Where Health Care and Technology Meet: Taking Health into Your Own Hands

Technology has always had the purpose of helping humanity. It was not always used for a good cause, but technology has nevertheless helped us achieve more than we could have ever imagined. It has helped us reach once seemingly unattainable goals. One of the fields where technology has had the most chance to shine is medicine. Health care is getting more and more effective every year, and it is one of the most rapidly developing industries in the world. Of course, technology has had a lot to do with that improvement. While the medical industry has gotten better in many ways, ease of access and independent health care may well be the most exciting aspects. It is no secret that not everyone can receive proper medical care. For example, some countries rely heavily on the private health sector (the US is a good example). People living in such countries might not be able to afford to get sick. Alternatively, dealing with the whole procedure, from arranging the appointment to receiving the appropriate treatment, can be time-consuming. There might be too much red tape involved, or a poorly organized infrastructure might have patients running in circles. However, technology can help democratize health care in a way. The implementation of certain technological advancements can lead to everyone having a far easier time, either diagnosing or treating their health conditions, all without suffering through bureaucracy or hefty medical bills.

Telehealth

Telehealth is a very pertinent example related to this topic. As you might have guessed it from the name, telehealth is connected with the distribution of health-related services through telecommunication, mainly via digital means. Telehealth can provide massive benefits to patients. As many as 60% of people prefer digitally-led services as opposed to meeting a doctor in person. Based on that information alone, we can see how useful telehealth could be if it saw more prominence in the medical sphere. But there is more to it than merely talking to a doctor. Telehealth also encompasses health management, meaning that you can keep track of your health far better than ever before. For instance, you can use your mobile phone to upload your blood test results and send them to a medical professional for examination. Alternatively, why not download an app that monitors your carbohydrate intake throughout the day? All that and much more is possible with the help of telehealth.

The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (abbreviated as IoT) is another exciting concept that could do a lot of good for the world of medicine. IoT is a network of interconnected devices or machines that can “communicate” with each other. As such, it is capable of performing many tasks without human interference (think along the lines of fridges that tell you what groceries you need to buy). So, what are the applications of IoT in health care? There are many potential ways to use this technology, so it is impossible to list them all. That said, some amazing projects demonstrate that the concept is indeed worth our attention. As it turns out, there is a significant overlap between the Internet of Things projects and telehealth. It is not all that surprising, given how broad the latter is. Just take OpenAPS into account. rnOpenAPS is a system of devices that serves to make diabetics’ lives much easier. With its help, people can monitor their glucose levels on a daily basis. Not only that, but the network also determines the optimal insulin dosage for each patient. That is just one example, but the possible applications are numerous.

Blockchain

You might not directly see the perks of blockchain technology in health care, but that does not make it irrelevant. In fact, it may reshape the way how all data are stored in the industry. In a nutshell, blockchain is a digital ledger that allows all of its participants to have equal insight into the data on the network. Everything in the system is transparent, indelible, and practically impervious to hackers. Also, it works with third-party intermediaries, which removes almost all red tape. In a blockchain-centric system, patients would have direct control over what happens with their personal information. That would enable them to have a say in how their health should be handled. The benefits of blockchain are also related to costs. It is projected that the technology could save the health-care sector a whopping $150 billion by 2025. All the same, such improvements should be felt by individuals as much as the industry.

We Are Becoming Responsible for Our Health

From the above examples, we can see just how technology can help streamline the health-care process. Technology is proving to be even more helpful in bridging the distance between health care and the people who need it. The most exciting thing about the marriage of these two fields is precisely the ability to bring the solutions directly to those with the problem, with minimal costs or waiting time. That way, we are in charge of our health and we can choose how we want to protect it.