Healthcare Technology

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Learning about the technological tools used in patient care, such as electronic health records, medical imaging systems, and telehealth services.

Electronic Health Records (EHR): An EHR is a digital version of a patient's paper medical history that contains all the important information about their health, medical conditions, and treatments.
Health Information Exchange (HIE): HIE refers to the process of sharing health information between different healthcare providers, such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, to improve the quality of care.
Telemedicine: The use of telecommunication and remote monitoring technology to provide healthcare services from a distance.
Medical Devices: Medical devices are devices used for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases and conditions, such as glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, and pacemakers.
Wearable Technology: Wearable technology such as fitness trackers and smart watches can monitor vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure, and provide feedback on lifestyle behaviors.
Health Analytics: Using data and advanced analytics to identify trends, patterns, and insights in healthcare data to improve quality of care and patient outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Using algorithms and machine learning to identify patterns in medical data to make diagnoses and develop treatment plans.
Interoperability: The ability of different healthcare systems and devices to exchange data and work together seamlessly.
Mobile Health (mHealth): Using mobile devices, apps, and other digital tools to deliver healthcare services or health-related information.
Digital Health: Refers to a broad range of technology-enabled healthcare services and solutions, such as online health information, digital health coaching, and virtual visits with healthcare providers.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Digital versions of patient health information that can be accessed and shared among healthcare providers.
Telehealth: The use of telecommunication technologies, such as video conferencing, to provide remote medical diagnosis and treatment.
Medical Imaging Technology: A range of techniques, such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scan, that are used to create visual representations of internal body structures.
Electronic Prescribing Systems: A digital method of prescribing medications that is safer and more efficient than traditional paper prescriptions.
Health Information Exchange (HIE): A technology that enables the sharing of patient health information between different healthcare providers and institutions.
Wearable Devices: Devices that can monitor various health metrics, such as heart rate and activity levels, and provide information directly to patients and healthcare providers.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): A technology that enables machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as interpreting medical images and predicting disease risk.
Mobile Health (mHealth): The use of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to provide health-related services and information.
Patient Engagement Technologies: Tools that empower patients to actively participate in their own healthcare, such as patient portals and health tracking apps.
Clinical Decision Support Systems: A software technology that offers clinical insights and recommendations to healthcare providers based on patient data and other relevant information.
"An electronic health record (EHR) is the systematized collection of patient and population electronically stored health information in a digital format."
"Records are shared through network-connected, enterprise-wide information systems or other information networks and exchanges."
"EHRs may include a range of data, including demographics, medical history, medication and allergies, immunization status, laboratory test results, radiology images, vital signs, personal statistics like age and weight, and billing information."
"Today, providers are using data from patient records to improve quality outcomes through their care management programs."
"EHR combines all patients' demographics into a large pool and uses this information to assist with the creation of 'new treatments or innovation in healthcare delivery.'"
"Combining multiple types of clinical data from the system's health records has helped clinicians identify and stratify chronically ill patients."
"EHR systems are designed to store data accurately and to capture the state of a patient across time."
"It eliminates the need to track down a patient's previous paper medical records and assists in ensuring data is up-to-date, accurate and legible."
"It also allows open communication between the patient and the provider."
"...providing 'privacy and security.'"
"It can reduce the risk of data replication as there is only one modifiable file."
"...decreases the risk of lost paperwork."
"...is cost efficient."
"Due to the digital information being searchable and in a single file, EMRs (electronic medical records) are more effective when extracting medical data for the examination of possible trends and long-term changes in a patient."
"Population-based studies of medical records may also be facilitated by the widespread adoption of EHRs and EMRs."