing equipment that is private. Staff will need to have training to operate the videoconferencing. Telemedicine can save time when time is a crucial factor. The physicians examining the patient from a remote area will need to be licensed in the state of West Virginia as well as credentialed at the facility. Licensure and credentialing are critical for the facility where I am employed as four hospitals are in Virginia and two in West Virginia.
Health Care Delivery in Five Years The EMR in the United States continues to remain behind the other countries in being implemented. The Medicare and Medicaid execution of meaningful use will force health care facilities to install an EMR. The affordable care act expects patients to have access to their medical records as well as other health care facilities.
Conclusion
Technology continues to advance, and the health care industry will continue to provide improved services that will increase the quality of care in a fast-paced world. Health care technology come in many forms and requires devices that are small and inexpensive to large and very costly. The use of the EMR, telemedicine, and teleradiology increases the patient’s ability to have continuity of care and access to better health care. Technology can be costly however patient safety is increased. “Health information technology makes it possible for health care providers to manage patient care better through secure use and sharing of health information”(HealthIt.gov, 2014).
.
References
American Telemedicine Association. (2012). What is telemedicine? Retrieved from http://www.americantelemed.org/about-telemedicine/what-is-telemedicine#u-g6nE0g-EU
Health Care Business Technology. (2014). Medical Technology. Retrieved from http://www.healthcarebusinesstech.com/medical-technology/
HealthIT.gov. (2014). The official site for health IT information. Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov
Hillestad, R., Bigelow, J., Bower, A., Girosi, F., Meili, R., Scoville, R., & Taylor, R. (2005). Can electronic medical record systems transform health care? Potential health benefits, savings, and costs. Health Affairs, 24(5), 1103-1117. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.24.5.1103
Jacobs, A. (2011). Efficient & effective use of imaging technology. Retrieved from http://www.healthtectrends.com
Lepton, K. (2014). Future 3D printing. Retrieved from http://www.nebulabot.com/future-3d-printing.htm