There’s a lot of reasons why we could give thanks to being alive in the present age. We generally don’t have to worry about being attacked, there’s more chance of us dying from overeating than undereating, and so on. And one of the biggest plus points is that healthcare is so good. It’s something many of us take for granted, but it really is much better than the past, even though it can be expensive. And the good news is that it’s getting better all the time. Below, we take a look at some reasons why there’s cause to be optimistic about the future of healthcare.
More Personalized Care
It’s not always the worst thing in the world, to be treated like a number. But when you’re going through one of the most personal moments of your life – an illness – then you hope to be treated more like an individual. That’s beginning to happen. Now, patients are getting more control over what they want during their care. It helps everyone; the doctors know the patient is at ease, and the patient feels more in charge.
Improved Overall Experience
Healthcare in the past wasn’t all terrible, but it was rarely delivered with a smile. It was a case of purely “let’s get the patient better” rather than making sure they were happy with their service. That’s been changing recently, and will continue to improve in the years to come. Rather than simply providing a diagnosis and a course of treatment, health care providers will try to create an engaging healthcare experience for patients. This will extend to all areas of interaction with the patient, from booking, treatment, and after-care.
New Technology Treatment
We’re going to see big changes in the coming decade. Scientists are already doing great work with genes, and hope, soon, to be able to “switch off” genes that might go rogue in the future and cause illness. It’s also not going to be too long before we see artificially grown limbs and organs integrated into real people. Needless to say, this will be a game changer for the healthcare industry and millions of people.
Robotic Procedures
Did you know that the robots are on their way? This won’t all be good news, especially if you’re one of the people who are likely to lose their job (some 40% of positions could be lost), but it will improve healthcare. Robots aren’t going to replace doctors, but they will work by their side to improve outcomes. It might be that they’re responsible for routine procedures, or are used during certain segments of complicated surgeries. In the process, the number of hospital errors should fall. AI could also be used during the diagnosis stage of the healthcare process, too.
Preventative Steps
The best way to maintain a person’s health is to keep it from falling away in the first place. With the rise of education, wearable technology, and the internet of things, we’re going to be a better position than ever before to stay healthy. For example, wearable technology could actively monitor the glucose levels of a person with diabetes; indeed, this is said to be included in the next incarnation of the Apple watch. As more and more technology is integrated into society that actively keeps a person healthy, the role of the health care practitioner will begin to change, for some patients who are generally kept healthy but just need small amounts of care from time to time.
At Home Care
One of the most common complaints people have about hospitals is that they, well, have to be in a hospital in order to receive their care. Generally, a person is only sent home when the hospital is convinced that they are better, but there could be a time in the future when it’s not necessary. If the patient is able to keep an open line to the hospital, and receive “visits” via video calling, then the rules surrounding when they’re able to go home can be relaxed slightly.
Improved Training
Doctors are well-trained, of course, but it’s just an occupational hazard that they need to train on the job, and that makes it easy for mistakes to happen. With the rise of 3D technology, the need to “learn as you go” might be eradicated completely. Instead, they’ll be able to practice their skills as if they were learning with a real patient.
With all of the above, it’s hard not to feel positive about the state of the healthcare industry moving forward.
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