How has Digital Communication Changed Healthcare?

The world of the 21st century can be genuinely regarded as the digital world. Every field under human concern has more or less adapted to digital working, which, in turn, brings a lot of ease and accessibility. Take healthcare, for example. Just fifty years ago, it was hard to even imagine providing healthcare to those in need without a hands-on approach.

A doctor must sit in his clinic and assess the patient before prescribing a treatment plan. Teams consisting of physicians, surgeons, and paramedics had to be in hospitals at all times to cater to the patients.

But as the computers changed everything with their arrival, they also significantly impacted healthcare. Digital technology changed the whole scenario of conventional healthcare within a few years. Now, a patient with minor ailments can easily consult and contact a doctor while in the comfort of his home. And as for the doctor, providing extensive hands-on treatment to patients is unnecessary, at least for treating minor illnesses. Similarly, many patients seeking a cure for their psychiatric conditions are willing to get their consulting and therapy sessions arranged online.

This could not have been possible without a proper digital approach to healthcare. Below, this article will discuss how modern digital technology is reshaping traditional healthcare practices. 

How has digital communication changed healthcare?

One of the core components of an effective healthcare strategy is establishing a proper communication channel among different healthcare providers. For instance, if doctors do not correctly communicate about dispensing the medications to nurses, they can risk losing their patients. Similarly, if an EMT does not properly take the hospital in the loop to inform them about the patient’s critical condition, he can also lose his patient.

Just a few years ago, beepers and pagers were common among healthcare providers using which they could communicate with each other. But this mode of communication has become primitive now. With the help of smartphones, emails, and other similar technology, maintaining a seamless and smooth communication channel has become much easier for these people.

Also, with today’s modern technology, physicians and doctors are no longer required to send letters to their patients reminding them of their visits. Instead, they can rely on n a simple email reminder for this purpose.

 Patient Hand-Off Tools

Hand-off tools are the result of extensive research on the use of digital technology in healthcare. It can be defined as the information transfer while transitioning patients under the care of a medical professional to ensure a seamless transfer of information from one medical professional to the other. 

At present, several patient-hand-off tools are available. Some of those worth-mentioning here are:

Digital Nurse Assistant: This device works as an electronic medical record extensor. It helps nurses automate various tasks that they previously used to perform using their hands.

Smart Sign Out: This application assists healthcare providers by sharing patients’ information. Physicians and nurses can update their patients’ information on this software anytime. The software also has an integrated approach for 14000 different medical diagnoses and information regarding 9000 different medicines.

Patient Hand-Off Kit: As a web-based tool. The patient hand-off kit contains resources that can help standardize communication among healthcare providers.

SBAR Hand-Off Tool: This free communication tool is designed to improve patients hands-off by providing their healthcare providers with situation, background, assessment, and recommendations regarding the patient’s health. 

The Next Generation of Pagers

Pagers are an integral part of communication among medical professionals. With modern advancements, pagers are becoming more sophisticated in terms of communication. In this regard, GenA pagers promise to revolutionize communications among healthcare professionals. It aims to provide them with a high-resolution ePaper display, modern UI, and updated security and encryption features. 

Telehealth

Telemedicine and telehealth practices are extremely useful in providing quality healthcare to [patients living in less-privileged areas. These less-privileged areas have a hard time getting consultation from a professional doctor; therefore, the number of casualties, morbidities, and mortalities are relatively high in such areas. With digital practices, however, telemedicine practices can be established in these areas easily. It is cost-effective and provides immediate emergency assistance to those in need.

Patient-Provider Messaging Tools

To keep patients in constant touch with their providers, it is essential to have platforms offering accessible communication. This especially holds out to be true for patients suffering from different chronic conditions. With these web-based tools, it is easier for these patients and their healthcare providers to keep a constant check on them.

Moreover, these messaging tools can also help the patients and their healthcare providers in the following way by allowing both of them to present their narratives in simple words. This will lead to a greater understanding and better outcome in improving patients’ health. 

Patient-provider messaging tools are also great for notifying patients of their test results whenever available. This is made possible by accessing the Electronic Health Records (EHR). Patients can also revisit and evaluate their medical records whenever they have time.

Will Digital Communication Continue to Influence Healthcare?

Indeed digital communication will continue to exert its influence on healthcare in the upcoming future. It has revolutionized this sector to such an extent that it is difficult to continue without this technology. Moreover, patients have become habitual of receiving answers related to their health within the comfort of their workplaces and homes. There is no way for them to deny this technology’s benefits. Moreover, healthcare providers feel more comfortable providing hands-off treatment to their patients, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. They do this to avoid any risk of contamination from their patients. And of course, this approach cannot be made possible without digital means.

Conclusion 

Medical and healthcare fields are no more working on conventional methods. Even if professionals belonging to these fields want to get rid of digital technology, it will be impossible since people have already adapted to this way of living their lives. Digitalization has brought a lot of ease to the healthcare field by lessening the burden on healthcare systems and healthcare professionals worldwide.Source –  bekey.io

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