Three ways technology has improved healthcare

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Thanks to advances in technology, medical health providers are using digital innovation to augment patient care

Over the last two decades, technology has revolutionized the way we communicate with each other, the way we glean information and get our news, the way we shop, and even the way we date. But what if we could use our smartphone to speak to our doctor about what is ailing us, instantaneously receive a diagnosis about a condition before it worsens, or speak to a licensed nurse practitioner or doctor about our child’s fever. Now we can. Here are just three ways that technology has made health care better…

Connected communication

Patients are increasingly becoming active participants in their own health, and portal technology is helping them do so. Portal technology allows patients to access their medical records and interact online, obtain test results and book an appointment.

Using a tablet or laptop computer, doctors can access a patient’s medical records, lab results or prescriptions—all of their vital health history can now be immediately uploaded from anywhere they need it—office, hospital, even a patient’s bedside. Perhaps one of telemedicine’s most important breakthroughs is that it enables doctors to access the expertise of specialty doctors all over the world.

High-tech monitoring

The use of handheld devices is playing a bigger role in almost all medical procedures, from patient registration to data monitoring, lab tests to self-care tools, advanced diagnostic technology and more.

One such tool is a portable electrocardiogram (ECG) system for high-risk cardiac patients that uses smartphones attached to heart monitors to quickly convey heart rhythm data to your doctor. This allows patients and doctors to track any abnormalities or possible problems that might require immediate attention.

This is only one of hundreds of new technological apps that gives both patients and doctors a powerful handheld tool for monitoring health concerns.

Remote access to treatment

Originally, telemedicine was only intended to serve remote communities. However, with the province’s shortage of doctors, long waits at local walk-in clinics and lack of accessibility, virtual healthcare has become available to all. Telemedicine can step in and offer non-emergency healthcare quickly and efficiently. Using a smartphone, tablet or laptop, patients can easily access health professionals anywhere, anytime, day or night.

Canadian-based GOeVisit is one such telemedicine company that conveniently offers virtual access to a medical team that can provide diagnosis, alternate remedies and/or prescriptions for some 30+ non-emergency conditions securely and privately through your phone, tablet or computer. If requested, they can send a prescription to your pharmacy of choice, or arrange 24-hour prescription delivery straight to your home, office or hotel room.

According to many in healthcare, technology is at the forefront of discovering new ways to provide patients with convenient, compassionate, and expert medical care. By connecting patients to medical information and to physicians, the doctor-patient relationship can only be improved.