The Latest Emerging Healthcare Technologies

The growing category of wearable technology is already well adopted by people who are committed to improving or maintaining their health and wellness. These devices are designed with capabilities such as monitoring your heart rate, recording your blood sugar and even performing an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).

Because wearables access data from your own body, you can chart your metrics, understand what levels are “normal” to you and get recommended fitness routines or diet suggestions based on your personal goals. By using a heart rate monitoring device, you can see your heart rate in real time and adjust your activity accordingly. For added convenience, you can find this tech in smartwatches and fitness trackers. Plus, you will have valuable information to share with your doctor on your next visit.

If you have a medical question or you’re not feeling well, it can be a real hassle to set up an in-person appointment with a doctor. Unless you have comprehensive insurance, a doctor’s visit can be expensive and it may be days or even weeks to get in due to limited availability.

Luckily, telehealth is helping to make the patient experience a positive one. Patient portals give you access to physician appointments online, which is perfect for initial consultations, management of chronic conditions and follow-up appointments. Since you don’t need to leave your home, you can often times secure an appointment quickly, sometimes even the day of, and many health insurance companies now include telehealth access for no additional fee.

At first, it may seem strange not to see a physician or nurse in person but consider how often you’ve seen a doctor just to get sent for lab work or a referral to a specialist. With telehealth, you can now get those referrals without having to trek to a general practitioner first. Doctors can also use telehealth to view symptoms, such as a rash or swollen glands, and even write prescriptions if you have clear signs of infection. This is why having a high-resolution webcam is important so that the physician can make an accurate diagnosis.

Fortunately, telehealth is rapidly increasing the options for people who want to seek treatment for mental health or counseling, which is key as our society slowly breaks down the stigma around discussing and improving mental health.

Once you have seen a healthcare practitioner, you may receive a prescription for something called digital therapeutics. This type of therapy is available through software programs and is intended to not only help doctors track changes in symptoms and behavior, but also provide the patient with knowledge and resources about their condition.

These remote monitoring and health education systems can be accessed on a smartphone or a computer. Using proven methods of behavioral change, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), each activity is designed to help the patient make improvements while the doctor adjusts the program as necessary. Digital therapeutics have been effective in treating or preventing depression, anxiety, dementia, diabetes, and many other physical, mental and behavioral conditions.See Disclosure ¹

Plus, many health monitoring devices are now available for home use. As a bonus, the latest models feature the ability to send results directly to your healthcare provider. The benefit of connected devices is that doctors who invest in remote patient monitoring can easily track metrics and then respond more quickly with pertinent information.

Artificial intelligence (AI) now plays a role in almost every field. In healthcare, doctors can use this next level of smart health technology to help diagnose diseases, predict patient outcomes, and access personalized treatment plan recommendations. If you’ve ever had an experience with a rare disease or condition, you know that it can take visits to multiple doctors and specialists before you find the person who eventually makes the formal diagnosis. Thanks to AI technology, healthcare providers can enter symptoms into medical databases that can help identify the root causes. This is done by pulling from the knowledge of previous cases that providers have encountered that have been compiled into one resource.

Aside from databases that doctors have access to, you can also gain insight into your health for yourself with glucose monitors containing AI technology. These high-tech units can even help predict how your body responds to food and exercise. In turn, the use of AI tools can shorten your journey to a diagnosis and subsequent recovery because it expands the amount of data and analysis available when making a diagnosis. Plus, AI increases the amount of information that can go into developing new drugs and treatments for your condition when you opt to have your data included in research.

You may associate 3D printing with craft or modeling projects you can make at home or work. But in healthcare, 3D printing can create everything from prosthetic limbs to stents for the heart. 3D-printed implants and prosthetics are customized to fit each patient’s unique anatomy, so they allow for more comfort and effectiveness.

Similarly, robotics in surgery can increase accuracy, precision, and safety, allowing for easier recovery and a lower risk of infection. Robots are especially useful for very small and delicate procedures. For instance, image-guided robots can probe lesions on the brain without disturbing the surrounding tissue. Although the idea of being operated on by a robot may seem scary at first, the improved outcomes resulting from less-intrusive procedures might ease some concerns.

There are new technologies being introduced every day which will improve lives and help us become more connected to our personal health and well-being. Being aware of these innovative products ahead of time will enable you to be an informed consumer. As a result, you’re more prepared to find effective healthcare solutions that work best for your life.