Impact Of Information Technology On The Healthcare Sector (Essay Sample)

Impact of Medical Technology on Healthcare Industry
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IT in the field of health and medicine
With the penetration of Information technology into the healthcare sector, patients and physicians have experienced numerous benefits. IT has provided solutions to multiple problems in the healthcare sector. Information Technology plays a critical role in numerous businesses in the modern society. Hi-tech revolution has improved delivery of services in sectors such as transportation, security, communication, healthcare and banking. The paper focuses on the effects of information technology in the field of healthcare and medicine. Ideally, the technological advancements have revolutionized the way services are delivered in healthcare more than any other sector. For instance, areas that have witnessed changes in the healthcare industry due to information technology includes;
* Electronic medical records
* Bio-medical technology and engineering
Technology advancements have guaranteed efficient and effective delivery of modern healthcare (Bardhan et.al, 2013). Notably, the current trends in healthcare delivery methods have changed at an alarming rate due to technological innovation. Today the healthcare business largely depends on hi-tech information technology.
Importance of IT in the field of health and Medicine
Medical technology has improved the quality of life worldwide. Besides, innovative technology has improved the economy hence improving the quality of life for multiple individuals. For instance, the widespread adoption of healthcare technology played a critical role in the adoption of electronic keeping of health records. Therefore, innovation technology has led to significant savings since it has minimized healthcare costs. Technology improves patient’s safety and health. In numerous healthcare facilities, technology has made it possible for patient files to be kept in databases which can be accessed anywhere in any medical facility (Piscotty et.al,2015). Therefore, employing technology in keeping electronic health records not only saves time but also results in better coordination and management of patient’s data. Similarly, technological innovation has paved way for non-invasive procedures in the medicine and healthcare sector.
Information technology has been the driving force for the revolution in the healthcare industry since it has enabled healthcare providers to provide the best standard of care to their patients. For instance, medical technology has driven the growing sophistication and emergence of the EMR, also known as Electronic Medical Record. EMR allows digital record keeping which can hold individual’s full medical history which helps in forming direct diagnostics as well as therapeutic decisions (Bardhan et.al, 2013). Medicine technology has allowed more accurate and easier diagnostics especially in areas such as nuclear medicine. The advancements have enabled multiple techniques of imaging that allow physicians and technicians to examine anatomy of the patient without necessarily having to utilize invasive procedures to make diagnosis. Therefore, the demand for radiologists and MRI technologists has risen due to the rapid advances witnessed in the imaging technology.
Furthermore, medical technology has minimized invasive surgeries in disciplines like thoracic and cardiovascular. The development of advanced technology coupled with better instruments have enabled surgeons to undertake operations that are less invasive hence minimizing the risks exposed to patients (Piscotty et.al, 2015). Patient’s safety has significantly improved with the adoption of advanced technology in the field of healthcare and medicine.
Requirements to apply IT in the healthcare sector
Implementation of Information Technology in the field of healthcare and medicine is sophisticated and requires huge funds. Moreover, the application of technology innovation requires expertise that is rare. Therefore, healthcare providers should set aside funds for medical technology adoption; it is crucial for them to make a proper plan that will assist in adopting a specific technology. Similarly, learning institution should reduce their fee on IT courses to attract more students. The use of medical IT requires harmonization and integration of standards that meets business and clinical needs. The healthcare providers should design laboratories to match the equipment and its function (Bardhan et.al, 2013). Moreover, installation of healthcare equipment should be done by experts since it should be done correctly and precisely. Medical staff should be trained on how to operate the machines before they start using it to treat patients. For instance, healthcare providers should employ experts in health records and Information Technology to operate their EMR. Experts will ensure that the digital data is safe and accurate.
How healthcare business uses IT
Information Technology refers to the applications of telecommunications equipment and computers to retrieve, store, manipulate and transmit data in numerous enterprises. Health information technology involves the use of computers as well as communications that have been networked to facilitate the information flow in a health institution (Devaraj et.al, 2013). Multiple healthcare services require the utilization of IT especially in information processing involving computer software and hardware which deals with functions like retrieval, storage, sharing of healthcare information data.
The use of computers in the field healthcare and medicine started in 1950 when health informatics arose. Health information systems includes computers, formal medical terminologies, clinical guidelines, communications systems and information. Health informatics in the following areas;
* Nursing
* Dentistry
* Clinical care
* Public health
* Pharmacy
* Biomedical research
* Occupational therapy
With the development of medical IT, many of the medical students need to be computer literate. New information about medicine is accessible through the internet and handheld computers like personal digital assistants, palmtops these days. Information technology has been of essence in the healthcare sector. Technology has converted medical information to a single database (Devaraj et.al, 2013). Moreover, the technology has reduced paper costs, it has enabled healthcare providers to extract crucial patient information like medications, medical history, insurance information among others. Technology has integrated patient’s information with pharmacy and laboratory information thus providing information regarding diagnosis, preventive services and treatment (Piscotty et.al,2015). Therefore, technology improves the quality of services provided in the clinical arena. Medical science has reduced medical errors through the utilization of technology. Computerized physician systems have allowed online writing of all patient orders. Such systems can ascertain that all the orders are correct. IT has managed to minimize serious medication errors.
Advantages of IT in the Healthcare Sector
Innovation technology have numerous benefits in the field of health and medicine. To start with, IT makes work easier for physicians and technicians. It ensures administration of proper and accurate medication to patients. Medical IT guarantees quality healthcare to patients. Medical technology generates revenue to healthcare providers and reduces costs treatment cost for patients (Pisco...