Internet of Things ⯀  

We use the connected technologies of the Internet of Things (IoT) to run our homes more efficiently and to be more productive at work. We even wear IoT devices on our bodies now. Recently, the technology has also begun making an impact in medical laboratories. 

Let’s take a look at three exampl

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es of how this technology excels in that sector.

It Aids in Tracking and Distribution Measures

The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly relying on bar codes and RFID codes to reduce instances of medication errors.

However, an MIT research affiliate named Stephen Miles believes a serialized identification system for medication could go beyond cutting down on prescription-related mistakes.

He points out if we could track medicines around the world through unique identifiers and wireless data transmission technologies, pharmaceutical laboratory personnel could learn whether given medical interventions were worthwhile for patients, which could be useful during clinical trials.

Doctors could also find out whether patients who received medications went through the next step of taking them as prescribed.

Miles also wants to branch out and use his serial number-based ID system to develop and synchronize processes for handling biomaterials such as cells and antibodies. He believes that approach would be advantageous in both laboratories and manufacturing environments.

It Makes Lab Result Validation More Efficient

The Appalachian Regional Healthcare System relied on the power of connected tech when upgrading its lab information systems (LIS). The LIS team consists of only two people but relies on support from people in other departments. In 2015, the health system had the daunting task of tackling a major upgrade to lab results validation tools in only nine months.

To compensate, it relied on Software Testing Solution’s (STS) SoftBank Test Suites to get the job done. Not only was that company able to provide detailed reports that impressed upper management, but it relieved the burdens of overtaxed lab workers by transferring some of their time-consuming tasks to the software interface.

To put this in perspective, diagnostic tests carried out with assistance from laboratories aid doctors in deciding whether they should discharge a patient and evaluating whether that person is receiving the proper treatment. They affect 70 percent of medical decisions overall, so more efficient and accurate labs could increase physician confidence and lead to better patient care.

It Facilitates More Compatibility Between Different Types of Lab Equipment

Today’s lab systems and tools are extremely advanced. However, until the recent introduction of IoT tech, many of them could not work with each other.

For example, in the past, if a laboratory invested in a new type of freezer, it didn’t always interact with other freezers that were on an existing monitoring system.

That meant if a temperature-related malfunction affected the older freezers, maintenance workers would get alerts about it. However, that wasn’t the case with the newer, incompatible freezer, which often meant investing in another type of temperature monitor just for the newer model. Now, IoT technologies allow for connecting external sensors to lab equipment and tools and controlling all of them through a single interface.

Lab workers can view details about sensor-equipped items in facilities through web browsers and quickly make adjustments to things such as temperature parameters and associated alarms. They can also look at characteristics related to individual pieces of equipment and how those factors have changed over time.

Someone might notice a connected item has been behaving strangely over the last few weeks. That observation could lead to scheduling a service call and prevent a disaster that could significantly affect a lab’s resources and profits.

These are just a few fascinating examples of how tech connectivity has changed how laboratory professionals operate and minimized some of the challenges associated with their work.

As IoT capabilities improve, the lab industry will continue to benefit in meaningful ways that benefit employees and consumers alike.

By  Kayla Matthews	Embed
Kayla Matthews writes about marketing innovation and business solutions for Inc.com, Convince & Convert and WeWork. You can read more posts by Kayla on her blog, Productivity Theory.

Environment ⯀  

Medical technology dates back millennia, since people have been trying to heal wounds and cure diseases since prehistoric times. While familiar to us, and now taught as common curriculum in medical schools, these technologies revolutionized medicine in their advent.

Medical technology dates back millennia, since people have been trying to heal wounds and cure diseases since prehistoric times. While familiar to us, and now taught as common curriculum in medical schools, these technologies revolutionized medicine in their advent.

Herbal medicine may date back to the time of the caveman, and people compiled medical knowledge at least as far back as 1900 BC. One such compilation was the “Sushruta Samhita” (Sanskrit for “Susruta’s Compendium), a 184-chapter treatise on the surgical and medical knowledge of the 6th century BC. It includes sections on pathology and anatomy and describes a variety of surgical procedures. The scalpel had also been invented by this time.

Visual Aids

The first known visual aid was called a reading stone, and it was developed around 1000 AD. The reading stone was a clear glass sphere that magnified the letters of whatever was being read. Salvino D’Armate of Florence is said to have invented the first eyeglasses in 1284. Five hundred years later, Benjamin Franklin invented the first bifocals. In 1950, a British ophthalmologist, Dr. Harold Ridley, invented the first intraocular lens. It is an artificial lens used to treat patients with cataracts.

Stethoscope

A French physician, René Laënnec, invented the stethoscope in 1816. Before then, doctors had used a technique called immediate auscultation in which they placed their ear directly on the patient’s body to hear their heartbeat and other internal sounds. Unwilling to use this technique on a young woman, Laënnec quickly rolled a piece of paper into an aural tube and found he could hear the patient’s heartbeats very clearly. He later made a wooden stethoscope that resembled a hearing aid called an ear trumpet. In 1851, Arthur Leared, an Irish physician, invented the first bi-aural (designed for both ears) stethoscope.

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X-ray

The X-ray machine was the first kind of imaging device to be developed. Before its invention, doctors treating broken bones, tumors or gunshot wounds could only physically examine their patients. They had no way of looking into their patient to accurately assess the severity of an injury. In late 1895, the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen was conducting experiments studying the effects of electricity on vacuum tubes filled with gas. In the process, he found that certain rays (later dubbed X-rays) could pass through some solids while producing images of others. In one famous experiment, he took an X-ray of his wife’s hand that showed her bones and wedding ring. Doctors were quick to see the potential in Roentgen’s discovery. A year later, a Glasgow hospital opened the world’s first radiology department and took X-rays of a child’s throat with a penny stuck in it, as well as of a kidney stone.

Pacemaker

The pacemaker regulates the heartbeat with electrical impulses. While scientists discovered electrical activity within the heart during the 1800s, it took about another hundred years to develop a pacemaker. Albert Hyman, an American physiologist, developed a crude pacemaker powered by a hand-cranked motor in 1932. Although he tested the device on animals, he never published any of his results, for he feared that he would be accused of trying to revive the dead. After World War II, inventors like Earl Bakken and Paul Zoll experimented with smaller pacemakers that could be worn like necklaces. Wearable pacemakers had wires that connected them to electrodes implanted on the patient’s heart.

In 1958, the Swedish inventor Rune Elmqvist developed a pacemaker that could be implanted in the patient. A surgeon, Åke Senning, performed the first pacemaker implantation surgery at the Karolinska Institute. Unfortunately, the pacemaker’s host died three hours later. Its replacement lasted only two days. The patient, Arne Larrson, received 26 pacemakers during his lifetime before dying at 86 in 2001. By that time, he’d outlived both Elmqvist and Senning.

By  Shae Holland	Embed
Shae Holland is a professional copywriter based out of Bismarck, ND. She writes on a variety of topics and loves learning new things. In her spare time she enjoys reading, gardening, and hunting

Medicine  

In the middle of the 20th century, health scientists believed that it would take five decades for the body of medical knowledge to double in terms of reach and capacity. By the year 2010, that estimate was revised to less than four years. By the end of this decade, medical knowledge is expected to double at least once a year.

The two major medical science breakthroughs that will completely redefine healthcare are stem cell procedures and genetic engineering; these two new treatment methods will likely be widely practiced by 2050. In the meantime, the following predictions are likely to develop in the next few years, and they will have a major impact on the type of healthcare that will be available to you:

Robotic Medical Assistants

The use of robots in medical settings dates back to the 20th century, when they were used in hospitals to dispense medications from the main pharmacy to various inpatient units. Early robots followed optical tracks on the floor to guide themselves and deliver prescriptions that could only be unlocked with certain codes and permissions. In Japan, nursing ward robots can actually help patients get out of bed and move around. A phlebotomy robot is being developed by Silicon Valley engineers for absolute accuracy in drawing blood samples.

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Family Nurse Practitioners

The scope of the nursing profession is being expanded for the benefit of patients in the United States, a country that is expected to be impacted by a shortage of family doctors in 2025. Reforms in nursing education and online fnp programs are encouraging registered nurses to seek Master of Science degrees that will allow them to provide medical care as family nurse practitioners. In the near future, you may be calling these family nurse practitioners "doctor."

Artificial Intelligence

Medical information technology is rapidly expanding thanks to major artificial intelligence entities such as the Watson supercomputer developed by IBM. AI solutions are already parsing medical research studies and helping physicians come up with better patient care solutions. At this time, the National Health Service of the United Kingdom is working with Google DeepMind to improve its ophthalmology services.

In the end, the aforementioned advances are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of medical science. Technology and rapidly advances science is constantly changing the world of medicine and what it means for you. While there is no sure way to determine what the future holds, we can be confident some exciting advances are sure to be on their way.

By  Emma Sturgis	Embed
Emma is a freelance writer currently living in Boston. When not writing, she enjoys baking and indoor rock climbing. Find her on Google +.

Artificial Womb  

A team of researchers have developed a viable artificial womb, and tested the device on sheep models. The device may transform care for extremely premature infants: After birth, they would be immersed in lab-made amniotic fluid — and kept underwater for weeks.

Researchers have shown it's possible to nurture and protect lambs in late stages of gestation inside an artificial womb. The breakthrough technology could become a lifesaver for premature human babies in just a few years, and could revolutionize neonatal care.

The device works by works by two major components. First, a circulatory system that allows the baby to get oxygen through the blood (rather than through the lungs), just like in the womb. This is a process called oxygenation. The other component is a fluid environment – the fetus is enclosed in heavy-duty bag filled with lab-made amniotic fluid.

The research has been published in the journal, Nature Communications.

Researchers Emily Partridge, MD, PhD, and Marcus Davey, PhD; neonatologist Kevin Dysart, MD; and pediatric and fetal surgeon and director of the Center for Fetal Research, Alan Flake, MD, hope to translate this system into a clinical therapy for human babies.

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In the future, the team hopes to see the device become an innovative solution used in neonatal intensive care units to support extremely premature infants, such as a 23 or 24 week old baby who is faced with extreme challenges adapting to life outside the uterus. Babies born at or before 25 weeks have quite low survival outcomes, and in the US it is the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity.

"Just looking at them it's immediately clear that they shouldn't be here yet, they're not ready," said Emily Partridge, a doctor for critically premature infants at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and one of the researchers.

The artificial womb offers the promise that babies can continue developing – even just a few weeks extra 'growing time' can be the difference between severe health problems and a relatively healthy baby.

"These infants have an urgent need for a bridge between the mother's womb and the outside world," says Alan Flake, senior researcher for the study and a foetal surgeon at the CHOP.

"If we can develop an extra-uterine system to support growth and organ maturation for only a few weeks, we can dramatically improve outcomes for extremely premature babies."

The researchers took eight lambs between 105 to 120 days gestation (the physiological equivalent of 23 to 24 weeks in humans) and placed them inside the artificial womb.

"We've been extremely successful in replacing the conditions in the womb in our lamb model."

"We've been extremely successful in replacing the conditions in the womb in our lamb model," Flake told Rob Stein at NPR.

If their animal results translate into clinical care, Flake envisions that a decade from now, extremely premature infants would continue to develop in chambers filled with amniotic fluid, rather than lying in incubators, attached to ventilators.

SOURCE  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

By  33rd Square	Embed

Health  

The medical technology of the 21st century has changed nearly everything about how health care is provided. From keeping track of a patient's medications and medical history to providing a rapid diagnosis, technology affects every aspect of healthcare services.

Consider these top four ways in which med tech is changing the healthcare industry.

Automated Laboratory Testing

While laboratory tests to check blood cell counts, hormone levels and antibodies used to take days to perform, today's medical technology has automated these once labor-intensive tasks. Automation now allows these tests to be performed in mere hours or even minutes. If a patient is facing a life-threatening situation, these fast results can provide critical information to physicians.

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Electronic Medical Records

In this digital age, electronic medical records have brought considerable change to the healthcare industry. When you go to a networked provider, your entire record can be accessed. This allows your endocrinologist, family doctor, and other healthcare professionals to see your overall health picture. Electronic medical records can also be used during an emergency situation, allowing emergency medical technicians and emergency room physicians to access your allergy and blood type information.

X-ray Technology

X-ray technology has come a long way since the bulky machines and individual films of decades past. Today's X-ray technology is digital, which means that radiologists can see the images almost instantaneously. Professionals, like those at Rural Health Services Consortium Inc., know how helpful this can be in making a diagnosis. Images can also be sent to multiple providers at once, such as infectious disease and orthopedic specialists. This allows for a rapid diagnosis of injuries such as bone fractures and illnesses such as pneumonia. Today's X-ray technology is safe and comfortable for the patient.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine is another innovative way that technology is used in healthcare. With telemedicine a person at a small hospital in a rural location can be evaluated by specialists hundreds of miles away at a trauma center. Telemedicine allows for the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening conditions such as stroke. Telemedicine can also be used for triage, allowing for the efficient delivery of patients to the most appropriate type of trauma or emergency care facility.

Medical technology changes the healthcare experience for patients, doctors and administrators alike. Enhanced efficiency, greater productivity and improved safety are all benefits of today's medical technology in the healthcare industry. As technology continues to advance, healthcare consumers and providers can expect to enjoy a boost in accuracy of diagnosis, personalized treatment plans and more options for receiving healthcare at rural and out-of-the-way facilities.

By  Rachelle Wilber	Embed

Healthcare  

Healthcare can be quite the confusing landscape to muddle through. But while medical insurance is a divisive topic, both patients and medical professionals can take solace from one certain fact: science continues to move forward.

One of the most worrisome treatments has always been major surgery, but even here there are technologies making a surgeon's work easier and more efficient.

Augmented Microscopy

This new technology describes a device that combines what a surgeon actually sees under a microscope with a computer generated image. The image is produced by the familiar technique of fluoroscopy, where a substance emitting near-infrared fluorescence is injected into the patient to highlight different pathways and physical processes. Once used strictly for diagnostic imaging, the integration of an imaging device with a microscope helps the doctor see "beyond" what the microscope shows and determine the best path, for instance, to remove a brain tumor.

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Surgical Generators

One of the lesser known but essential surgical techniques involves electro surgery to perform such procedures as destroying tumors, removing artery occlusions, or cauterizing blood vessels. The effects of particular frequencies and electric waveforms on human tissue is well known. However, this requires sophisticated devices that can generate electronic waveforms safely and reliably. Advanced surgical generators, like this mega power generator, can do this while memorizing settings, interfacing with computers, monitoring the effects in real time, and be adjusted at a touch. The ability to perform these procedures accurately and consistently saves more lives.

Robots Inside You

The idea of tiny robots, or controlled microscopic devices, is an old staple of science fiction that has also been quietly, steadily progressing. They've been used in industry for things like cleaning up harmful substances or clearing long, narrow passageways. They can be introduced to patients by injection, swallowing a capsule, or even absorption through the skin. These little machines can just as easily eat away cancerous tumors, clear plaque from arteries, and much more. While they haven't yet been approved for medicine, current work furthering the development of nanobots will mean the end of many forms of invasive surgery.

3D Printing

A 3D printer is a means for surgeons to create elaborate 3D models which let them evaluate and practice complex procedures. This technology is also widely used to create valves, stents, and prosthetics specific to each patient and to precisions a fraction the width of a human hair. New biomedical materials allow surgeons to replace or manipulate body parts by implanting frameworks over which healthy cells can grow. The material then disintegrates harmlessly. It's hoped that soon cell-infused materials may even recreate entire organs grown from the patient's own tissue to minimize risks of rejection.

Robotic Surgery Tools

Robotic surgery has been mainly associated with minor, minimally invasive procedures that can be performed through small incisions. But with advanced robotics, it's being used more often in complicated open surgical operations. In the US, the FDA began approving robotic tools for use in various surgical procedures as early as 2000.

Most robotic systems involve one or more mechanical arms which can operate surgical instruments, as well as cameras. The surgeon sits at a computer operating the robotic arm by remote control while viewing a magnified, high-def, 3-D display of what's happening. Robotics provides more stability, precision, and control than even the most skilled human hands could achieve. This makes even long and complex procedures easier and more efficient.

Technology is allowing surgeons less invasive and more precise treatments. This means reduced physical stress on the patient and much more efficient surgical techniques. This is a trend new technologies will continue to fuel.

By  Emma Sturgis	Embed
Emma is a freelance writer currently living in Boston. When not writing, she enjoys baking and indoor rock climbing. Find her on Google +.

Medical Technology  

Medical technology is constantly changing, and with it, we are introduced to more and more medical advancements each year. While great strides are being made in the world of medical robotics, there is also major advancement in the treatment and monitoring of cardiac disease, diabetes, and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease that are becoming more commonplace in the population.

2017 has been no different in regard to medical advancements hitting the market. While some products are in the final stages of testing some of these devices are expected to hit the market in 2017 as soon as early spring. Listed below are five of the most amazing medical devices coming to the market this year.

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Thoratec's HeartMate

After St. Jude acquired Thoratec in 2015 it continued the production of the Thoratec's HeartMate. HeartMate is a left ventricular assist device. The assist device technology is used on cardiac patients in heart failure to help their heart continue to perform until they are able to receive a transplant. The device not only helps prolong the heart's function but helps keep the patient's body functioning well enough to be able to accept a transplant. The HeartMate is currently in the approval stage and since it is part way through the 12-month process, it is expected to be released by the end of 2017.

Medtronic's MinMed 670G System

Medtronic has come out with the MiniMed 670G as a closed loop system for personal insulin delivery. This system is the first hybrid closed loop and has been touted as the first artificial pancreas. The system helps to keep patient in their targeted glucose level for the longest amount of time throughout the day. The system received FDA approval in fall of 2016 and is expected to be manufactured and launched in spring of 2017.

Lotus Edge Transcatheter Aortic Valve

Created by Boston Scientific, the Lotus Edge Transcatheter Aortic Valve is the next generation of aortic valves. The Lotus Edge not only can be repositioned and retrieved once the patient has received the implant, but it provides for less chance of a chance of a pacemaker implant and paravalvular leak. The company is expected to go before the FDA for approval in May of this year and the manufacturers anticipate production in sizes including 21, 23, 25, and 27.

Johnson and Johnson OneTouch Via Insulin Delivery

Calibra Medical, a Johnson and Johnson Diabetes Care Company created the OneTouch Via On-Demand Delivery System to deliver insulin to the user easily and discreetly. It is worn on the abdomen and delivers a consistent quantity of insulin painlessly. The device is also discreetly wearable under the patient's clothing and has already been sent for FDA approval and it is expected to hit the market sometime this year.

Neuronex neuroAD Therapy System

Neuronex Medical has developed the neuroAD Therapy System for patients who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. The device utilizes cognitive therapy combined with focused transcranial magnetic stimulation, also referred to as TMS. The therapy produced by the device is created to help repair cognitive function in the brain. Neuronex neuroAD is still currently in the FDA testing phase, but the company is hoping to have the therapy approved by the end of the year.

Whether you are looking for advancements in the fields of neurology, cardiovascular health, or endocrinology, 2017 has advancements to help treat many of the conditions facing the population today. While the five devices listed above are some amazing medical advances hitting the market this year, there are much more in the early stages of testing that we will see emerge in the next few years. As medical technology continues to advance so will the ability to treat and fight disease. Whether it’s a medical document storage system like Integrity Support or a new kind of insulin pump, these are the technologies looking to change the way disease is fought.

By  Eileen O'Shanassy	Embed

Medicine  

A medical office today needs to use the best available tools and technologies to better serve patients. Experts describe how tech updates can improve service and productivity, and patient health. 

It can be hard for medical offices to keep up with new technologies, but experts note just how important it is to keep up with the times. These updates can improve service and productivity, among other things. The following are four recent revolutions in medical technology to consider.

Interoperability Solutions

One of the most helpful innovations is interoperability solutions, which is information-based software that relies on the internet. It creates a web connected healthcare system. The software will highlight findings or patient diagnosis. This information will be easily shared among labs, pharmacies, specialists, and other health care departments.

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Disinfectant Lights

No medical office is free from the danger of germs that can put doctors, nurses, or patients in danger of getting sick. This is the reason why some medical offices are installing disinfectant lights throughout the office. These lights emit powerful 405nm rays of light that can penetrate organisms on a molecular level, which ends up killing bacteria. The reaction is close to what bleach can do to bacteria, but hospitals will not have to worry about that distinct and bothersome bleach smell. It is a simple way to keep the office a little safer for everyone.

Validity Checked

It is no secret that medical hospitals have to deal with third party offices or vendors. This happens on a day-to-day basis, making it almost impossible for a medical office to make sure that every third party is validated, certified and up-to-date. Medical offices that update their software with things like WebID healthcare organization verification do not have to worry about this since the system will automatically perform this service.

Bedsore Resolved

Every medical innovation does not deal with the medical office itself as there are some innovations affecting the patient as well. Hospitals that take care of bedridden patients know that bed sores are a real issue. Movements can be difficult at times, putting patients in danger of infection or other related complications. It might seem a little unorthodox, but there is now electronic-wear specifically designed to send electronic charges every ten minutes, which helps activate muscles and increase blood flow.

These are just some innovations that can be useful to a hospital though there are others. A medical office must ask itself what it needs to better serve patients and find out if there is technology to satisfy that need. The chances are that there is a solution.

By  Kara Masterson	Embed

Medical Technology  

The field of medicine is more advanced than ever, and cutting-edge technology is now being used to save countless lives every year. While some of these breakthroughs involve preventative treatments and remote medical services, others are designed to prevent deaths in emergency situations.

Here is a quick look at four pieces of technology that are currently on the market and how they are being used to change the healthcare industry.

Barcode Reader Point-of-Care (BRPC) Systems

One of the most challenging aspects of bedside care is making sure that every single patient is getting the right medicine at the right dose. This is especially difficult in busy hospitals where patients are often moved to multiple beds throughout the day. A BRPC device is a small scanner that nurses and doctors can use to accurately track their patients. Instead of relying on the patient's memory or their bedside records, the device can be used to scan a wristband and the barcode on any bottles of medicine. Once scanned, the user is given a full list of information including the patient's age, weight, medical history, and allergies. They will also be given exact instructions on when to administer their medication.

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Internal Monitoring Pills

In order to accurately diagnose their patients, doctors much have as much information as possible. Unfortunately, keeping a patient in a hospital for multiple days so that they can be constantly monitored is impractical in many cases. An internal monitoring pill is a small device that makes its way through a patient's GI tract over the course of three or four days. After being swallowed, it begins transmitting information to a receiver that is worn around the waist. Within just a few days, the pill passes and the doctor can analyze the data that it has sent. These unique pills have been around for over a decade, but they only became popular after a number of changes to wireless technology. They can now be used to track everything from a patient's internal temperature to the acid levels in their stomach.

Surgical Smoke Evacuators

During a procedure, even a small amount of smoke can wreak havoc on the health of everyone in the room. Traditional ventilation systems are still important, but they are not effective at removing the potentially dangerous gases that are created when tissue is cauterized or emulsified. A surgical smoke evacuator is a much smaller filtration system that is designed to be operated by a single surgeon or surgical tech. It allows the user to quickly and safely remove smoke and other noxious gases from the area with a handheld pen. Once the smoke has been captured, it goes through multiple filters in order to prevent cross-contamination and the fouling of any nearby instruments.

Renal Denervation Catheters

High blood pressure is associated with a wide variety of medical problems including strokes, diabetes, and heart attacks. For many years, the only way to treat high blood pressure was to take dozens of pills every single day. Researchers have recently discovered that renal denervation catheters can be just as effective at controlling high blood pressure as traditional medications. These devices must only be inserted once, and they gently stimulate the kidneys with radio frequency energy. Those pulses then block the sympathetic nerves that regulate an individual's blood pressure.

The field of medicine has evolved quite a bit over the last few decades, and many of these changes are the result of new technology. Key positions are now being created in hospitals and emergency centers throughout the world for those who can bridge the gap between traditional medicine and cutting-edge advancements. These professionals must continue to use these tools to support the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who are saving lives every day.

By  Hannah Whittenly	Embed
Author Bio - Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, California.

Medicine  

Healthcare advances including software and telecommunications have pushed the care of patients further. Reductions in human error have not only made patient experiences better, but have led to superior treatment, and saved lives.

The technology and healthcare industries go hand-in-hand. Advances in data organization software and telecommunication devices have also created great advances in the healthcare industry. We've seen amazing strides being made to reduce the number of errors that occur due to human error. We've also seen health care become more convenient for patients.

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The Remote Physician

One of the most interesting advances in health care technology is the advent of remote physicians. It's no longer necessary for a patient to even step foot in a doctor's office. While this trend hasn't completely caught on yet, it will soon become the norm in the healthcare industry for non-emergency visits with your physician.

The technology is beautiful in its simplicity. The patient and doctor communicate via a webcam or remote kiosk. Many large chain pharmacies are utilizing the technology to set up virtual physician kiosks in their stores. The patient can schedule a time to meet with their physician at their nearest kiosk location. There is no longer a need to make two separate trips to your doctor and pharmacy. Simply visit your physician at the kiosk and pick up your prescription at the window ten feet away. Many diagnostic workers in the healthcare industry are utilizing this technology as well. Patients are now able to speak to radiology technician via remote communication. Earning a radiologic technology online degree allows you to utilize this technology as you interact with patients!

Genome Profiling

This amazing technology seems like something straight out of a science fiction movie. Genome testing allows couples to look at the potential disorders that they may pass on to their offspring. While the technology has been around for years, recent advances have made the process of genome mapping much more efficient and inexpensive. Many companies are now offering genetic counseling, in addition to genetic testing services. Challengers of genome mapping believe that scientists are overreaching their duty to patients.

Cloud Based Medical Records

Your music library isn't the only thing being stored in the cloud these days. More and more small medical practices and health care clinics are turning to cloud based medical record storage. The implementation of these systems is much less costly than traditional electronic records systems. There is also the added benefit that your records are much less likely to ever be lost, since they are stored on a remote server. Opponents argue that cloud based storage is a hackers dream; however, these servers are some of the most secure in the world.

We've never seen a more exciting time in health care. Technology is advancing exponentially, and with it comes an amazing potential to help patients in ways we never imagined. Technology will make the future of healthcare both polarizing and exhilarating.

By  Lizzie Weakley	Embed
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.

Medicine  

The Houston Chronicle reports that "the healthcare industry is expanding quickly and there is a need for trained technologists in many areas of the country."  The growth of the healthcare sector provides career paths leading to a secure future as well as generous compensation.

Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that's all around us, including visible light, radio, microwaves, ultraviolet radiation, and X-rays. The radiation is created when an atomic particle is accelerated by an electric field, which produces an oscillating wave with energy and momentum. Visible light consists of larger waves and therefore has less energy. X-rays, on the other hand, are made up of smaller, denser wavelengths that carry much higher levels of energy. This high energy allows them to pass through soft objects, including the human body.

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Medicine

Medical X-rays make use of these high energy waves to generate images of tissues and structures inside the body. Essentially, if you take a high speed electron and shoot it at a metal surface, it will produce an X-ray image of whatever substance it happens to pass through. If you've ever looked at an X-ray image before, you'll notice that different parts of the X-ray appear in black and white and various shades of gray. The contrast of the image depends on both the density and atomic number of the material that the X-ray passes through.

According to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, high density structures such as bones more easily absorb X-rays and therefore produce a higher contrast on the X-ray detector. This is due to the presence of elements like calcium, which contain a high atomic number. As a result, bones appear whiter than other tissues against the black background of a radiograph. Muscles and fat, through which X-rays more easily pass, appear as shades of gray.

The Risk

Because X-ray machines produce a small amount of high-energy radiation, your risk of cancer will slightly increase every time you use an X-ray machine. Your total risk of developing cancer depends on the cumulative effect of your lifetime exposure to X-rays. However, that must be weighed against the possibility that X-rays can reveal a serious medical condition that will improve or save your life.

If you're interested in acquiring a radiation science degree, you can pursue one at most major universities. A career in this field typically involves working with an X-ray machine, MRI machine, or CT scan. The Houston Chronicle reports that "the healthcare industry is expanding quickly and there is a need for trained technologists in many areas of the country." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a radiologic technologist was $58,120 in 2015. The typical entry-level work required at least an associate's degree.

By  Meghan Belnap

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Health  

Technology and human knowledge are constantly evolving and progressing. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the medical industry. New breakthroughs are constantly being made that have the potential of saving millions of lives. 

If you have a passion for science, medical research is certainly one exciting area that truly makes a difference. With that in mind, here are four innovations that are shaking up the medial industry.

Remote Monitoring

One of the most massive healthcare expenses is related to the cost of hospitalization. Having to live in a nursing home can also have a debilitating effect on a person’s independence and quality of life. Thankfully, new innovations in remote monitoring technology may soon change that. This is the same technology that allows athletes to track their heart rate with their smart phones. The tech will soon be able to track a patient’s vital signs to the point a patient can be monitored by healthcare professionals at home. Devices that can monitor blood glucose levels without penetrating the skin are already in development.

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Electric Mixers

Another significant development has been the introduction of more advanced laboratory electric mixers. They use compressed air to mix volatile fluids without the risk of igniting an explosion, which is what mixers that were used in the past used to do. The newer version even has more horsepower as to better mix liquids with higher viscosity. Overall, inventions like these help keep those who work in the medical industry safer.

New Stroke Treatments

A stroke is one of the most serious medical events that a person can live through. That is because it can often result in permanent disability, a lowered quality of life and a shorter lifespan. Thankfully, though, a new treatment for strokes has been successfully implemented to help patients recover more quickly. This treatment involves the use of a tool known as a neurovascular stent retriever that amazingly has the ability to remove blood clots from the brain.

Nerve Controlled Artificial Limbs

The understanding of how nerves work with the brain to control different body parts has improved significantly in recent years. It is, in fact, believed that in the near future robotic artificial limbs that are connected to the nervous system will be able to be moved and operated purely through the patient’s own thoughts. With this type of technology, cyborgs won’t simply be a thing of science fiction.

New medical technology and cutting edge treatments really are amazing. There is really no limit to what can be accomplished with research and the scientific method. As a result, mankind is sure to benefit greatly from improved healthcare and the elimination of the pain and disability associated with many different diseases and ailments.

By  Hannah Whittenly

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Medicine  

In the last few years, the healthcare industry has introduced several new technologies. These innovations are amazing and they are changing the way healthcare professionals interact with their patients.

Individual patient care will always be important, but many doctors are realizing the importance of providing a continuum of care to their local community. The newest technology trends are improving healthcare delivery systems, level of care, and much more.

Social Media and the Medical Industry

The medical community is making strides in the social media industry. Patients can use social media to connect with doctors and nurses. In some programs, patients are even able to schedule their own medical appointments. The digital self-scheduling technology will allow patients to share their medical records with various institutions and get help with specific situations more quickly. Artificial intelligence also has an important role in self-scheduling technology. In the next few years, hospitals will focus on training robots. These robots will perform several basic administrative tasks.

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Biotechnology and Science Fiction

For many doctors, science fiction is a reality. Biotechnology companies have successfully printed organs and customized prosthetics. Scientists are taking the technology one step further with digital tattoos. A digital tattoo can measure vital signs and health parameters. The information can be shared with patients via smartphones. Scientists have also created augmented reality devices that can project digital images. Medical holographic images allow doctors to see inside a patient's muscular and skeletal system. The holographs can prepare surgeons for difficult medical procedures.

Accurate Health Information

In the past, tracking patient health care information in real-time was a challenging task. Transporting patients to different medical facilities made the process even more difficult. Patients had to be hooked up to several monitors. In medical emergencies, doctors and nurses cannot waste time. Today, doctors can use glucose meters and phones to track important medical information. This medical innovation ensures that the medical team always has accurate information. It also gives the patient a more holistic experience.

The healthcare delivery model has changed in the last few decades thanks to new technology. In the early 20th century, doctors were focused on treating diseases. In the 21st century, doctors and nurses are doing more than treating acute illnesses. The focus on preventative health care and technology is creating a more feasible healthcare model. A few years ago people might have asked, “What is a bachelor of science in nursing?” and now, medicine and science are so intertwined it isn’t hard to see the future of medicine becoming even more technology based.

By  Brooke Chaplan

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Author Bio - 33rd Square contributor Brooke Chaplan is recent graduate of New Mexico University where she studied journalism. She loves to hike, bike, run and explore around her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She also enjoys blogging about health, fitness, fashion and many other topics.