Smart technology is everywhere, aiming to make each part of our lives a little more convenient than it was yesterday. From the smartphones in our hands to smart thermostats in our homes, we now have the option to monitor and control so many aspects of our lives. Healthcare is no exception to this, with forward strides in technology being of immense value to medical professionals.
When it comes to personal health management, there are a plethora of different technologies that can help you keep on top of every area of your health. Easily accessible and easy-to-use, these apps and wearables offer a sense of high-tech security and well-being. Let’s take a look at some of these innovations in more detail.
1. Medical alert systems
A medical alert system is exactly what it sounds like – when a person requires immediate medical attention, they use their alert system to call for help. They tend to be wearable pieces of technology used most often by the elderly, although alert systems can also be used by people who have disabilities or chronic health problems. For instance, an alert may be used by seniors if they experience a fall at home and need help, with some alert systems even coming with built-in fall detection capabilities.
Over the years the technology in these products has become better and better – leading to the creation of systems with wider ranges, communication capabilities, and even GPS tracking. In addition, some systems can monitor a person’s health data, giving them and their doctor a more complete picture of their health. Alert systems provide a much-needed sense of security for people who can be vulnerable in day-to-day life.
2. Electronic health records
One of the most convenient technological developments in healthcare has been the move from physical health records to electronic health records. Prior to electronic documents, people’s health details were kept in space-consuming paper files that could be easily lost or destroyed. In addition, sending a patient’s details from one doctor to another could be a time-consuming and mistake-prone task.
With the move to electronic documents, however, patient information can be accessed by medical professionals with the greatest of ease. A patient’s information and medical history can be recovered immediately, giving doctors a good base for assessment and treatment, especially in the case of an emergency, when you’ll likely be seen in hospital rather than your local physician. In addition, the results of tests can be easily and quickly acquired, speeding up treatment and response time greatly.
Electronic documents also make the transfer of information easier, so a patient can speak to different doctors without worrying that their details will have been lost along the way. In some cases, you can even see your own records, rather than having to call up and ask for test results.
3. Tracking apps
Over the last few years, tracking apps have really taken off, and there are options for any number of health aspects. These are usually combined with wearable technology, such as a watch or ring, so the app can directly gather health information in real-time. Some of the most common options are:
- Sleep apps that assess a person’s sleep cycle and determine whether it contains any abnormalities, as well as reporting on duration and quality of the different types of sleep.
- Fitness apps that measure a person’s vitals during (and outside of) exercise, to help them tailor an exercise routine that hits the areas most in need of work. You can even access online workouts as part of your app membership.
- Femtech (female technology) apps, such as period trackers, that help women understand and track their symptoms at different times of the month, as well as aiding fertility tracking and planning.
4. Wearables for diabetics
One of the biggest use cases for medical technology are diabetics, who constantly need to monitor their blood glucose levels in order to stay well. Rather than having to carry needles to do a finger-prick test, new technology allows the patient to continuously wear a small device that monitors their glucose levels, alerting them through their phone if necessary. These are called continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. The other option is to wear an insulin pump that monitors and delivers insulin directly when needed, rather than the person having to inject themselves.
Both of these wearable devices are much nicer and less invasive than having to regularly take a blood sample. Additionally, they can remove some stress, as diabetics can rely on their phones to alert them if there’s an issue.
Supporting better medical care
Technology can be a real asset in the medical world, providing us with real-time, accurate data as well as making this information more accessible to patients, rather than just doctors.
