It is a fact that modern healthcare relies heavily on the latest advances in technology. Since the beginning of this vital community service, technology and treatment have gone hand in hand. Today the services offered by hospitals and other healthcare settings have led to increased life expectancies for millions of people around the world. In 2022 global life expectancy is estimated to be around 72.98 years for the average person, which is an increase of 0.24% from 2021. This improvement is partly driven by improved public healthcare services and a raised global awareness of healthy living practices such as a balanced diet and regular exercise. This article explains three distinct uses of technology in modern healthcare that allow improved standards of living.
The rise of telemedicine
Telemedicine is a relatively recent addition to the world of healthcare and is one that simply could not have been integrated without access to a range of innovative technologies. Telemedicine is the practice of remotely monitoring patients or offering remote consultations without the need for patients and healthcare professionals to be in the same physical space. Today many routine doctor appointments can be conducted without the patient needing to make a journey to their local surgery. The healthcare professional will contact the patient via video conferencing software such as Skype, often being able to do this with just a modern laptop such as those made by lenovo.com and a reliable Wi-Fi connection. The consultation can take place extremely efficiently and allows the healthcare professional to be truly mobile if they need to visit other patients physically. In addition, there is now a range of patient monitoring technology that can send vital measurements such as blood pressure and heart rate to a healthcare facility wirelessly without needing a physical consultation.
MRI scanners
MRI scanners (or magnetic resonance imaging) were first used in a healthcare setting in 1980. A strong magnetic field is created along with radio waves to create a three-dimensional image of the desired body part. MRI scans can therefore create incredibly detailed pictures of the body, which can be used to determine the exact location and nature of specific illnesses or injuries. This non-invasive form of patient assessment has proved to be a vital tool in modern diagnostic healthcare and would not be possible without highly advanced technology.
Laser eye surgery
One final revolutionary use of technology in healthcare has been the widespread adoption of sophisticated laser and computer devices in eye surgery. Today laser eye correction is a common and straightforward medical procedure that can take minutes to fully complete and restore eyesight to optimum levels. A laser precisely reshapes the cornea and the lens of the eye to correct long or short sight. The laser is guided by computer software that allows extreme levels of accuracy and an absolute minimum of pain and discomfort to the patient. Today more than forty million people around the world have benefited from corrective laser eye surgery and dramatically improved vision because of this modern technology.