The future of healthcare has been making massive curves with technology advancements in digital healthcare. The advances and changing technology of healthcare is unparalleled to any advancement we have witnessed in the previous century. We are not talking about a little push of vaccine development or tool development, we are pointing at 3D Digital technology, nanotechnology, innovative medicine, artificial intelligence and robotics. Healthcare and technology are going hand in hand in order to shape innovative and relevant discoveries for healthcare ahead.
The best way to move forward for life perseverance is using technology to improve our lives to more sustainable means. Driving a healthcare system into a sustainable one, helps ease the role of medical professionals, provide cheaper and effective solutions for diseases and create innovative solutions which will help us win against Cancer, AIDS and Ebola.
Most of the latest healthcare technology has started its footing in practice. We are going to be exploring 10 mind blowing healthcare technologies and how they are reshaping healthcare today.
Table of Contents
10 Mind Blowing Healthcare Technology of 21st Century
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
If there is one man made markup which can redesign healthcare development completely, it is for sure Artificial Intelligence. AI has been able to redesign algorithms, treatment plans and create drug designs way faster than any current technology. It is drastically changing the future of healthcare. For example Google’s created AI outperformed all of the best radiologists by compiling the data for identifying breast cancer swiftly by an average of 11.5%. Similarly in 2015 on the outbreak of Ebola Virus, the AI predicted test design of two drugs which would be effective against the spread of Ebola Virus.
Such AI results are the early utilization of the technology. Companies are now introducing AI in healthcare for improvement of their discoveries and designs.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality can do wonders to both physicians and patients. Who knows you might end up travelling to Hawaii while you are being operated under a sharp scalpel. The point here is, virtual reality is setting new standards for healthcare accessibility. A good healthcare system is not always about digital innovations, rather it has a lot to do about the overall patient experience and engagement coming out of it.
Currently VR is helping future surgeons understand better about their surgery operations. A recent Harvard Business Review showed that VR trained surgeons had an overall of 230% boost in their performance as compared to the traditionally trained counterparts. Not only VR training enhanced their accuracy, it also helped with shaping surgical procedures in a better way.
Another amazing use of VR has been provided to help with pain management. For example women are provided with VR headsets that provide soothing therapeutic experience during painful labor experience. Similarly for other post-surgical pain therapies, VR has been helpful in distracting them from their immediate pain. In a 2019 study, VR experience dramatically helped patients with their hospital experience and improved their overall health.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is different in respect to Virtual Reality. In simplest words, augmented reality is looking at a colorful X-ray of any of your body parts on your touch screen. This is already the study case for Case Western Reserve University, where students are learning more about the autonomy of a human body using Augmented Reality. This is providing access to medical students with detailed and accurate virtual depictions of the entire human autonomy. Companies are bringing forth their technology to create healthcare products in the healthcare market using augmented reality technology.
Healthcare Sensors and Trackers
With our fast paced life, we often lose sight of our health goals. Therefore health trackers and sensors is an equally important mention in the advancing future of healthcare. These devices are great to get to know better about ourselves. It is easier now to take control of your body, by having a mini device to monitor your daily intake of food and your sweat rate through your regular workouts. Not only that, some sensors are even helping enhance cognitive skills, helping in relieving stresses and regulating body energy levels. With the ability to monitor the overall health of your body you can be more mindful about your body processes as well as make more informed decisions regarding your body.
Futuristic Medical Tricorder
From Star Trek’s sci-fi fantasy to 21st century’s medical innovation, medical tricorders have always been a healthcare worker’s want. The exponential progress in healthcare technology has now introduced us with small devices which can now measure our oxygen levels, our body temperature, sleep status, abnormal heart activity, respiratory issues and much more. This small medical tricorder comes with an ultrasonic probe and an electronic nose. The sensor can pick up abnormalities in DNA, regulation of antibodies and even specific proteins. To augment its feature, you can connect it to a smartphone easily and you are all set to use it.
You’d be glad to know that in Pakistan telehealth and telemedicine are already in the works!
Biomedicine (Nanotechnology)
If you are even a little bit familiar with nanotechnology, you can assume the impact nanotechnology is going to have over effective drug delivery in the upcoming years. A research trial conducted in 2014 used nanotechnology to design microbots which swam through different body fluids without causing any side effects. With further advancement MIT in 2018 introduced an electronic pill which can be controlled through smartphone command and can help in diagnostic information of drug release and drug affectivity.
Robotics
2019 was the year of robotics development. We witnessed exoskeleton surgery, a tetraplegia man using and controlling exoskeleton. Robotics has surely opened a refined and hopeful venture for people with severe chronic physical disabilities. From robot suits for patient movement to robot companions for elevating loneliness of elderly people, robotics is helping future healthcare achieve another medical milestone.
3D Printing
3D printing is already on its way in achieving groundbreaking medical achievements. The idea of ‘printing’ limbs, bio tissues and blood vessels, has eased many surgical complications of people suffering through severe chronic conditions. For example people who have lost a limb in an accident or have burnt their skin can now have living skin and skin grafts. Pharmaceutical researchers are now also benefiting from the 3D printing technology by creating polypills. These pills are designed with multiple layers to provide a maximum therapeutic plan without relying on multiple medications at once.
Final Thoughts!
Technology is changing healthcare which is surely a revolutionary time to be present in. The advent of digital healthcare is achieving great milestones and surely in the coming decade we will witness a great bloom of innovative technology.
Healthwire also realizes the importance of digital healthcare and is bringing comfort to people by providing convenient patient solutions.
