Technology That Is Changing the Nature of Medicine

Featured article by Calvin Paige, Independent Technology Author

The field of biomedical research is huge and ever expanding. As industry, in particular, the tech industry, contributes more and more funding and patents for medical firms to use, there are now technologies available that were completely unthinkable just a few decades ago. Technology has had an impact on the medical field in other less direct ways too, from the ability to study for nursing degrees remotely and even consult with patients remotely using webcams.

Online Degrees

Online degrees are opening up all fields of education to more people than ever before, making high quality learning both affordable and accessible. Many leading universities now offer a variety of degrees relevant to the field of medicine. These include Norwich University whose master of science in nursing degree is a prime example of the kind of high-quality online course that can be taken by anyone anywhere.

The online nursing degree prepares the student to be a leader in nursing at any healthcare institution with the course covering leadership, systems analysis, and a variety of other relevant fields. Pursuing an online masters in nursing is a solid first step for anyone looking to break into the field of medicine. It offers two possible paths: administration and education, each of which teaches a different aspect of the nursing profession.

Remote and Self-Diagnosis

Advances in technology have allowed scientists to miniaturize and simplify existing technology to the point that a special smartphone app or a piece of paper known as a ‘lab on paper’ can act as a portable litmus test that can be self-administered easily. Quickly diagnosing medical problems and moving to treatment as rapidly as possible is crucial for improving a patient’s prognosis. The advent of tests simple enough to be used by anyone mean that in areas of the world where healthcare is scarce, a lot of time can be saved by having patients present with the completed self-administered test.

Voice over IP (VoIP) technology allows patients and doctors to conference over the internet and virtually all VoIP services also offer a video component allowing doctors to remotely examine patients or guide them through self-examination.

Automation

Automation is a trend that has touched all industries but is more welcome in fields like medicine than elsewhere. Here, it represents a significant increase in efficiency and reduction in workload. Automation is particularly important in laboratory analysis; performing tests and reading and interpreting the results to reach an accurate diagnosis. In the future, we will be able to automate some surgeries and other simple procedures using robots capable of much greater precision than a human surgeon. Once these machines reach the point of being able to see and interpret their environment, their potential will increase exponentially.

Technology continues to be an important force in the medical field, changing the landscape for both doctors and patients. These changes are almost universally beneficial. Even small changes over the years, such as the advent of the mobile phone allowing anyone to instantly contact emergency services, have greatly improved patients’ prospects and the overall standard of healthcare available.