By Sean Wu

It should be no surprise that one of the biggest trends in health care is rooted in new and exciting technology. New hardware and software are making patient care easier than ever. Access to new IoT systems is also encouraging patients to take a more active role in the medical care that they are provided. Thanks to advancements and integration of IoT technologies into the health care system, those seeking medical care are able to be more self-sufficient and help expedite their visits and care. Patients can fill out a medical history online prior to appointments, engage with new systems at the front desk to complete check in, may be provided with devices in rooms to collect additional data and allow for patient feedback, communicate directly with hospital or facility staff, and could even be deployed in hospice or in home for aftercare or elder care.

Making health care more efficient is a priority, especially as baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, are accessing health care at increasing rates as they mature. Caring for this growing population of older citizens has already presented new challenges. How do we effectively care for this large group and future generations as they age and require more medical attention? While there are many factors to consider, a major contributor to effective treatment will be efficient treatment. As technology becomes more advanced, we’re able to harness intelligent health care and use it to simplify and streamline medical care overall.
One way to better care for this group (or provide better care in general) is easily sharing data across multiple offices. An older population may be seeing several health care providers, and doctors and health care facilities can’t always count on the patient to share accurate data. Enabling the patient to provide data prior to visits and the capability to access shared patient records and history will increase the likelihood of a positive outcome and lessen patient time spent in offices filling out cumbersome paperwork.

Additionally, care facilities such as hospice, retirement communities with specialized care wings and even in-home providers could use telehealth to provide more comprehensive in-place care. This could reduce office visits facilitating a better experience for both the patient and care provider. Imagine an at-home family provider taking care of a parent or grandparent and being able to watch a video in the comfort of their home with steps on administering medication or even changing bandages. With telehealth, it’s possible to reach an expert to assist with easy questions or concerns, instead of having to set up an office visit and subsequently having to move the patient. The future of health care is technology-based, and the future is more efficient than ever.

Health IT Homepage