positive impacts of technological innovations on healthcare delivery in the United States

Positive Impacts of Technological Innovations on Healthcare Delivery in the United States

Outpatient Care

Medical and healthcare services given to patients without necessitating an overnight stay in a hospital or healthcare institution are referred to as outpatient care. In addition, outpatient care entails diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and preventive measures that can be given in an outpatient setting, allowing patients to get medical care while going back to their homes or regular activities the same day. Consultations, diagnostic tests, minor surgical procedures, treatments, and follow-up visits are just a few of the outpatient care services. These services are frequently made possible by technological breakthroughs and telemedicine. This method of healthcare delivery makes it more accessible, more flexible, and less disruptive for patients to go about their everyday lives, which aids in the transition from inpatient care to more outpatient-oriented models.

Technological Innovations and Delivery of Care in the United States

The delivery of healthcare in the United States has seen a major transformation as a result of technological advancements, which have also revolutionized many facets of patient care, diagnosis, and treatment. The development of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring is one prominent effect. Thanks to developments in communication technology, doctors and other healthcare professionals can now consult with patients virtually and conduct diagnoses and follow-up appointments. This has proven to be especially important in connecting with people in remote or underserved areas and improving access for people with mobility issues. Traveling to a physical clinic is no longer necessary for patients to receive quick medical advice, medications, or even chronic disease management, lowering barriers to care and enhancing overall health outcomes.

Electronic health records (EHRs) have also advanced patient management and healthcare administration. Data exchange, storage, and retrieval have been streamlined by switching from paper-based records to digital formats, fostering improved collaboration amongst healthcare professionals. Instant access to patients’ medical histories, diagnostic findings, and treatment plans is made possible by EHRs, improving clinical judgment and lowering the possibility of mistakes (Hamid et al., 2023). These records also support population health management and medical research by enabling the examination of broad health patterns and the creation of evidence-based strategies. EHR integration has, however, also presented some difficulties, such as worries about data security and privacy breaches, stressing the necessity of solid cybersecurity safeguards and strict data protection laws.

Ways in Which Technology Has a Detrimental Impact on the Delivery of Care

While technology has improved healthcare delivery in many ways, some possible drawbacks should be considered. Possible depersonalization and decreased patient-provider connection are two noteworthy causes of concern. Patients risk feeling removed from their care or receiving it in a way that lacks a human touch as technology is more thoroughly incorporated into healthcare systems (Haleem et al., 2022). For instance, while practical, telemedicine might only partially replace the rapport and empathy developed during in-person sessions. Lack of physical presence may impede clear communication, interfere with nonverbal clues, and jeopardize the patient-provider connection, potentially resulting in incorrect diagnoses or the neglect of emotional components of therapy.

Another potential drawback is more reliance on technology, which could result in medical mistakes or interruptions in care continuity. While improving data management, EHRs have also brought about problems like alert fatigue, where healthcare workers may overlook necessary signals under a flood of vague alerts. Using automated methods for diagnostic or treatment choices could result in paying attention to complex medical problems or unusual situations that call for a human touch. Furthermore, technical failures or cybersecurity breaches could jeopardize the confidentiality of patient data and affect how care is delivered. Since not all healthcare professionals may have the essential skills to efficiently operate and troubleshoot new medical equipment or software systems, introducing complicated technology may also contribute to skill gaps among healthcare practitioners.

References

Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Pratap Singh, R., & Suman, R. (2022). Medical 4.0 technologies for healthcare: Features, capabilities, and applications. Internet of Things and Cyber-Physical Systems, 2, 12–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iotcps.2022.04.001

Hamid, N. S., Portnoy, J. M., & Pandya, A. (2023). Computer-Assisted Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-023-01097-8

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Description
Primary Discussion Response is due by Thursday (11:59:59pm Central), Peer Responses are due by Saturday (11:59:59pm Central).

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

Library Research Assignment

Technology in health care has made it possible for patients to use devices to access their medical information, monitor vital signs, take tests at home, and carry out a plethora of other tasks that could only previously be conducted inside the doctor’s office (Topol, 2013). This enhanced technology is one of the many reasons that there has been a shift from inpatient to outpatient care. Although patients have benefited greatly from health care technology, there are also downsides to technology, such as how it has affected the cost of care. For this Discussion Board assignment, you should complete the following:

Provide a definition of outpatient care.
Discuss 2–3 ways in which technological innovations have impacted, or will impact, the delivery of care in the United States.
Discuss 2–3 ways in which technology has had, or is expected to have, a detrimental impact on the delivery of care.
The use of at least 2 scholarly references is required.

Responses to Other Students: Respond to at least 2 of your fellow classmates with at least a 100–200-word reply about their Primary Task Response regarding items you found to be compelling and enlightening. To help you with your discussion, please consider the following questions:

What did you learn from your classmate’s posting?
What additional questions do you have after reading the posting?
What clarification do you need regarding the posting?
What differences or similarities do you see between your posting and other classmates’ postings?