The technological revolution in healthcare: technology and health
The inevitable irruption of technology in medicine is a topic that we have been dealing with since we started writing these blog posts. After all, we consider it a duty to inform and educate about what is our field of work and action, although the truth is that we always try to take it to our field by talking about digitalization. And although this time it will not be different (since digitization is, as we have mentioned on other occasions, a literal expression of the aforementioned technological revolution) we did believe it necessary to talk about other aspects that encompass this event.
In this way, we could say that from the application of big data, to the creation of new gadgets and software based on Artificial Intelligence, new technologies have drastically changed the way of doing science and medicine, with the consequent benefits for both professionals and professionals. for patients.
There are not many authors who deny the fact that technology has come to the health field to stay. Without going much further, on March 15 the prestigious publisher Elsevier published the article “Clinician of the Future: a 2022 report”, in collaboration with Ipsos, to give health professionals a voice and echo their concerns and opinions about the changes taking place in the sector.
In a survey carried out in said study, they were also asked about digitization to which approximately 70% of professionals responded that digital health will improve medical care. Furthermore, more than half expect to make their clinical decisions based on artificial intelligence tools in the next decade.
The researchers conclude that the testimonials collected in the study shed light on the potential of technology and digital health to transform healthcare and to offer greater collaboration between professional teams. But far from presenting it as a utopian future, the clinicians were clear about the direction the sector will take in the coming years.
So, what are the main technological advances currently implemented? We see them below.
Main implementations of technology in healthcare
We could divide them into many classifications but, after doing a little big search for information about it, the classification that we liked the most was the one presented by the Sanofi company some time ago:
Mobile apps
We already defined what mHealth was in the Ebook we published a few months ago (don’t have it yet? Click here), but we remind you without any problem:
“M-health, m-health or mobile health, includes all the apps that allow consumers to obtain knowledge on health issues, control their physical activity, or follow their eating patterns, among others. One of its largest The advantages are portability and agility. Currently, the mobile is already the main vehicle for accessing medical information.”
Technology companies have seen a gold mine in the development of mobile applications aimed at promoting health care. In this way, we find numerous apps whose functions can range from establishing a weekly diet plan to lose weight, to monitoring the monitoring of patients with diseases such as diabetes or epilepsy.
The proliferation of mobile applications such as TRAK, dedicated to the prevention, monitoring and maintenance of health, increased in the pandemic, opening the way for new models of digital medicine or telerehabilitation.
Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
The term IoMT –for its acronym in English Internet of Medical Things- refers to a system of machines and objects equipped with technologies capable of collecting data and communicating with each other. It has different applications and its use ranges from telemedicine to the development of wearables.
This trend has promoted the development of monitoring devices for people with chronic pathologies, which are responsible for collecting relevant information about the patient and processing the data so that the health professional can have a better understanding of how the patient is.
In short, the objective of the IoMT is to help improve the quality of life of patients, while optimizing health resources and services. A new way of managing health that is managing to improve care and the patient care experience.
Cloud computing
Cloud Computing is an innovative technology that offers the possibility of having all the files and information we want on the Internet, without having to worry about having to store that information on a hard drive.
In addition, the user can access this information as long as he has an internet connection.
What can Cloud Computing contribute to the healthcare sector? Well, improve access to patient clinical data, communication between health centers or detection of patient needs.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has always been surrounded by great ignorance. When we refer to AI, we include any task that a machine could perform as well, or even better, than humans.
In the field of health, we must distinguish different types of AI, with totally different functions:
AI related to the treatment and processing of data: digital medicine
Here we distinguish a type of AI classified as “machine learning” AI, where algorithms act as neural networks, functioning as a human brain.
Probabilistic analyzes can be carried out based on the data included in the system, review existing treatment alternatives or recommend the most appropriate treatment.
AI to create image recognition software
In this case, the “deep learning” branch of AI is applied, where the created software learns to recognize patterns in different layers, and each layer acts as an independent neural network, but coordinated with the rest. In this way, the image recognition software can store and compare tens of thousands of images to offer a fast and accurate diagnosis.
Robots
The takeoff of the electronics industry during the pandemic has enabled an increase in demand for smart machines. The number of robots in the medical field will grow from 12,000 in 2020 to 26,000 in 2023.