Post 5: Computers in the Workplace

For this post, I'd like to discuss IT in the healthcare industry.  Healthcare systems have never been more critical than they are today, especially when considering the pandemic currently affecting our livelihoods.  Keeping an organized system in place to manage patient records, availability of drugs and supplies, and mass quantities of test results require a very robust network of programs and software working together.  Imagine if we were dealing with this pandemic and were still relying entirely on paper records instead of electronic health records (EHRs).  Oh, what an even bigger mess that would be! 

Computers and Information Technology have already improved the healthcare industry in many ways, including EHRs, advanced equipment for body scans, laser equipment for surgeries, and much more.  One such advancement is 3D Printing, which has enabled a quicker and lower-cost way of making custom medical devices or prosthetic limbs for patients (Jones, 2018).  3D printers are used in numerous industries now, and it's changing the way products are made through the use of software and hardware. 

Computers allow health professionals to do their work faster and more efficiently, and that can mean saving more lives.  With the growing use of computers in this industry, employees need to know the basics of technology and be computer literate.  As our current systems and technologies advance, we want to make sure those people using the technology will keep up with the changes and be at the forefront of these advancements.  The faster our doctors and staff implement new technology, the quicker the improvements can occur.  

The digital age has provided many benefits to every industry, including healthcare, but there's still a lot of room for improvement.  Considering the rate of advancement in computers, I believe things like 5G technology and robotics hardware will help to bring real-time surgeries using remote doctors into reality.  We'll also see improvements in manufacturing medical supplies, hopefully bringing supply costs down.  Mobile devices and wearables will be more capable of recognizing health issues and sharing with your doctor, catching potentially life-threatening problems much earlier.  There's a lot to look forward to in the next decade thanks to computers! Can you guys think of other ways the healthcare industry can benefit from technology? 

References:

Jones, M. (2018, December 26). HealthCare: How Technology Impacts The Healthcare Industry. Healthcare In America. https://healthcareinamerica.us/healthcare-how-technology-impacts-the-healthcare-industry-b2ba6271c4b4