The present state of health IT in the U.S. is hard to really understand without dwelling on how far we have come and where we have been. All the documents were preserved on paper not that long ago. It was only possible to exchange charts through a fax machine or courier. You saw your family doctor at your local hospital for all that you wanted. It was hard and boring to access healthcare data.
In the past 20 years, monumental changes have been made that have changed the way medical care is delivered by the healthcare industry and the way the public expects to be handled. Our patients are not only highly dependent on technology for the industry, they are tech-savvy and expect to be handled as such.
The standard of healthcare provided to patients is one of the most critical, and widely discussed, aspects of our culture. And, certainly, implementing technology that helps physicians to deliver better patient care is a driving force behind quality healthcare. The US. National Health IT (NHIT) Week is an opportunity to highlight the importance and relevance of healthcare information and technology across the nation. It is necessary to take the time to articulate the shared benefits for patients and providers to the public and policymakers who depend on health IT and influence its use with an increased dependence on technology.
In the last 20 years, technology’s position in healthcare has grown exponentially and statistics have risen in accordance with our technological developments in society. According to Borris Dehtiar, our ability to store, exchange, and interpret information about health is directly related to improved technology. The use of technology improves the capacities of physicians and access to patients while improving the quality of care for some patients and saving others’ lives. We are moving into an age in which, via telemedicine, doctors can see patients remotely and effectively diagnose a patient’s problems, including in most rural areas. We have advanced from the use of technology to enhance patient care and the healthcare industry.
What is the importance of technology in the health industry?
The industry is entering a pivotal era, however. Is the technology revolution going to become stale as EHR adoption increases? To support the current challenges faced by industry and society, will it plateau or continue to evolve? As technology advances and technical capabilities provide new ways to manage, interact and care for patients, it is likely that it will continue to evolve. The question is not whether we should encourage health IT in the nation with the improvements in health IT over the last two decades, and those yet to come. More precisely, the problem is, can we afford not to?