The influence of technology on healthcare industry Essay

Undoubtedly, technology has brought numerous of benefits to modern civilizations. As technology improves every day, new developments are constantly infiltrating our lives. Especially in healthcare, breakthroughs in information gathering, research, treatments, and even communications, has given doctors or provider's new ways and tools to work with to improve one's health and well-being. Technology has put the biggest impact on healthcare. The effects of advances in scientific knowledge and medical technology have been far-reaching and pervasive.
Americans for instance, generally equate high-technology medicine to high-quality care, and it is often accurate. Quality of care depends on new procedures and new developments that can prevent or delay a certain disease. Also, by providing better diagnosis, making quicker and more complete cures possible. These factors can increase safety of the treatment being done, as well as minimizing the side effects that may occur after each procedure. Technology is always the number one factor of why health care is improving and providing patients with numerous of varieties. Clearly, Americans spend a lot on health care, and it really comes down to two factors prices and utilization. People state that anything health related should be cheap or at least affordable to everyone, not just the upper class. At the same time, everyone wishes for the newest improvements in diagnostic capabilities, increase in life expectancy, and basically a healthy and better lifestyle. One cannot deny the fact that technology can provide new remedies where none existed before. Making those remedies more effective, less invasive, or safe, as well.
In today's healthcare, medical technology is more advanced, more effective, and in many cases, more costly than ever before. Medical technology definitely includes sophisticated machines, medicines, and biological therapies. For instance tiny cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDS) that can be placed in the human body to prevent sudden cardia death. New imaging technologies such as PET, SPECT, that are available as advanced diagnostic tools to study brain function and identify the sources of both physical and mental disorders. Additionally, Telemedicine which is a system of health care delivery in which physicians examine distant patients through the use of telecommunications technology. Similar to, Remote health (RHS) which involves patient care interactions that geographically disparate and enabled by telecommunications, information technology, and sensor technology.
Overall, the growth in health care technology is permeating and has far reaching consequences both for users and providers. Medical technology includes drugs, devices, procedures, facilities, information systems, and organizational systems. Even though some may be costly, the available medical technology must or should be used regardless. Technology is definitely moving forward so rapidly that the rest of the world may not be able catch up. In the United States, the FDA regulates the introduction of new drugs, devices based on their efficacy and safety. The use of new technology is spreading and is continuing to spread. It really does not matter if technology is expensive or not, as long as it can improve quality of life, preserve economic productivity, and prevent the high cost of disability.