Week 4 Discussion1Blog post 5 TEC101
The Role of Computers in Healthcare
Computers play an important role in the day-to-day operations in healthcare. Computers are indispensable in hospitals, doctors' offices and in medical research and medical billing. Everything from maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, monitoring vital signs through pacemakers that can be read 24/7, even having a surgery with a robotic arm controlled by a computer. (Scott-Clark Med., 2022) Other uses are telemedicine, and medical diagnostic tools, ( like the computer carts at the hospital), the integration of computers into healthcare has revolutionized the way practitioners deliver care to their patients. A prime example of healthcare providers managing patient data is through (EHRs) Electonic Health Records. IT allows providers to streamline administrative tasks and improve communication between different healthcare departments. EHRs reduce the risk of errors associated with handwritten notes and facilitates quick access and delivery of critical patient information, such as medication sent through computers to the pharmacy, or lab or medical test orders sent to the next medical profession that they may need to see. Just the other day my dentist emailed my referral to an oral surgeon to my email.
Computer literacy is vital for employees in the healthcare industry for several reasons. First, as (EHRs) Electronic health records and (EMRs) Electronic medical records become more used in healthcare, all medical and healthcare personnel- from the office staff to the providing physicians- they must be proficient in using these systems to ensure operations run efficiently and effectively. Also, professionals in this industry need to adapt to being able to use various telehealth software applications, lab results analysis, and patient scheduling. People that lack computer literacy can lead to decreased productivity and quality of health and medical care, and lead to mistakes in patient care. As more patients engage in telemedicine, and increasingly engage with technology for their healthcare needs, like wearable devices, patient portals, then employees need to be equipped with the knowledge to help assist patients and educate them in a way that is effective and easily understandable.
Looking towards the future, advancements in computer hardware, operating systems, and networking, combined with artificial intelligence (AI), will most definitely influence the healthcare industry over the next decade. Better processors and improved networking capabilities will enhance data processing speeds, allowing more sophisticated AI applications in diagnostics and personalized medicine. AI can analyze an individual’s genetic information, lifestyle, and medical history to tailor treatment plans and medication dosages for optimal outcomes. Healthcare professionals may require significant training and support to adapt to new technologies and workflows. (Filbramj, 2024) Look at how we view Ultrasounds, years ago we didn’t have 3-D or 4-D ultrasound machines. “Advances in brain monitoring are now able to help people with disabilities by allowing them to use computers to move a cursor, just like using a mouse. Controlling machines with thoughts is new and exciting, and it shows great promise for eventually connecting our entire nervous system to computers.” (Testout, 2024)
As telemedicine continues to gain traction, advances in operating systems and user-friendly interfaces will redefine remote care and medical services, enhancing accessibility for patients, regardless of where they live. Overall, AI and advanced computing capabilities will create a more efficient and responsive healthcare systems that focuses on patientcare in a much better way.
References
Filbramj, (2024) The Role of Computer Systems in Modern Healthcare | All Posts, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Computer Hardware, Computer Science Education and Careers, Computer Software, Databases, Internet and Connectivity / October 7, 2024
Scott-Clark Med., (2022) 6 Common Uses for Computers in Healthcare | 6 Common Uses for Computers in Healthcare - Scott Clark Medical
TestOut Corp. (2024). CertMaster Learn Tech+. http://www.testout.com
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