Impact of Advances in Medical Technology on Patient Care
Nowadays, various medical interventions are widespread worldwide in order for the medical personnel to provide excellent patient care as well as to be able extend the life of their patients. In this connection, medical technology is the use of a medical device or invention to extend the life of patients, relieve pain and reduce risk of disease. And, some illustrations of medical technology is the medical and surgical procedures, medications, medical devices and diagnostic tests that cannot be performed by the medical people without the use of medical technology. On the other hand, patient care is the process of preventing, treating and managing patients’ illnesses; as well as the procedure of preserving the physical and mental well-being of the patients through services offered by the medical technology.(http://www.ehow.com/about_4672066_medical-technology.html)
Furthermore, the use of medical technologies on patient care has many advantages. These medical procedures have been started in the nineteenth century with the invention of sphygmomanometer which was invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch and was used to measure blood pressure. On the other hand, the pyrometer was invented by John Hutchinson in 1846 and was used to measure the vital capacity of the lungs. Thereafter, the whole world has witnessed a lot of growth in the use of medical technologies for patient care and treatment. And, one primary factor which is responsible for the development and growth of medical technology is the emergence of science and engineering with medicine. The invention of the devices such as X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) scans or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is greatly contributed by the field of engineering and physics for medical applications. Additionally, advanced technologies are able to treat different kinds of cancer through therapies and screening tests like fecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer, and through electronic support systems such as telemedicine and electronic medical records for fast track record of the patients in the hospitals. As far as medical technologies are concerned, they function as to diagnose diseases through X-rays, CT scans or MRI. In the same way, they also provide treatment of various diseases. For cancer, there is chemotherapy; there is also for the prevention of illnesses by immunization system. In similar token, medical technologies provide screening for diseases as well as for rehabilitation, automation and reducing human errors through computerized order physician entry system. Above all, medical technologies help tremendously in improving the quality of life of the patients for instance, providing artificial legs and arms for some patients; so as to provide many medical benefits to many patients.
(http://www.vatechnologies.com/qstimAdvances.htm)
Subsequently, the effects of the invention of medical technologies caused United States to invest $ 130 billion yearly on the quest for new medical technologies and upgraded medical strategies and interventions. The pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries contributed about half of the cost of research and development for new medical technologies. The negative effect of medical technologies led the high cost of research and development for new drugs and has caused people to spend much higher for their medical expenditures. It is obvious that medical technology is partly responsible for the rising cost of health care. In the United States, the total cost of health care increases with an annual rate of roughly 10 percent and currently accounts for 18 20 percent of GDP. It is estimated that medical technology is responsible for at least half of the increase in medical costs. Therefore, it is otherwise important to evaluate the cost effectiveness of a new medical technology. Such analysis will allow health care providers to make an informed decision about which appropriate and affordable medications or procedures should be paid for by the patients. Consequently, in evaluating the impact of the new medical technologies is somewhat complicated in the process. Based on the research made, the costs and benefits of the innovative medical technology improve a lot the health conditions of the patients. Nevertheless, it also caused the patients to be financially drained due to expensive cost of medical procedures and the medical treatments and medicines. This scenario is tolerable for those patients who are well off; but how about those patients who can not afford to pay for these expensive medical procedures in order to extend their lives? Therefore public health insurance must be implemented worldwide for those people who are in the medium or low income bracket. This will greatly help those people when the time comes that they will get sick, their health insurance will provide them a better access to new medical technologies in order them to gain premium health care and medications.
(http://www.kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm030807oth.cfm)
References:
http://www.ehow.com/about_4672066_medical-technology.html
http://www.vatechnologies.com/qstimAdvances.htm
http://www.kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm030807oth.cfm
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