Smart technology is changing the world in ways we would have previously thought only possible in the realism of science fiction. Our smartphones are able to serve as personal assistants. Our homes can be fully controlled by smart technology. And even our cars are now using smart technology to provide more accurate mapping and an array of other features.

One field that is really feeling the benefit of smart technology is medicine. Hospitals around the world are always looking for ways to improve the quality of care they can provide patients. And modern innovations are saving more lives each day. Join us as we take a look at the impact smart technology has had on the world of medicine.

Patient Monitoring

Monitoring patients during their stay in hospital is one of the most important aspects of patient care. But a human can’t stay with a patient 24/7. Which is why we use a myriad of different machines such as an EKG.

Smart beds are one of the newest bits of kit being used in hospitals to not only monitor patients but to also improve their comfort. Smart beds are fitted with a number of different sensors that can track a patient’s movement during sleep and can alert the hospital staff if the patient has left the bed.

Smartwatches are another device that a lot of medical professionals are using in their day to day work. Modern smartwatches can track a lot of biometrics about its wearer. And they can instantly alert the emergency services if their wearer is suffering from a heart attack or a seizure, for example. This has been instrumental in saving a lot of lives over the last few years.

Patient Communication

Smartphones have revolutionized the way we interact with one another. And they have been extremely useful for hospitals and clinics to better communicate with their patients. It is easier than ever before for a medical institution to send out details of an appointment or treatment reminder to their patients automatically.

A lot of clinics have also started using various telehealth apps and digital portals to help their patients track their treatment progress and give them in-depth updates without the need for an appointment. These apps can also be linked to various smart tracking devices such as a smartwatch or FitBit to allow patients to send data directly to their GP.

Drs Reddy & Nunn in Bridlington, for example, have been using this method of data collection to provide improved care for those suffering from insomnia. Tracking the improvements of a patient’s sleep cycles after a prescription of medical cannabis without the need for an in person sleep study.

AI And Medicine

AI is one of the best tools for medical research right now. AI is able to do so much more than a human when it comes to processing data, noticing patterns, and creating alternative treatment plans. There was a recent case where an AI tool was tested for its ability to detect breast cancer. It found 11 more instances of cancer that were missed by human doctors. This might not seem like a huge number. But imagine how many more people it could help when it is used worldwide.

AI is also helping hospitals better manage their internal systems. AI can streamline a lot of the more complicated bits of bureaucracy. A hospital is a huge organization. Having to not only track the treatments and medical histories of hundreds of patients a day, but also manage staff details and order medicine and equipment.

AI is relieving the pressure for a lot of hospitals. Allowing them to, not only save time, but also a considerable amount of money too. Money that can be funneled back into research, medicine, or equipment.

VR Technology

Virtual reality technology isn’t just being used in the world of gaming. It has become an indispensable tool for medical professionals. It has seen huge use in the field of therapy. It can help people overcome issues like PTSD or anxiety by allowing them to either face their issues or offering them the chance to escape to a tranquil world of their dreams.

VR is also being used in medical training. Surgeons can practice complicated procedures as often as they want in VR. The effect of this cannot be overstated. The extra training hours could mean the difference between life and death for thousands of patients each year.