Technology is constantly changing and advancing, and some of these advances directly affect our lives. For example, computer technology has advanced to the point where everyone has the option of carrying a powerful, portable computer in their pockets. Only a few decades ago, this technology was practically sci-fi.
Another industry that’s constantly advancing is healthcare. While you may think that these advances don’t affect the average person as dramatically, advances in healthcare can save lives or make them more comfortable and affordable. Healthcare is difficult to navigate, and it pays to know what’s going on with your healthcare. So, how can these advances help you?
Advances in Diagnoses
When you’re not feeling well and go to the doctor, they’ll likely have a few different ways to diagnose what the problem is. First, they’ll listen to your symptoms and examine you. Then, if they suspect that something’s wrong, your doctor may order scans and tests. This is where advances in the medical field come into play.
Testing facilities will receive blood, urine, or other samples which may reveal the problem. For example, Brad Schaeffer with MedComp runs a laboratory that specializes in urine analysis. A specialized laboratory like this will deliver accurate and reliable results so that your doctor can give you the best care possible. Imprecise results may lead to your doctor not knowing exactly what’s going on, so it’s more difficult to help you.
Scanning technology is also improving so that your doctor can get a clearer picture of your condition. With a faster and more accurate diagnosis, you’ll be able to get treated more quickly and more effectively. In some cases, this diagnosis may well save your life.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence, or AI, has long been relegated to sci-fi. Unlike the popular stories about AI taking over the world suggest, AI is a tool that’s used in all kinds of fields. At the moment, AI is being used in healthcare to develop treatments and analyze scan results, to brilliant effects.
The simplest way to use AI is to use it as an organizational aid. AI can manage patients’ appointments and health practitioners’ schedules to make sure that things run as smoothly as possible and that no patient falls through the cracks.
But there are some more exciting developments as well. For example, AI can be used to analyze scans to identify breast cancer, even outperforming human radiologists. This algorithm is still being vigorously tested, but it does look hopeful.
Improved Treatments
Medical advances allow doctors to treat more conditions than ever before. Some diseases that were once considered a death sentence can be controlled and even cured. Better treatments save or extend lives and improve people’s quality of life, allowing them to function far better.
For example, surgery is traumatic to the human body, but modern advances in technology allow surgeons to use robotic tools to perform precise surgeries. This means that they can make smaller incisions, reducing the risks and recovery times of the patients.
These examples just scratch the surface of how medical advances help us all.