There’s no question that we’ve seen some remarkable developments in healthcare and health technology over the years.
This is evidenced by the consistent rise in life expectancy. In 1960, the average life expectancy in the United States from birth was 69.84 years.
Currently, it stands at just over 79 years and projections from the United Nations suggest it will rise to over 88 years by 2100.
Nonetheless, medical professionals must overcome many challenges and obstacles, and health technology is set to play a major role.
This article highlights five of the most exciting recent developments, outlining their potential benefits.
1. Telemedicine
It was hoped that telemedicine would become a big part of health technology innovations. As it happens, the pandemic resulted in the fast growth of the sector.
Having the potential to discuss medical matters with physicians from the comfort of your home is appealing.
WebRTC, an open-source API-based system, is set to play a key role in the further rise of telemedicine. It is an essential component in the creation of a telemedicine app.
With WebRTC, it will become possible to connect browsers with mobile apps. As a result, it will be easier to access the video and audio needed for appointments.
Already, telemedicine has become a crucial health technology for medical marijuana applicants. In certain states, it is possible to book an online appointment with a doctor and receive written certification.
If you cannot access MMJ, you can fall back on cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in abundance in the hemp plant.
You can legally access products like PureKana CBD oil in almost every state and have them shipped to your door.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
It seems as if AI is everywhere! Thus, it’s no surprise to learn that big things are planned regarding its use in health technology. AI’s machine learning aspect is likely to be involved in most innovations in this field.
For instance, healthcare experts use artificial intelligence to analyze CT scans to deal with the effects of COVID-19.
AI algorithms can rapidly find pneumonia patterns caused by the virus. However, there are concerns about trusting a machine to make important medical decisions.
Yet, AI is likely to be used in another major medical field; the development of pharmaceutical drugs.
A team of Japanese and British scientists used AI to invent a drug molecule in 2020. The drug was ultimately accepted for testing on humans and may be used to treat individuals with OCD.
3. IoT and Wearables
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the term used to describe the network of physical objects implanted with software, sensors, and other technologies. The aim is to connect and exchange information with other online systems and devices.
The popularity of IoT in the healthcare industry is such that the trend is now called the Internet of Medical Things.
Globally, there were over 11 billion IoT devices connected by the beginning of 2021, and the industry is set to be worth close to $100 billion per annum by 2026.
Wearable technology is becoming a major health technology trend. Having the capacity to monitor your status, or that of someone else, during the day is potentially lifesaving.
Smartwatches can monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen saturation rate and other blood vitals.
Smart pills are a revolutionary concept. They are edible electronics that you consume as you would traditional medication.
However, apart from managing the symptoms of your condition, smart pills ensure that medical professionals glean important information about your medical issue.
Moreover, smart pills are not some ‘pie in the sky’ idea. The first FDA-approved pill was released in 2017! Since several years have passed, it’s clear that this particular health technology is well on its way to becoming a big player in the industry.
There are also smart hearing aids and bio patches, among other intriguing wearables. Recent research into IoT’s impact in the health technology field outlines other advancements worth noting.
4. Heightened Security Of Patient Information
It is incredibly important to keep a patient’s medical records private, and HIPAA rules outline the protocols that medical professionals must adhere to.
However, with so much information available online, it’s possible for hackers to access sensitive data. This happened in February 2021, when a security breach exposed Kroger pharmacy data.
Therefore, it’s imperative that health technology must focus on stopping cyber-attacks and keep patient information safe.
Facial recognition has become one of the most popular options. It ensures that only authorized personnel can gain access to specific records and areas of a hospital.
The pandemic brought forth another challenge, as medical professionals all had to wear face masks.
However, some companies have developed products that recognize individuals wearing face masks with 99.9% accuracy.
5. Nanomedicine
Until recently, nanomedicine seemed like something you’ve seen in a Star Trek episode! However, by 2021, scientists had created minuscule organic robots known as xenobots with the ability to self-replicate.
This health technology involves using microscopically small objects and materials for certain medical purposes. Examples include nanorobots and biocompatible nanoparticles.
One of the most exciting uses of nanomedicine so far is to find viruses or cancer cells. This process involves injecting nanorobots into a person’s blood vessels.
It is a truly remarkable health technology that will require some fine-tuning. However, if successful, it could help combat various auto-immune or genetic illnesses on a cellular level. Perhaps nanomedicine will save countless lives in the future.
Final Thoughts On Important Health Technology Innovations
The future of medicine is bright as researchers continue to search for ways to improve the patient experience and fight back against the myriad diseases that plague us.
Many of the innovations outlined on this page probably seemed like science fiction a generation or two ago.
Today, they are a reality. This leads us to the question: “What will healthcare technology look like 50 years from now?” If it continues to find new ways to keep us healthy, many of us will live long enough to see it.