Healthcare has changed a lot in the past 20 years. People now live on average at least ten years longer than they did in 1989, and medical advances have brought many breakthroughs and improvements in patient care. One of the main and most significant changes to healthcare over the past years have been the expansion in technology.
Advancements in technology, especially in computers, have caused a major impact on today’s healthcare. “More specifically, profound effect on modern day medicine.” [instruct.lanagara.ba.ca 1.] [1] It has changed almost every aspect of the medical field, from the instruments used to the medicines prescribed to the operations preformed. “New technologies allow healthcare professionals to save people they never could have saved before.”[collegeview.com 1.] [2]
“The 20th-century has brought with it much advancement in medicine.” [utep.edu 1.] [3]Below is a list of the then most important advancements, none of which would have been possible without improvements in technology.
The Ten Most Important Discoveries of the Century
1 Antibiotics (Penicillin)
2 Anesthesia
3 Polio Vaccine
4 Birth Control Pill
5 Open Heart Surgery
6 Organ Transplant
7 Medical Imagery (x-rays, MRI, CAT scans)
8 Anti-inflammatory (Aspirin)
9 Ambulance Services
10 Genetic Based Research
[4]
Almost every instrument in the medical field has become computerized. Everything from thermometers to CAT scans is either a type of computer itself or is monitored by a computer. They calculate and factor all the data leaving rarely any information to be determined. Thus, allowing for more efficient results because it reduces the risk of human error. Plus, since other healthcare professionals are busy caring for the patients new jobs are created to operate the computerized instruments. “Carefully designed instruments have given researchers the opportunity to better understand biological
Bibliography: Advancements in Medicine.[On-line]. Available:http://www2.utep.edu Medicine and Health.[On-line]. Available: http://www.collegeview.com Technological Advancements in Medicine.[On-line]. Available: http://www.instruct.langara.bc.ca Wilmore, Jack H. and David L. Costill. “Physiology of Sports and Exercise.” 2nd ed. 1999.