This week, I chose to write my blog on 10 Ways Technology is Changing Healthcare by Future of Medicine. I chose this article because I recognize that the healthcare industry is changing constantly, not only with technology, but with the Coronavirus being in existence. While the virus is a new prominent part of our lives, there is constantly new information that we need to stay up to date on. There is also a technology that is constantly adapting in the industry to make healthcare more acceptable.
While many are afraid that the healthcare industry will become too automated and robotic, I think that technology helps give people an unbiased experience and equal opportunities. It’s important that everyone has the same testing and resources available to them as their neighbor. I also think that the more saturated the technology healthcare industry becomes, the less expensive/more accessible those resources become.
The article mentions healthcare trackers wearables, and sensors. I think these are incredibly important for letting people know how their vitals are. For example, wearing one gives you an understanding of where your resting heart-rate is, so you know when it is high for you. That can let you know when something is wrong. Another example that the article mentions is nanotechnology. Sometimes these smaller devices are very helpful and necessary, depending on the procedure. For example, there is a PillCam that will allow for a non-invasive colon exam. This could help people be less afraid of them and get the exam if it’s necessary.
One thing that goes against this is the use of robotics in the operating room. According to UCLA Health, Robotic Surgery is surgery that is performed where a surgeon uses a machine to perform precise incisions (UCLA Health). If there is a malfunction with the technology, someone’s life could be at risk. According to Mayo Clinic, there is a risk of infection and other complications (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). If I were needing an invasive operation, I’m not sure if I would opt for the new technologies or not.
References
About robotic surgery at UCLA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://www.uclahealth.org/robotic-surgery/what-is-robotic-surgery
Future of Healthcare: 10 ways technology is changing healthcare. (2020, August 18). Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://medicalfuturist.com/ten-ways-technology-changing-healthcare/
M. (2020, February 04). Robotic surgery. Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/robotic-surgery/about/pac-20394974
Mikayla Flynn 