Technology has truly improved the way many businesses operate on a daily basis. One industry that has greatly benefited from the shift towards a more technology-based approach to business is the medical sector. Now more than ever, medical practices are utilising the tools that technology offers them to streamline their business and provide a higher quality of care to patients. In this article, we will look at how technology is changing the patient-doctor experience, so read on to find out more.

1. Instantly Book Appointments

Gone are the days where you’d have to walk into a practice or call them up in order to book an appointment. With practice management software now being utilised by a high number of doctors in 2019, patients are able to log online with their phones or computers and choose appointment dates that suit them. Patients can choose which doctor they would like to see, as well as the best time slot that suits them.

Cancellations of appointments are just as easy to make with practice management software, giving patients the flexibility to see their doctor at the most convenient time possible. As an added bonus, practice management software is able to send out reminders to patients a day before their appointment to ensure that no one forgets their date with the doc!

2. Electronic Health Records

Though electronic health records have existed since the late 70s, current updates and developments in technology have made them even more reliable and accessible than ever before. With today’s highly detailed electronic health records, doctors are able to access patient files from the database in order to provide the best service possible.

Often, patients are unable to recollect past diagnosis, treatments and medications that they have been on. Thankfully, with the aid of electronic health records, doctors needn’t require patients to remember lengthy details as they have access to all this information with the click of a button. Doctors are then able to treat patients in accordance with their previous history, allergies and treatment. This works well with dental clinics as well, as this Dentist in oakland relies on electronic health records to keep track of his patients’ needs.

3. Telemedicine

Telemedicine is a game changer when it comes to doctors being able to treat patients remotely and monitor their progress along the way. For those who live in rural areas and have trouble visiting the doctor, telemedicine offers video conferencing with a doctor from the comfort of one’s own home. This means that people who would otherwise be unable to get medical assistance can now experience consultations with teams of doctors via a Skype call.

Telemedicine has also advanced to a level where doctors can monitor patient vitals and test results in real time, thus keeping updated with how a patient is doing and deciding on whether it is worth it for a patient to travel all the way to visit them or not.

4. Wearable Technology

Wearable technology in the medical field has advanced tremendously over the last decade or so. This includes devices such as mobile sensors which can assist both patient and doctor in monitoring medication dosage, heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels. This technology can also monitor how much sleep a patient is getting and how much daily activity they are clocking in. This allows both patient and doctor to be on the ball when it comes to monitoring health. Most wearable technologies run through applications on smartphones, meaning that they are easy to use and most importantly, easy to understand. Data can be sent off to doctors who can then monitor the progress of a patient or track unhealthy patterns between checkups.

5. Help Patients Understand Their Conditions

Last but not least, with the growth of smartphone and internet usage, patients are now able to read up on their conditions from the comfort of their own home. What may seem like a completely alien diagnosis one day can turn into something that a patient can truly understand after doing some research online. Patients can also join online forums or support groups where they can liaise with others who may be suffering from the same conditions, giving them a sense of belonging and a source of moral support.

Conclusion:

We hope that this article has given you some insight into exactly how technology is changing the patient-doctor experience for the better.