The year 2016 is set to bring about some pretty big changes across the board, and healthcare technology is presenting some pretty exciting ideas. In the world of medicine, this can be especially important, because every new modernization is just another way to help the sick. There’s an abundance of new trends and it’s impossible to go over them all in a short time frame, but here’s a few we found most interesting for the upcoming year.
Cost Cutting Apps and Awareness
One big thing that just keeps getting bigger is the cost of insurance, medication, and healthcare. Because of how coverage has changed since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies look for every possibility to save money and, in many cases, avoid paying coverage costs. However, apps and information for the general and health professional public are creating mass awareness, allowing individuals to stay in the know regarding where they can save most. With the increasing popularity of smartphones and respective apps, this is only going to grow.
More Health Gadgets
While some might have scoffed at the idea of a smartwatch some time ago, companies like Apple have already introduced them to the general market. Other companies follow, and with them comes mobile health information. Now people can easily track bits of information such as how many steps they’ve taken, heart rate, calories burned, and more. While this was possible with smartphones, the information is only growing more accurate as is.
Better Handling of Medical Data
One thing that’s also crucial in the medical world is data and information. Patient history, important visit dates, nurses and doctors who saw the patient on certain dates, etc. An increased effort is going into “data warehouses,” a concept of mass storage for medical information. This enables medical staff to store all information in one secure unit, to minimize misplacement of records. Stuff like this will keep things better organized for, ultimately, better treatment.
Increased Tech Demands Increased Security
We’ve stressed just how much the data world is opening up new channels of information and help, but such growth also creates vulnerabilities. One concern is security, and there’s a greater demand to protect personal data and the like. If there’s one trend likely to grow in 2016, it’s a larger focus on protecting patient information.
“Shopping around” becomes easier
Mobile information and the like will grow, and make it simpler for the individual to locate the best prices and options for them. While there’s still a lot of areas to improve on, a consumer in the know might find the ideal solution for their healthcare needs as 2016 marches on.
More Care for Patients
The great thing about communication technology or the like is that now patients may find new ways to interact with their healthcare professionals. This additional helpful communication will ultimately create better healthcare, though the tech itself is still juvenile and needs working out in terms of possible cost or the like.
