Keep the 'Care' in Healthcare Technology
Western medicine has become so closely associated with high-tech medical equipment that it’s top of mind even for patients.
And that means all of us. When we go to the hospital sick or injured, we’re comforted as much by the sight of flashy gadgetry as by the presence of skilled caregivers. We expect the machines—not just medical devices but also their computer cousins—to play a key role in bringing us back to health or, at least, up to a higher comfort level.
We’re not wrong to think this way. Generally speaking, healthcare technology is good for what ails us. But, for those of us who daily work one field or another on the healthcare farm, it’s imperative that we frequently take our eyes off the gear and focus on those for whom it’s there.
That would be patients, and you’ll find them in each story in this section—even if only indirectly.
Look for a trauma center in Virginia using cloud computing to plan emergency surgeries before the ambulance even arrives. Read about mHealth apps used to avert inpatient complications and dramatically reduce the need for patients to be rehospitalized. Hear about radiofrequency identification tags deployed to keep track of inpatients’ whereabouts (which can improve care by increasing efficiency and cutting out redundant intra-hospital transports).
And don’t miss the closing quote from a hospital executive in charge of, yes, technology. His thought is so spot-on, it deserves a preview: “When you get to the end of the line, the patient comes first.”
Just so.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.