Technology has accelerated organizational work processes, allowed people to build relationships, and educated those who seek knowledge about anything they desire. The Internet for instance, allows you to increase your understanding about topics including your health. You can review benefits and side effects of drugs, vitamins, and other medical treatment to draw your own conclusion about how you want to manage your health.
Health Assessment Tools
Technology advancement has also presented various tools which can evaluate health problems with precision. The benefits of this ability are the opportunities to treat and manage illnesses in an effort to prevent premature death. Some of the general technological tools used in health assessments are MRI, CT, EKG, and X-Ray machines. Other medical devices also give doctors a close view of the body so they can identify problem areas. Technology has also played a major role in personal health assessment tools, tracking everything from steps, heart rate, and even location. The first watch with a built-in GPS was made in 1999. Now we have watched that can connect to the internet and do amazing things.
Federal Safety Measures
Although technology has allowed medical professionals to assess patients in various ways, safety guidelines must also be followed to prevent harm. One of the legislative measures that has been established is The Patient Safety Act. This Act sets guidelines to keep patient information safe and what healthcare organizations must to do to remain compliant.
The Joint Commission also monitors and set standards for healthcare organizations to follow. These standards aim to protect patients from acquiring infections during medical visits, creates guidelines regarding medication administration, building safety measures, surgical procedures, and other critical facility operation processes that involve patient safety. The effectiveness of these legislative controls are based upon the cooperation of healthcare organization workforces and technology that provides the tools to manage safety processes efficiently.
Medical Records Access
Technology also allows healthcare organizations to make provisions for you to access your medical records. The ability to receive notifications about test results or appointment reminders reduce the waiting time to communicate with your doctors. You can print test and visit summaries to keep for your personal records.
Proactive Technological Influence
Technology has also created avenues to develop and improve safety measures. If you’re interested in pursuing masters in health policy or looking to broaden your understanding of this field, online education degree programs are available. The ability to complete courses online accelerates the ability to become an active participant in ensuring that patients receive quality healthcare and remain safe during the process. Although technology speeds up the process of healthcare procedures, safety must be managed with a high level of attention to detail and errors. Without this level of discernment, risks and liabilities are likely to occur.