The healthcare industry is changing each day with new technologies coming to light, advancing the healthcare system, and improving people’s lives. From tech you can put in your pocket to 3-D printing, the new advances keep on improving, and people are becoming more open to using alternative solutions to help them deal with mental health issues or any other type of health problems they’re experiencing.
Below are some of the most popular medical advances in modern technology that have reshaped the healthcare system for the better.
Virtual reality
One of the most popular modern technologies that have reshaped the way people deal with physical or mental health issues are virtual reality treatments. By simply using a VR headset people are encouraged to face their fears and help them improve their mental and physical well-being. The VR treatment and therapy allow patients to deal with chronic conditions from the comfort of their homes and also help doctors stay in touch with them regularly.
Virtual clinics provide engaging treatments without having to wait in busy halls at hospitals and clinics. Licensed therapist work with their patients remotely and provide a more comfortable setting, letting them feel at ease and more relaxed. VR therapy has already changed the way people deal with physical issues, by using distraction techniques teaching the patients to not think about their problems thus overcoming them.
Telehealth
Similar to VR, telehealth has changed the game when it comes to regular health problems by providing digital services. This technology allows patients to receive medical care through digital devices, instead of face-to-face appointments with doctors, reducing the risk of interacting with other sick patients. It has greatly helped people living in remote areas where hospitals or clinics are hard to find.
For example, car accident physical therapy cases experience long-term symptoms, needing regular physical therapy to overcome the pain. People who suffer from such injuries will also need regular consultations with a doctor to help keep track of the process and also help with their mental health. Getting access to telehealth has helped patients overcome their problems and encourage them to be more proactive in dealing with injuries and illnesses.
Wearables
Wearable devices became popular since Fitbit released its step counter in 2010. Production of wearables like smartwatches has only gone up since 2013 when Samsung released the first one, followed by the Apple Watch, in 2015. People have started to like the idea of wearable tech that tracks information like walking and heart rate to help them keep track of their sleeping patterns, physical fitness, and more.
This type of device detects, analyzes, and transmits information about the health of the person who wears it. This has greatly helped people who want to lose weight, and also those suffering from chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease or diabetes, by helping them monitor and improve their fitness. It has become more and more popular as a fashion accessory with companies delivering devices with better functions and appealing looks.
3-D printing
3-D printing has been used to create joints and implants to be used during surgery. 3-D-printed prosthetics are made to perfectly match an individual’s measurements allowing unprecedented levels of mobility and comfort. These types of printers can offer patients a customized prosthetic leg or hand which is also way cheaper.
3-D bioprinting is an advancement to regular 3-D printing since it prints with biomaterials and cells that create organ-like structures letting living cells multiply. It is used to print organs and tissues to help research drugs, and also scaffold which can be used to regenerate ligaments and joints. It is no surprise that the world of new tech has been expanding fast, improving the healthcare system and helping patients overcome difficult problems.
Robotic surgery
Robotic surgery has been used to help surgeons perform complex procedures with more flexibility, precision, and control in minimally invasive procedures. The benefits of having a robot-assisted surgery include fewer complications, less pain, quicker recovery, and smaller, less noticeable scars. Like any other procedure, this one also has some risks including infection or other complications.
Combined with augmented and virtual reality surgeons will be able to perform surgeries even better and faster than before. Advanced computer tech has allowed the incorporation of VR into surgical training, especially in training for laparoscopic procedures which leave little room for error. A VR-assisted robotic surgery simulator may minimize the steep learning curve connected with many complex procedures enabling better outcomes.
Brain implants
Neural or brain implants are devices that connect to a biological subject’s brain and are attached to the brain’s cortex or placed on the surface of the brain. The device comes into contact with tissues containing neurons and interacts with them in some way. By using this device it allows researchers to observe the pattern by which healthy neural circuits communicate, meaning neural implants enable scientists to hack into the nervous system.
Interventions involving brain implants have the potential of becoming powerful medical tools. One of its most established clinical uses is in a treatment called DBS (deep brain stimulation) which can help treat psychiatric disorders like addiction, PTSD, OCD, and depression. The FDA has approved the use of DBS for many diseases and disorders including Parkinson’s disease.
In closing
It is without a doubt that modern technology has taken over the healthcare system and has provided many advances not only for doctors but also for their patients. From voice-based solutions to portable ultrasounds, the world is yet to discover and put into action many more medical advances that will reshape the way people think and use modern technology.
