Advanced medical technology has revolutionised the healthcare industry in the last few years to a great extent. It has helped medical professionals to reach a breakthrough in terms of research, data collection and accessing medical treatment. However, the most noticeable and positive change facilitated by medical technology is increased accessibility to quality treatment on a large scale.
Nevertheless, to benefit from more of such positive changes, individuals must find out to access useful tech-based medical applications like – telemedicine, mhealth, virtual consultation, e data collection, etc. To initiate the same, they should start from what is telemedicine and how it is shaping the healthcare industry today and how it’s making a great impact in the healthcare industry.
What is telemedicine and its accompanying features? – In brief
Fundamentally, telemedicine is a technological tool that has made healthcare facilities more accessible, especially for those individuals who reside in remote and rural areas. It is also described as the remote delivery of prompt healthcare services.
Furthermore, it has increased patient engagement largely and has made access to quality and timely treatment more cost-effective. Typically, telemedicine is of three types –
- Interactive medicine
- Remote patient monitoring
- ‘Store and forward’ patient data
Telemedicine eliminates the need for face-to-face consultation, helping avail timely medical advice, suggestions related to a generic medicine and access to the help of specialists readily. It helps in critical conditions where there is no option or non-availability of physicians.
Impact of medical technology on the healthcare industry
These pointers elucidate the impact of technology on the healthcare industry in general –
1. The digitalisation of patients’ record
From storing patients’ data and providing paperless medical bill, electronic health records have revolutionised this particular aspect of the medical field. Subsequently, the process of accessing patients’ details, medical history and diagnosis information has become much simpler. Also, as per experts switching to electronic health records is a cost-effective alternative.
Besides electronic health records, big data has helped the lower cost of healthcare services and reduced healthcare waste. Furthermore, it has helped to predict epidemics more accurately and has further facilitated the development of new drugs and means of treatment.
2. Incorporation e-health apps
Typically mobile health apps are among the least expensive ways of facilitating quality services to patients. This following are among the many areas where mhealth comes in handy –
- Medication management
- Prompt diagnostics
- Medical reference and health records
- Chronic care management
- Fitness and weight loss
- Mental health
Such healthcare apps help patients based in different areas and regions to access quality medical advice from professionals located in other parts of the country quickly. The apps prove most effective in getting in touch with specialists and also for securing valued second opinions about generic medicine and related treatment quickly.
3. Incorporation of virtual reality in the treatment
Virtual reality has emerged as a potent means of training surgeons for operations. With the help of such software, trained surgeons are likely to witness an improvement in their overall performance and confidence when compared to most traditionally trained professionals.
Additionally, VR headsets prove useful in calming patients to get through labour pain and soothe them successfully. Other than that, the technology also relaxes patients suffering from cardiac, post-surgical, gastrointestinal or neurological discomfort.
4. The rise in popularity of health trackers, sensors and wearable technology
The advanced technology has also empowered the patients by a great extent. It has enabled them to take better care of themselves with the help of devices like health trackers, wearables and sensors. Typically, such wearable technology and trackers come in handy for managing weight and stress level. Also, they help to boost and enhance the health, wellness and beauty of individuals in different innovative ways.
However, availing, most of these advanced medical technologies may not be feasible for individuals with limited savings and restricted sources of income. However, giving up of quality treatment to avoid immediate medical liabilities should not be followed by individuals. Instead, they should look for viable options like – Bajaj Finserv Digital Health EMI Network Card to spread out immediate medical expenses into convenient EMIs.
Should you apply for a health card?
These pointers below emphasise why individuals should apply for a digital health card online –
- A high pre-approved credit limit of up to Rs.4 lakh.
- The insta digital health card can be activated instantly for Rs.707. On the other hand, the non-insta card can be availed for Rs.589.
- Cardholders can avail of EMI facility in more than 1000 Indian cities and convert medical expenses into manageable instalments by seeking treatment from the 5500+ partner medical outlets.
- Such a card supports treatment expenses for 800+ essential and non-essential procedures.
- It accompanies No Cost EMIs that can be paid off within 2 years.
- Typically, one can help to cover for the medical expenditure of all family members and extend a complimentary personal annual accidental insurance cover of maximum Rs.1 lakh.
Hence, to understand the impact of medical technology on changing healthcare, individuals need to understand ‘what is telemedicine,’ mhealth apps and various other techs. To make the most of the quality healthcare services extended by advanced medical technology, individuals may consider applying for a digital health card.
