Healthcare has the greater responsibility of saving lives and improving the quality of care for the patients. Naturally, the integration of technology in this sector happened quickly and gained momentum. The driving force behind the innovation and technology in healthcare is a result of the increase in life expectancy. Therefore, tapping into the potential of medical technology has become more crucial than ever. Time is valuable in healthcare, and a little delay can cost lives. Hence, medical technology is used to treat patients in a timely manner. Now that we know how important medical technology is, why not explore its definition, examples, and application further?
What is medical technology?
The collection of technologies used to prevent, diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases represent medical technology. It aims at improving the health and well-being of patients. The equipment, devices, and tools are used to improve the accuracy, which further helps create better treatment plans for the patients. The problem with the traditional system was that it wasn’t that patient-friendly. Medical technology has an upper hand when it comes to this. The treatment with medical technology is less invasive and time-efficient. That way, the patient not only gets quality care but the process is made comfortable for them.
Examples of medical technology
We went over the definition of medical technology, hence it’s time we look at its notable examples.
Robotic surgery
During surgery, surgeons have to take a lot of care to avoid damaging surrounding nerves and organs. That’s why robots are used for precisely controlling surgical instruments. A robot provides more control and offers flexibility. In the future, more robots will be used to assist surgeons and enhance their work. In fact, robotics surgery comes with quite a lot of perks. For example, it reduces the risk of infection and blood loss. Additionally, it is comparatively less painful for the patients.
3-D Printing
3-D printing is used in healthcare to develop prosthetics. Along with this, it creates replicas of bones and organs specific to the patients. That way, the patients get customized treatment, keeping their worry about devices not fitting their anatomy at bay. The other benefit of 3-D printing is that it saves time. The lead time is reduced, and that’s exactly what we need in critical situations. To sum up, 3D printing improves efficiency and comfort while reducing costs.
Bio-printing
In the health care industry, bio-printing is used to create artificial organs using biomaterials. This way, personalized treatment is provided to the patients. The cell is taken from the patient and then cultivated to create bio-ink. This bio-ink is then used to build structures like blood vessels or skin tissues using 3D printers. Eventually, we can create printed organs for patients who need transplants. Additionally, bio-printing is used in drug development, increasing the success rate of clinical trials.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is used for various purposes in health care, including providing medical training and treating patients. For the training purpose, the VR is used to access and view details that are otherwise hard to grasp. It gives a 360° view, covering the minute details of the body part. Surgical procedures can be a nightmare for patients. In such cases, they are offered the option of VR to reduce their feeling of anxiety. The calming view is presented through VR, helping them relax before, during, and after surgery. It is becoming increasingly popular in distracting patients from painful stimuli.
Wearable devices
Wearable devices are widely used to collect real-time data and measure the well-being of a person round the clock. They measure blood pressure, breathing rate, blood oxygen, temperature, and many other factors. This helps in managing health conditions and taking corrective measures as and when required. Such a device allows patients to become active participants, helping them live healthy lives. Apart from this, health care professionals can connect to patients through the software on wearable gadgets, saving time and providing prompt treatment.
Application of medical technology
Now that we have covered some examples of medical technology, it’s nigh time we check its application.
Early diagnosis of health problems
Medical technology shows great promise for diagnosing health problems early. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data are used for early detection and the creation of tailor-made treatment plans. Analyzing huge data sets gives insights that help to develop a healthy lifestyle. Data is collected through wearable devices and interpreted through software to apply personalized treatment. Consequently, it boosts the overall care and quality of life of the patients.
Improves care coordination
The connectivity and communication are enhanced with the introduction of medical technology. That way, the right information is made available to make better care decisions. It provides healthcare professionals with tools to monitor patients proactively, involving them more to provide patient-centered care. In short, MedTech makes information available at one location, making follow-up care feasible.
Facilitates timely intervention
Take any medical condition, and you will observe that timely intervention improves the success rate of recovery. Ergo, medical technology is widely used to reduce mortality and morbidity. Telehealth promotes accessing healthcare information remotely. This further helps manage patients’ health better. Alongside this, medical technology assists healthcare professionals in understanding the relationship of punctual intervention to the patient’s survival and quality of life.
Improves health outcomes
Medical technology not only raises efficiency and quality but also reduces costs. As mentioned, medical technology can make all relevant information available at one location. Therefore, various health care personnel involved in the process can access it and provide accurate care. Not only this, it eliminates the need to conduct checkups frequently, as the patient’s information is securely stored and retrieved when required. Plus, it reduces miscommunication and errors significantly.
The other benefit of making information accessible is that clinicians have adequate knowledge to assist their patients. This significantly reduces the possibility of medication errors. Patients need to proactively participate in their treatment plans, too. Thanks to medical technology, they have the understanding and tools to do so. It helps them improve their health outcomes and enhance their quality of life.