In today’s digitally driven world, most sectors have resorted to the use of the internet and technology to carry out daily activities and provide services to their customers. It has not only boosted productivity and reduced time but also helped several businesses gain more customers and drive more sales.
One such sector that desperately needs to make the switch is the medical profession. Due to its fast-paced nature, this discipline must take advantage of technology to increase efficiency, reduce doctor’s burden, and produce better results. Here are a few plausible ways to use technology to ease medical administrative procedures and improve care.
1. Introduction of Telehealth
Telehealth is an upcoming technological revelation that merges the internet, communication technologies, and digital information to manage administrative healthcare. It usually includes sharing content over various digital or social media platforms that allow patients to take care of their health in the absence of medical supervision. For instance, a patient can receive a video from their doctor to practice an exercise, or they can learn about nutrition or carbohydrate counting through relevant videos. Telehealth services can also allow patients to access a portal that can be used to order medical supplies and medicines. Finally, these services let you drop a message, email, or phone call in case of an emergency. If you possess a forgetful nature and cannot remember your appointments, you can set reminders on your phone or email.
2. Development of a Health App
Whether it’s banking, grocery shopping, fashion retail, or courier services, every sector is resorting to mobile applications to access services of their preference. A health app can be developed for the medical profession too, which will allow patients to register and book an appointment or gain special access to doctors of their choice. While developing a health app is easy, the type of services to be added must be pondered upon. However, with this app, patients will no longer have to wait in long queues or go through the hassle of nerve-wracking application procedures. It is known that a similar app in place can improve a patient’s health by 93%. Moreover, the app can be made free on iOS and Android platforms, which will further encourage doctors and patients to use it for administrative purposes.
3. Use of Wearable Devices
Wearable devices like smartwatches measure the wearer’s heartbeat, physical activity, and sleep cycle, which can be used as intermediate health records to measure any patient’s progress. Insulin monitors are similar devices that measure a diabetic person’s blood sugar levels and alert the doctor in case any irregularity is marked. Patients around the world should be given such wearable devices from the day they are admitted and until they leave. The data must be recorded at the end of each day and used to assume the patients’ progress. This simple technological advancement, if applied, can normalize the mindset of ‘disease prevention’ instead of the current ‘disease care’ mode.
4. Deployment of iPads and Tablets
Over the years, more and more hospitals and medical practitioners are encouraging the use of iPads, especially if the patient is undergoing surgery or is in a critical situation. They no longer use traditional pen and paper and quickly feed notes on the iPad instead. It also allows the medical supervisor to access the patient’s history within a jiffy.
It is believed that the use of such digital devices enhances patient care and reduces administrative time, which is a huge revelation. Specific programs on the iPad can also be used to conduct quick medical examinations and assess the patient’s current situation. With time, the use of iPads will become a necessity in the medical profession.
5. Encourage the System of E-Prescriptions
Just like waiting in long queues to book a doctor’s appointment is eradicated with the introduction of telehealth services and mobile applications, doctors can also give prescriptions in an electronic form by sending it via email or instant texts. This service allows doctors to update the pharmacies with their digital prescription form and keep the medicines ready in case the patient requests. This also reduces prescription errors due to handwriting misinterpretation, thereby safeguarding any patient’s health.
6. Cloud-Based Electronic Health Records
EHR or Electronic Health Records are the digitized version of traditional medical records that were written on paper in the past. EHRs not only quicken the process but also eliminate the need for storage spaces. This service can be expanded based on the user’s needs and budget.
These technologies, if applied in all medical disciplines across the world, can reduce the time wasted in administrative procedures, enhance patient care, and revolutionize emergency treatment. The time saved can instead be used in patient care, which can save a lot of lives in the long run. Contact a professional to implement one or more of these services.
