Digital Technology & Healthcare

I think digital technology in the field of healthcare is great. It has allowed researches to gain a lot of insight on health issues such as mental health, academic performance, and behavioral trends. Computers process the information in a clear, organized way and it has saved a tremendous amount of time on the researchers’ part.
Abnormal heart rhythms are another area where technology has come a long way in, specifically atrial fibrillation. Many people have died due to clots resulting from AF. Now we have pacemakers and defibrillators that continuously report data to help diagnose and understand this condition better. According to results from a Canadian randomized clinical trial, patients who wore ambulatory EKG monitors for 30 days had better outcomes because AF was diagnosed five times more frequently in those patients vs. those who underwent conventional 24hr testing.
Technology has improved and saved many lives. It allows us to share information more easily in a matter of seconds. If I’m missing an H&P or if I need orders, I can call the doctor and they can just log on from where they’re at and I’ll get it in a couple minutes. Technology is also wonderful when it comes to patient education. More and more doctors’ offices and hospitals use tablets now in addition to one on one teaching to show patients where they can obtain more info on disease process and other support websites. Technology is here to stay so nurses need to jump on board.