We are living in an age where technology is transforming every aspect of the way we live. Perhaps the most important area in which innovations are making a huge impact is the healthcare industry. Healthcare institutions are leveraging technology to drive better medical practices, increase access to information, and improve the overall patient experience. Here are some tech trends we can expect in today’s healthcare operations.

Health information exchange

Electronic Health Information Exchange (HIE) allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other healthcare providers and patients to access and share a patient’s medical information through a secured network. HIE systems facilitate the efforts of physicians to meet high standards of patient care. They also cut medical expenses on information transmission, including physical mailing of patient records, manual printing, scanning and faxing of documents, and phone bills.

3D printing

As 3D printing technology evolves, its medical uses are becoming increasingly apparent. It could assist in the development and manufacture of medical devices, such as prosthetic limbs and other body parts, and fluidic modeling. Professional 3D printers allow doctors to plan complex surgery by converting the patient’s bone structure, blood vessels and internal organs into a 3D-printable digital file that can be manipulated and studied beforehand. It is therefore likely that 3D printed medical and surgical guides will become a standard procedure for several operations, including heart surgery, knee replacements, cranial implants, hip operations, and many more.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine makes it possible for patients to connect with doctors using mobile devices and video-calling applications. It implements a variety of communications media, ranging from teleconferencing to image sharing and patient monitoring, to provide better medical services to patients. It is considered a cost-effective approach to treating health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea – physicians could monitor a patient’s condition and proceed to treatment immediately when something is wrong.

E-prescriptions

Doctors having to manually write prescriptions for patients is now a thing of the past for a growing number of healthcare providers. With the introduction of e-prescriptions, doctors are able to enter a prescription directly into the computer. The prescription is then transferred to a local pharmacy’s store. E-prescriptions are fast and reliable, sending information to the pharmacy through a private, secure, and closed network, before you have even left your doctor’s office.

Cloud computing

Researchers are taking advantage of the cloud by virtualizing massive amounts of healthcare data. Doctors can transition paper medical records to a digital format and store them in the cloud, allowing for easier access and analysis. With the cloud, patients are granted access to their medical information and doctors are able to see a more complete picture of a patient’s medical history.

Tech trends in healthcare are rapidly moving forward, and it’s important for healthcare institutions to keep up with the ongoing changes to provide better clinical services. For more information on how to implement technology into your healthcare business, get in touch today.