Technological advances in the healthcare sector have revolutionized its services entirely. The technologically modern solutions have enabled healthcare practitioners to bridge the existing gaps in the Indian healthcare system. Be it the modes of communication, consultation, or conducting major surgeries, the scenario has transformed for the better for both doctors and patients.
6 modern solutions that simplify healthcare services are:
1. Telemedicine or Virtual Healthcare
The incorporation of virtual modes of communication between doctor and patient has allowed more people to gain easy access to the best healthcare services. A patient can consult their doctor in detail via video call, text messages, telephone calls, mobile applications, etc. according to their convenience. This saves the patient from the hassles of long-distance traveling to visit the doctor.
Telemedicine especially gained preference during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The technology of virtual healthcare not only helped COVID-19 patients but also the patients suffering from other serious illnesses. Also, many patients recovered from home without stepping out or frequently taking the risk of visiting hospitals.
One of the most remarkable examples of incorporating telemedicine is . It is a chain of multispeciality clinics that offer treatments (surgical and non-surgical) for 50 plus diseases all across India. Pristyn Care served thousands of patients during the COVID-19 outbreak through telemedicine. Clearly enough, telemedicine is among the most futuristic innovations of the healthcare sector.
2. Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare
Like many other industries, artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly benefitted the healthcare ecosystem too. have simplified and upgraded both doctor and patient databases helped discover new drugs and also design detailed treatment plans for the patient. AI plays a crucial role in the research and development of drugs in multiple ways. It aids in the making of biospecific and multitarget drug molecules, predicts a drug’s bioactivity, toxicity, physicochemical properties, etc.
AI is also applied in precisely detecting serious diseases. According to the American Cancer Society faculty, the usage of AI has enabled the translation and review of mammograms 30 times faster with very high accuracy. A mammogram is the X-ray of the breast performed on lumps, cysts, or cancerous tumor(s).
Furthermore, AI also helps in precisely diagnosing the following health issues:
- Heart diseases by reviewing and translating echocardiograms
- Early signs and symptoms of skin cancer
- Eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, etc.
3. Machine Learning In Healthcare
Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence in which computers are programmed to acquire or learn information without any human intervention. This technology allows machines and computers to think like humans with the help of the provided data.
Machine learning is gaining wide acceptance in healthcare services as it serves its purpose to benefit both doctors and patients in several ways. It can be implemented for medical billing, formation of clinical care guidelines, predicting toxicities of radiation therapy in patients, etc.
Some of the most common implementations of machine learning in healthcare include:
- Medical imaging diagnostic tests
- Research and clinical trial
- Record keeping
- Process and analyze clinical data
- Identification of a disease
4. Nanomedicines
is the branch of medical sciences that uses the tools and knowledge of nanotechnology for curing and preventing various diseases. The technology is applied in creating microbots that have the ability to flow through the body fluids. Nanomedicines are mostly used for diagnostic purposes such as nanoparticles of cadmium selenide that can enter cancer tumors and glow under UV light, pill cam used in conducting screening tests of the colon in a non-invasive way, etc.
Hence, the application of nanotechnology in medicine has revolutionized treatment and diagnostic procedures. The efficacy of nanomedicine is quite high as it operates on the molecular scale. By now, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has given approval to 50 nanopharmaceuticals which is a significant number to consider. As continuous works are being done to level up the usage of nanomedicine, we may soon witness more wonders in healthcare services.
5. Robot-Assisted Surgery- Future Of Minimally Invasive Surgery
The possibilities of robot-assisted surgery were acknowledged by doctors nearly 20 years ago. Since then, there has been tremendous growth in the modern technology of robotic surgery. It is the combined output of the expertise of a doctor and the precision of computer technology. In today’s day and age, there are about 500 trained robotic surgeons in India.
In robot-assisted surgery, a control panel, screen robotic arms attached with surgical tools are used by the surgeon to perform several procedures. This is one of the most precise techniques for minimally invasive surgery. From 2006 to 2019, more than 12,000 robot-assisted surgeries have been performed in India.
6. Smarter Artificial Pacemakers
Artificial pacemakers are the implants used to deliver electrical impulses to all the chambers of the heart. The surgical implantation of artificial pacemakers came into existence around 100 years ago. It is one of the most commonly performed heart surgeries that can prevent potentially fatal heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). In 2021, smarter pacemakers are used that are enabled with Bluetooth technology. The smarter pacemakers can be linked with the mobile apps in smartphones for better monitoring and understanding. One of the world’s largest technology companies named Medtronic has launched its smart patient monitoring system for pacemakers.
Take Away
Complexities of traditional healthcare services can be simplified and upgraded with technological innovations. It can be really challenging to deal with the barriers in healthcare services without relying on technologically advanced solutions. Hence, in order to build an impeccable healthcare ecosystem, we should keep an open mind and encourage researches and technological developments. Here, you have learned about only a few of the revolutionary innovations and there is so much more to come in the near future.