When you think of the coolest tech in the healthcare industry, artificial intelligence and robotics probably come to mind. There’s no doubt that the robots detecting cancer and helping train nurses are transforming healthcare, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Technology has made your interactions with the healthcare industry better, and you might not have even noticed.
Office Management Is Simpler
Managing any office is complicated. Managing a clinical office is even more so. From scheduling appointments to appointment reminders, health insurance on file, and patient information, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. As a patient, there’s nothing more frustrating than a longer wait in the waiting room because of overscheduling or having to fill out new forms every single time you see the same doctor.
With a healthcare business management service, which most clinics and hospitals have, keeping track of all that information is easy. Not only does it make the patient experience better, but it can also help offices reduce costs and compliance risks, which are extremely important in today’s world.
It’s Easier to Share Information Between Doctors
It wasn’t all that long ago that clinics and hospitals depended on paper records. Although it got the job done, it often made life frustrating for healthcare providers and patients. Switching doctors or visiting a new doctor for the first time meant figuring out how to get your information faxed or sent to another office. Because this process was such a pain, many patients simply started over with a new file at their new doctor’s office.
There’s no need to worry about that any longer. Healthcare information for each individual patient is secured on an online database that can be accessed by anyone, as long as they have the correct credentials. Information can be sent to new doctors in an instant, and if you stay with the same general provider, all of your doctors can access your information from multiple locations.
Better Accumulation of Patient Data
A health history can be a complicated thing. From family backgrounds to medical conditions, surgeries, and symptoms, doctors and nurses can learn a lot about you by having as much information about your history as possible.
Before technology, that wasn’t easy. With multiple paper files at different locations, it was easy for things to fall through the cracks. Today, when new information is added to your electronic file, it stays there. That information can be transferred between offices and added to, creating the most complete health history possible, enabling doctors to identify potential problems when they otherwise might have been overlooked.
You Don’t Have to Leave the House to Be Treated
Unfortunately, doctors don’t make house calls anymore. That means you have to make time to go into the clinic between work and family obligations. Because finding the time can be difficult, it isn’t uncommon for many people to avoid scheduling that appointment, which means a potentially dangerous health condition can go unchecked for weeks, months, or even years at a time.
Today, you don’t have to leave the house if you don’t want to! Telehealth enables you to schedule an appointment and speak with a doctor or a nurse without leaving the house. Using mobile technology or a computer and a camera, you can discuss your symptoms and have them assessed at your convenience. Based on your appointment, the doctor may even be able to prescribe medication, all without you having to meet with anyone in person!
It Puts Control of Your Health in Your Hands
Taking control of your health is important, but it didn’t used to be easy. There was a time when you had to go to the clinic if you wanted to know important health information, like your blood pressure or blood sugar levels. Not anymore!
Today, there are many personal devices that can protect your health, enabling you to keep track of important information on a daily basis. That information can then be shared with your healthcare provider, enabling them to understand your healthcare needs and provide you with the right treatment.
Just a Few Devices You Might Use To Keep Track Of Your Health Include:
- Medical alert systems
- Blood pressure cuffs
- ECG monitors
- Sleep monitors
Technology is changing every area of our lives, for better or for worse. In the case of healthcare, it’s definitely for the better! Whether it’s transferring your file toa new office with ease or monitoring your own blood pressure from the comfort of your home, there are many ways tech is making the healthcare industry better for patients and providers.
