Information technology is changing the world around us. The share of IT spending is growing from year to year. Statista reports that in 2021, the growth of the global information technology (IT) industry may be positively impacted by the revitalization of the business of existing customers, while the continued impact of COVID-19 will continue to have a significant adverse effect on the growth of the industry. However, during the pandemic, the opportunities for IT to influence the world around them became greater. And much more – in the area of health care.
Digital technology has revolutionized many industries, and it is no surprise that it is making a splash in healthcare. New advances are helping to reform old health systems, develop cheaper, faster, and more effective medicines for disease, and improve the well-being of patients and health care providers. The future of medicine and healthcare lies in the successful use of these revolutionary technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and nanotechnology.
Let’s consider each of the factors of IT technologies affecting healthcare.
Augmented reality and virtual reality
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are immersive technologies that allow users to perceive information and content visually.
AR technologies help doctors and surgeons more accurately diagnose, treat, and perform surgery on their patients. Augmented reality lets you superimpose 3D digital CT scans on parts of the patient’s body during surgery to identify critical blood vessels, bones, and muscles.
Artificial intelligence
Forbes writes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to transform the healthcare and life sciences industry in ways we couldn’t even imagine just a few years ago. We already see this in vaccine development, patient care, and research in critical areas. From telemedicine to advances in detecting new variants of Covid-19, we are already living in the age of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easy to analyze complex medical data. With AI algorithms and software, healthcare professionals can accelerate medical records, treatment planning and drug development, and other time-consuming tasks.
Nanotechnology
Advances in nanotechnology make possible more effective treatment of diseases, faster diagnosis of conditions, and easier delivery of vaccines using aerosols and patches.
For example, some companies are already using a wearable nano-patch to help heal chronic wounds faster with electrical stimulation. The patch will also allow healthcare professionals to remotely monitor the condition of an injury using biosensors or devices that send signals when they detect the presence or concentration of a specific biological substance.
Conclusion
Health IT plays a vital role in facilitating the transition from old health technologies to new and modern ones. The future model will transform healthcare hiring by changing existing jobs, significantly increasing the need for specific jobs, and adding new public health navigators and data analysts. Many healthcare leaders are already ordering custom software-development-solutions to help their industry become more effective in protecting people’s health.
As a result, an ideal environment for the development of health will be created. Digital technologies will feel far more critical to healthcare workers and than other areas of life.
Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software-development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.