Technology Is Revolutionizing Health Outside of the Hospital

By Katie Brenneman, Writer, Researcher
X: @KatieBWrites93

Research shows that current and future advances in technologies have the potential to transform the overall healthcare system by facilitating home healthcare. In the past, accessing medical care was not convenient for everyone. However, with new healthcare technologies, not only is there now greater access to care, but the quality of patient care is also being much improved.

Tech Innovations Revolutionizing Patient Care Beyond the Hospital

There is a wide range of technologies that are enabling patients to receive care from the comfort of their homes, thanks in large part to remote patient monitoring applications and tools. However, remote monitoring is not the only innovation that is revolutionizing home healthcare.

Telehealth
Telehealth or telemedicine allows patients to get in touch with healthcare providers remotely through chat applications and video conferencing tools. This is a game-changer for those who struggle with mobility and getting out of the house. Telehealth systems also allow patients to access their records and lab results digitally, as well as chat with healthcare chatbots that can answer some of their questions and concerns when a live healthcare professional is not immediately available.

Mobile Imaging
Mobile imaging brings medical imaging to the home setting. Instead of patients having to go to the hospital to have an X-ray, an EKG, or even an Ultrasound, specialists can now bring the testing to the patient thanks to advances in technology. This allows for more personal care, which is particularly useful with elderly patients or those in at-home hospice situations.

Wearables
Wearable technology such as smartwatches and fitness trackers enable the patients themselves to take control of their health. These devices can monitor things like heart rate, sleep habits, and other vitals and health metrics, giving users direct access to their own health data so they can better manage their health.

Remote Monitoring Tools
Wearables can also be provided by healthcare professionals so they can remotely monitor patients. The same data that users can access to manage their own health can also be accessed by their doctors, which can allow for more personalized care plans. Remote monitoring tools can also help when monitoring a patient with a serious or long-term illness. For example, personal ECC monitors can be worn which monitor cardiac activity for those with heart conditions.

Social Media
Communities on social media platforms can be leveraged to hold people accountable to their fitness goals – and wearables can also be integrated into these groups. For instance, communities like Strava are used to track fitness data and share progress by encouraging users to upload data from their wearables.

These communities can also encourage health in more holistic ways. For instance, social media can also influence beauty standards by spreading body positivity, encouraging people to invest in self-care and wellness routines, and advocating for self-improvement.

The Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT has quickly become one of the most adopted tools in the healthcare setting for many reasons. This technology allows for greater connectivity and sharing of digital data, which can help reduce errors. For example, IoT-enabled devices can auto-transmit patient data to their digital health records, instead of the data needing to be entered manually. IoT devices also have sensors that can notify medical staff of a patient’s behavior and activity, which helps with remote monitoring.

Blockchain
Because home healthcare technologies depend on large quantities of data, there is a need to ensure the safety of that data to protect patients’ sensitive information. This is where blockchain steps in. Blockchain is a kind of cybersecurity technology that uses cryptographic techniques to form a chronological chain of information, which in short, makes the data within those chains more secure and much harder to hack.

Advanced Home Gyms
Advanced home health equipment and devices equipped with smart technology are also enabling people to better manage their health in the home setting. Like wearables, this gives people the power to take control of their own health and wellness journeys, so they can have fewer health problems.

Virtual fitness applications, AI personal trainers, and advanced fitness equipment with built-in cameras, motion sensors, and touch-screen displays to enhance workouts.

Some individuals are also opting to create home gyms in their garages or spare rooms in order to take advantage of this technology in a way that works with their lifestyle. Some of the many examples of fitness classes alone that can be accessed with a smart home gym include:

• Plyometrics classes;
• Dumbell workout plans;
• Cycling instruction;
• Virtual yoga;
• Dance lessons;
• Total-body garage workout plans;
• Beginner exercise instruction.

Patients can even wear monitors while they are working out from home so their doctors or nurses can keep an eye on their vitals in case of an emergency. This allows people with health issues to still have the freedom to exercise on their own while having peace of mind that someone will step in if something goes wrong and they end up needing help.

In Summary

There are numerous benefits that are emerging as a result of innovative technologies that are enabling home healthcare. It allows for better personalized care, enhanced chronic illness treatment, reduces the cost of healthcare, and improves patient safety and quality of life. This not only benefits patients, but it can also improve the lives of healthcare workers as well by helping them work smarter, not harder, which can reduce fatigue and burnout.