Technology has dramatically improved people's lives across the globe, and one of the facets that have been significantly affected is medicine. The impact of technology on medicine is second to none. From the innovation of X-ray machines and even surgical devices, technology has improved human health and increased life expectancies.

As the world evolves, technology will birth more machines to help cure illnesses and improve human life. Family dentist Dr. Lange agrees that integrating technology in medicine will further propel healthcare throughout the globe.

Here are some of the significant ways that technology can help patients understand their health status:

• Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

One significant indication of technology in medicine is the electronic health record system. It is a massive evolution in the medical profession, and it can enable numerous progressions in medical treatment and diagnostics.

Formerly, hospitals used archaic information systems, and it was a daunting task sharing, transferring, or explaining patient records. With the conception of EHRs, it has become easier to connect with other systems and transfer information faster for efficient care.

Health institutions can quickly transfer data within and even with external bodies to provide health solutions for patients without traveling miles. 

• Telemedicine / Telehealth

Telemedicine is the procedure involved in improving healthcare in the aspect of telecommunications. There are various explanations as to why telehealth is gaining more popularity and success. To begin with, patients can now contact doctors and other health providers virtually from rural areas where access to health services and hospitals is lacking.

Another reason telehealth is becoming more prominent is that patients can save themselves the cost of a doctor's consultation and treatment. According to a survey carried out by Alliance for Connected care, telemedicine services can help patients save up to $100 per visit to the doctor.

Another study published in CHEST Journal revealed that patients in the ICU who had access to telehealth stand a 20% chance of being discharged faster and a 26% lower mortality rate.

• Remote Monitoring Systems

If patients have access to monitoring tools at home, they will save money and limit unnecessary visits to the doctor. By the end of 2012, a study revealed that about 3 million patients across the world already had remote monitoring systems that they could use from home.

These remote monitoring systems are great for patients who require constant monitoring, considering that they can send data automatically to remote health centers. Also, patients with chronic illnesses can help health providers monitor them from a distance. 

• Wearable Technology

One of the fastest-growing aspects of technology in medicine is wearable technology. With devices that can obtain data, monitor, and access the health of anyone wearing it, it has become easier for patients to send details of tests to health centers for analysis and treatment.

Also, some of these devices are designed to alert authorities if wearers require immediate attention. Some of the most popular wearable devices, such as watched and wristbands, have helped wearers take immense responsibility for their health. 

• Personal Genomics

Some people have referred to genome sequencing as the future of global healthcare. Personal genomics is the arrangement and analysis of an individual's genome and providing that person with his genomic information.

Sequencing the personal genome is undoubtedly one of the most significant aspects of technology in medicine in the last few decades, considering how helpful it has been to medical professionals.

Conclusion

With the inclusion of technology in medicine, people across the globe can do so much more to improve their health. Whether to manage your weight, monitor your blood level, or be fit overall, there is a device for all these and more. One thing that makes these devices stand out is the ease it offers patients to share their results with their physicians virtually. Also, these devices enable people to take charge of their health and make conscious decisions.

The technological innovations in the medical field have created opportunities for several life-saving techniques to become more popular. A few decades ago, it would have been impossible to believe that you can visit a doctor virtually. Now, with remote monitoring tools, genome analysis, and wearable medical devices, technology is boosting medicine at an unbelievable pace.