Mar 19
2020
Healthcare Advancements That Are Improving Patient Care
Advancements in technology make your life easier every day. In the past decade, you’ve seen the smart home become a reality and cell phones are no longer used simply to text and place calls.
Thankfully, technology is also advancing in the medical field and, as such, dramatically helping to improve patient care. Many wearable devices are helping patients not only improve their quality of life but that also allow them and their doctors to monitor medical conditions.
Portable Oxygen
Some devices, such as the oxygen tank, have come a long way in recent years. Instead of having to lug a bulky tank from place to place, many people can now use a smaller design that you simply wear over your shoulder–similar to a purse–or transport in a tote. However, the cost of this device is not covered by all insurance companies. Additionally, many of the people who rely on daily supplemental oxygen are the elderly and they are on Medicare. Using health insurance, such as Medicare for oxygen usage, isn’t always covered 100 percent, making it hard for seniors on social security to live life comfortably.
ECG Monitors
In the past, a person had to visit their doctor periodically to have an EKG performed to monitor their heart health. Today, through advancements in technology, patients can monitor their health from the comfort of their homes. These portable, handheld devices are easy to use and provide almost instantaneous recorded measurements within just a few minutes. This lets patients retain a complete history of their condition over an extended period of time, allowing doctors to review it and use it as a valuable tool to make further recommendations regarding a patient’s health. Additionally, should an alarming reading occur, a patient can contact their doctor and head straight to a hospital.
Blood Pressure
Today patients with a history of high blood pressure can monitor their blood pressure from virtually anywhere. The smartwatch by HeartGuide is worn like a watch on your wrist. It works similarly to the traditional wrap-around blood pressure cuff found in a doctor’s office; only this one expands and then tightens at your wrist. The first of its kind, it has a 100 reading storage capacity and the patient can transfer them to a mobile app called HeartAdvisor. This lets their physician review the readings and proceed with life-saving treatment options.