Health care is advancing in its own right, in its own field. But it is also being impacted by, and helping the advancement of, smart technology. The industry of smart things is often associated with the home – smart home technology is what it is often referred to – but it is so far-reaching that that phrase is misleading. Smart technology is reaching the education, city planner, travel, and healthcare industries as well. Today, the art of diagnosing, treating, and managing health care can be made easier by developments and enhancements in smart technology.
Smart health care revolves around two main concepts: portability and connectivity. These concepts have fundamentally changed how the world is viewed, and offered a powerful, individualized experience for healthcare professionals and patients.
This form of smart healthcare is a breath of fresh air for the elderly, disabled, or chronically ill patients, those that care about them, and those that treat them. Technology advancements are helping people lead independent lives where it was otherwise not possible.
Portability
The portability of smart health care refers to ease of transport and access both from within and outside of the hospital or healthcare facility. With portable instruments and equipment, it’s easy to track and look up a patient’s medical history, an overview of their needs, and notes about their recent care, successes, and setbacks.
Most importantly, the use of smart technology allows for patients to remain in the comfort of their own home while they are receiving care. Being in a happy, comfortable place is sometimes critical to helping a patient through a treatment. Relocating to a care facility can be stressful and confusing to patients, and can lead to depression. Care providers can install portable smart surveillance for patients’ homes that offer alerts when someone falls down, or when their vitals become concerning.
In-home care using smart, portable technology is definitely a trend to watch, as it could have a big, far-reaching impact on the long-term structure of long-term and assisted health care. Perhaps one day we’ll say goodbye to overcrowding of hospitals!
Connectivity
With the availability and accessibility of so much data – commonly referred to as big data – and the technology that can use that data for tangible triggers, we have a real opportunity to make a difference in health care and improve the overall quality of life for those receiving care.
By connecting patients that are still living at home, they can have a sense of independence, while those that care for them can have some peace of mind. With connectivity, patients can receive automated – and prominent – reminders for their daily tasks, like taking medications, eating a meal on schedule, checking their vitals, adjusting thermostats, locking their doors, ordering their medical supplies, and more. They can also record when they take certain actions regarding their care, and that information can be shared with their health care provider and loved ones so that their overall care can be tracked.
Being able to continue to get quality care while still living in the comfort of home is a privilege that smart technology has offered for the healthcare industry, and those seeking help from it. I look forward to seeing how this industry continues to advance as technology continues to advance.
