Technology In Healthcare: Benefits And Applications

Technology has significantly changed the way hospitals and health organizations operate. In recent decades, technological advances have opened new possibilities for improving patient safety, increasing standardization and efficiency, and reducing errors and costs. For example, automated medication dispensing cabinets have helped to minimize the workload on pharmacies and keep better track of medication dispensing. Additionally, telemedicine technology has improved clinical outcomes for certain medical conditions and enhanced accessibility to healthcare services. However, there are also challenges and limitations to consider, such as the increased volume and turnover of business, the expense of upgrades, and potential increases in the burden on clinicians if technology is poorly designed or implemented. As technology continues to advance, further research is needed to validate the effectiveness of new technologies and ensure their successful integration into healthcare systems.

Patient safety

Technological advances have opened up new possibilities for improving patient safety in hospitals. The digitization of healthcare processes can increase standardization and efficiency, thereby reducing errors and costs. For example, computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, which were developed to improve the safety of medication orders, can also be used to order tests, procedures, and consultations. When integrated with a clinical decision support system (CDS), CPOE systems can guide prescribers on preferred drug doses, routes, and frequencies of administration, as well as prompt them about patient allergies, drug interactions, and recommended interventions. This can help to reduce medication errors, which are the most common type of medical error, often occurring during the ordering or prescribing stage.

However, it is important to note that technology can also introduce new errors if it is poorly designed or implemented. For example, alerts being overridden or not firing, and automation issues can lead to duplicate medication orders. Additionally, if technological solutions increase the burden on clinicians, they may experience alert fatigue and make more errors. Therefore, it is important for healthcare organizations to be selective about the technologies they invest in and ensure proper integration and training.

Another example of technology improving patient safety is automated dispensing cabinets (ADC), which have been used to automate the medication dispensing process, reduce the workload on pharmacies, and improve tracking of medication distribution and patient billing. In one study, the use of ADC resulted in a 28% reduction in the rate of medication errors in a hospital critical care unit, although the impact was limited to this setting.

Smart pumps have also been studied for their potential to reduce medication errors. While they can reduce programming errors, they do not eliminate them, and further studies are needed to fully understand their efficacy.

Overall, while technology has the potential to greatly improve patient safety in hospitals, it must be carefully selected, implemented, and studied to ensure that it does not introduce new errors or increase the burden on clinicians.

Telemedicine

For healthcare providers, telemedicine facilitates seamless transitions of care between teams, connects isolated patient groups with healthcare providers, and helps address regional healthcare infrastructure and provider shortages. It can also help hospitals retain revenue by treating patients locally instead of transferring them to another facility for specialty care.

A questionnaire-based study of physicians from the Barcelona Medical Association found that the usefulness of telemedicine scored 7.4 out of 10, with the highest scores given for the importance of the internet in the workplace, therapeutic compliance, and patient health.

Overall, telemedicine is a valuable tool that can improve patient care and increase access to healthcare services.

Data security

The use of technology in hospitals has improved patient safety and efficiency, but it has also introduced new challenges in data security and privacy. Health information systems (HISs) are now integral to healthcare operations, providing secure storage, efficient retrieval, insightful analysis, seamless exchange, and collaborative sharing of patient health information. However, the very nature of these systems, which handle vast amounts of sensitive data, makes them a target for cyberattacks and a concern for data breaches.

HISs employ various technologies to enhance data security and privacy, including the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, mobile health applications, cloud computing, and electronic health records (EHRs). For example, blockchain technology has been used to develop flexible security methods for medical care IoT devices and networks, preventing unauthorised access to healthcare networks. Another example is the use of cloud computing, which offers benefits such as improved collaboration and cost savings, but also presents challenges in overcoming security concerns and ensuring data privacy. Secure access control mechanisms are vital to preventing data breaches and protecting sensitive patient data.

The integration of technology in healthcare has also led to the development of patient data management systems (PDMS), which automatically retrieve data from bedside medical equipment and aid healthcare providers in interpreting the information. PDMS systems have been shown to reduce errors, such as medication errors and ventilator incidents, and improve clinical outcomes when integrated with clinical decision support systems. Additionally, the use of electronic prescribing has been found to improve medication safety in community-based office practices.

To address the challenges of data security and privacy, several organisations have developed resources and guidelines. For instance, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have created the Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience (SAFER) guides to assist healthcare organisations in integrating technology securely. Furthermore, the federal government and international organisations, such as the World Health Organization, have published AI guidelines focusing on increasing trustworthiness and ensuring ethical governance in the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

In conclusion, while technology has brought significant advancements to hospitals, ensuring data security and patient privacy remains a critical priority. Healthcare institutions must continue to develop and implement robust security measures, address limitations, and stay vigilant against evolving cyber threats to protect sensitive patient information.

Cost efficiency

Technology has significantly changed the way hospitals and health organisations operate. The digitisation of healthcare processes has the potential to increase efficiency and standardisation, thereby reducing costs.

For example, the use of automated medication dispensing cabinets (ADC) has helped to automate the medication dispensing process, reducing the workload on the central pharmacy, and keeping better track of medication dispensing and patient billing. This has resulted in a significant reduction in medication errors.

Another example is the use of telemedicine, which has improved clinical outcomes for certain medical conditions, enhanced accessibility to healthcare services, and improved patient-physician collaboration. Telemedicine has been rated highly by physicians for its usefulness and ability to improve therapeutic compliance and patient health.

Blockchain technology has also been explored as a way to improve security in the Internet of Things (IoT) devices used in hospitals. This technology can help to address security issues and challenges, ensuring data security and patient privacy.

While technology has the potential to reduce costs, there are also challenges and limitations. For instance, the introduction of computers and digitised patient records has increased the volume and turnover of business in hospitals. However, these digital records can be expensive to maintain and upgrade, and hospitals can become locked into specific proprietary formats, creating additional expenses.

Furthermore, the rapid pace of technological advancement can create a digital divide, with some hospitals and healthcare providers having access to the latest innovations while others lag behind due to limited resources. This highlights the importance of effective policies and strategies to ensure equitable access to technology and its benefits across the healthcare sector.

Patient experience

Technology has significantly changed the way hospitals and health organizations operate. The adoption of health information technology has improved patient safety by reducing medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and improving compliance with practice guidelines. For example, computerized physician order entry systems (CPOE) integrated with a clinical decision support system (CDS) guide prescribers on preferred drug doses, routes, and frequencies of administration, as well as prompting them about patient allergies and potential drug interactions. This has led to a significant reduction in medication errors and adverse drug reactions.

Additionally, automated medication dispensing cabinets have helped automate the medication dispensing process, reducing the workload on pharmacies and improving tracking of medication distribution and patient billing. These technologies have been shown to reduce medication errors, particularly in critical care settings.

Digital technology has also transformed healthcare delivery, improving patient outcomes. Telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), and mobile health applications have enhanced access to healthcare services, improved operational efficiency, and increased diagnostic accuracy. For instance, medical drones can collect samples for delivery to hospitals, accelerating services that would normally be slower via road transport. Furthermore, the use of patient-specific clinical data and EHRs enables the personalisation of treatments, such as through 3D printing technologies that produce customised medications tailored to individual patient needs.

While technology offers these benefits, there are challenges to its adoption. Data privacy, system interoperability, and implementation costs are significant hurdles. Additionally, the success of technological approaches relies on cultural changes within healthcare infrastructure to fully realize the benefits. Furthermore, technology must be implemented thoughtfully, as poorly designed or implemented systems can increase the burden on clinicians and potentially lead to more medical errors.

Overall, technology has the potential to greatly enhance the patient experience by improving safety, access to care, and personalisation of treatments. However, careful implementation and addressing of challenges are necessary to fully realize these benefits.

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