There is a profusion of new medical technologies that have the potential to fundamentally alter the relationship between consumers and providers. Many of these are wireless, such as smart phone apps or attachments, allow
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There is a profusion of new medical technologies that have the potential to fundamentally alter the relationship between consumers and providers. Many of these are wireless, such as smart phone apps or attachments, allowing consumers to monitor aspects of their health and/or transmit the information to providers. Many allow so called “point of care diagnostics”, meaning that they are used without the need to have the consumer or patient travel to a clinic or other health care site. They can be used at remote sites, such as in rural areas or in developing countries. Providers are assisted with smaller, more sophisticated devices for diagnosis and monitoring.
The potential benefits of these advances are enormous. But there are downsides as well. Simply generating information, if it is not used to actually improve health, may do more harm than good. Many of the apps and technologies are “developed in silicon valley for the users in silicon valley”. In other words, they may appeal to techies and to those with more access to sophisticated care, but are unavailable or not even applicable to the health care needs of the majority of the population.
Watch the video:
Video: The empowered you: How healthcare is evolving with technology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuwMPataXtA
This video is a little dated (3 years old) but givesAfter watching the video, your assignment is to select one health care technology that you believe will have the substantial impact over the next 5-10 years. It can be one described in video, or it can be one that you know of or learn about that is not in the video. For example, you might choose to focus on some application of artificial intelligence to health and health care. We have a session on this on November 14. Describe the technology and give your explanation for why it will be so important. You will have to find some sources from your own research to complete this assignment.
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