The use of technology in health care has been growing by the day. This has created a totally new culture in the health care industry. Instead of holding physical meetings, people mail each other, send texts instead of talking face-to-face and chat online instead discussing matters arising in person. This is the impact that the internet and computers has had in the health industry.
The health industry greatly depends on the use of technology on a daily basis. Activities such as patient assessment, rehabilitation, diagnosis and treatments are all done using technology on a daily basis. With the growing technology, medical records are now digitized and electronic documentation has changed the manner in which patients charts are filled. Today, computers have become completely indispensable with healthcare IT companies. If such equipment is eliminated, the total operations of the company could easily be crippled.
The two sides of technology in healthcare
The complication with computers in the healthcare industry is that there availability makes them easily substitutable for physical patient care. Doctors use their mobile phones and choose to stay home during their off work time instead of meeting with nurses to find out the progress of their patients. However, this is not the trend with all the doctors. Usually, the doctors provide treatment to patients based on the laboratory results instead of doing physical assessments of the patients. Technology in healthcare has robbed patients from the one-to-one attention they should get from the doctors.
The computerized hospital systems are fitted with intelligent software that sends out automated alerts to nurses of any errors in dosages and medication. Sadly, statistics have proved that majority of the nurses do not pay any special attention to these alerts due to the fear of preconception. This proves that the safety of patients is not given by technology, but, rather by those responsible for the provision of the treatment.
Technology has definitely provided convenience and ease in preventing medical errors which are on the rise today. Without proper action and intervention of the health professionals, such comfort will end up being rendered useless and a waste of resources.
Technology in healthcare is a wonderful development. It is important for every growing society to embrace the role that technology is playing in making things easier. Healthcare professionals should ensure that they also give their clients personalized attention irrespective of the presence of technology.