There have been many rapid changes in health care technology in recent years. From mandatory e-prescribing in New York to patient-provider conversations taking place on secure patient portals, nearly every aspect of the industry is touched by technology in some way.
One of the biggest driving factors behind this evolution is improved security for patients and providers alike. Secure, password-protected online channels offer better protection for sharing private data than written forms or standard email addresses. These technologies can also streamline many office processes, giving providers more time to focus on their clients instead of tedious paperwork procedures.
Patients are noticing the changes, too. Ninety-two percent of adult medical patients said they support hospitals allocating funds to technology that will free up their doctor's time for them. Another 83 percent of people said that medical facilities that use tech gadgets for administrative duties like patient check-in and discharge saved them time when they went in for care.
Mobile technology in particular has had a big impact on the industry. More patients are taking aspects of their health into their own hands by using wearable health care technology. Clinicians are discovering mobile apps that make their work easier. They save time by having access to everything they need right at their fingertips with their smartphones and tablets, rather than having to travel across large facilities to find a desktop computer or telephone to communicate with clients or other medical departments.
While many facilities are taking advantage of the new equipment that's reshaping the market, others are lagging behind. It won't be long before these health care groups are unable to perform sufficiently, unless they start moving toward these advancements.