Technological products have entered life so much that they have become almost indispensable. It has even taken its place among the vital elements in some areas. Especially communication technologies have developed very seriously. The development of communication technologies directly affects many areas in the health sector from service to production.
Transactions that could only be done with pen and paper in the past have now been transferred to the digital environment. This has enabled all health-related information to be recorded in databases on servers wherever you are in the world. Health data can be viewed anytime and anywhere. Large-scale statistical data have also become easily accessible and evaluable. With the development of artificial intelligence in the future, it is predicted that even the treatments can be done by robots. Today, even very risky surgeries can be performed with robots remotely controlled by a physician in another country. Thanks to internet technologies, it has been made possible for people to be examined without going to the hospital or to transfer data by communicating with medical devices. These developments lead to the emergence of some dangers such as malicious individuals accessing health data illegally and using them in criminal areas or harming users by interfering with medical devices remotely. The development of communication technologies has both good and bad sides for the health sector.
With the development of technology, communication is getting easier day by day. The easier communication also enables the technology to develop faster. Technology and communication continue to affect each other cyclically. Therefore, these two systems are developing at an unstoppable speed. Communication channels are increasing day by day and information spreads rapidly and becomes a global scale. People can now easily access detailed information about health problems using the internet. It tries to reach correct information by filtering and comparing the information obtained from many different platforms.
Since most of the information sources on the internet are not created through scientific and experimental processes, the information obtained from the internet should not be accepted without question. By comparing several different sources and contacting experts of the subject verification must be done. This is true for any information accessed on the internet. When it comes to health, more attention should be paid.
Communication in the field of health has several main purposes:
- Increasing communication between healthcare professionals
- Establishing and maintaining the organizational functioning of health institutions
- Strengthening communication between patient and healthcare professional
- Avoid misunderstandings between patient and healthcare professional
- Generating knowledge
- To introduce technological developments in the field of health to the society
The most common problem in communication occurs between healthcare professionals and patients. There are 2 reasons for this situation:
- Problems in the approach of the patient or patient relative to the healthcare professional
- Problems in the healthcare provider's approach to the patient or patient's relative
In the communication of both patients and healthcare professionals with each other misunderstandings can be. This negatively affects the treatment process. In fact, these problems can reach dimensions of physical violence that are not accepted in any way. Legal measures should also be taken for a solution. No other solution seems to be provided.
All developments in the field of health directly affect the lives of individuals. Some of the positive effects are making life easier, increasing the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment processes, reducing costs and extending the average life span. It is possible to announce the developments to the public through the use of communication technologies. With the rise of social media use and internet journalism, people's sources of information have started to change. Live broadcasts on the internet and social media journalism are now preferred instead of printed media and television channels that were used extensively in the past. This makes it easier for positive and negative developments in the field of health to reach everyone in a very short time.
The rapid transmission of developments to industry professionals and society is also important in other respects. For example, if it is possible to inform everyone about newly developed medicinal products, this product is more demanded and produced more. Thus, the price of the product can be made more affordable by lowering the costs. More people in the community more affordable prices can benefit from these products. The supply and demand balance must be ensured by well-regulated regulations in order to establish favorable prices, get the producers' labor and more people to benefit from new medical products.
From another perspective, the development of communication technologies means that digitalization in health is also developing. Thanks to the new systems, information flow within the hospital and between hospitals can be easily provided. The fact that hospital procedures are recorded in databases, that all records of patients can be examined by doctors, and information such as bed capacity can be shared between hospitals ensures faster and higher quality services in the field of health. The fact that historical patient data can be accessed at any time accelerates the treatment process and increases its effectiveness. Thus, the work of physicians is a little easier.
With the digitalization in hospitals, communication and information flow between units has become much easier and faster. An examination done in seconds to the hospital information system can be saved and viewed from other units. For example, when an x-ray film is taken, there is no longer a need to wait for hours for an x-ray image and take the image and move it around the hospital. The image is automatically added to the hospital's information system and patient records. It is even sent to the database created by the state. Thus, the information of the patient becomes accessible to both the hospital, the patient and government officials.
The fact that patient information and previous medical procedures are registered in a database and that physicians can access these records when needed, increases the effectiveness of treatment. In this way, physician change is also possible. When necessary, a different physician can gain speed by directly accessing the patient's medical history. If the patient has any allergies, this may be known by the physician in advance and appropriate medications can be recommended. Since the drug history will also be recorded, drug treatments can also be controlled.
Since intervening patients without knowing their diabetes, blood pressure and allergic conditions carries great vital risks, appropriate interventions can be made and these risks can be eliminated thanks to the information recorded in the database. Thanks to the chips we will carry on us in the near future, our medical condition and vital functions will be monitored instantly. In fact, without the need to inform the emergency response teams, the relevant teams will be alerted and it will be possible to intervene immediately by moving to our location quickly. The team will be able to apply the correct intervention immediately, as they can view all our health records beforehand when they reach our location.
Systems that facilitate the work of people who have chronic diseases and have to constantly measure and record parameters such as blood or blood pressure are also being developed. The measurement results made at home or in the hospital can be automatically recorded in a database over the internet thanks to the communication technology of the devices (internet of things) (IoT). These data can be monitored instantly by an alarm center and the health status of the patients can be kept under constant control. Patients using the devices can access health centers over the internet, thanks to a button on the device and emergency call can leave. If they wish, they can meet with specialist physicians online and get medical information about their ailments.
Tracking via satellite can be achieved with wristwatches, belts or accessories that can be added to clothing, specially produced for people with diseases such as Alzheimer's or at risk of disappearing. The location of the person can be determined instantly. With software that can be installed on smartphones and computers, the whereabouts of the person can be monitored or historical records can be examined. There are even tracking devices on the market that automatically inform the relatives of the patient when it goes beyond certain limits. These types of devices are used frequently recently.
Mobile technologies in the field of health are also developing very rapidly. It is used extensively by some of the society. Thanks to the developed accessories and software, how many steps are taken or how many calories are consumed while doing sports can be recorded automatically. Medical measurements such as heart rate, ECG, blood pressure and blood glucose are now possible with smart phones.
Artificial intelligence has entered our lives in the last few years and is used in various ways. Health field is one of them. Powered by artificial intelligence decision support systems has been used in the health sector. These systems offer the most accurate treatments to physicians with the most appropriate parameters by using statistics. Physicians can make faster and more accurate decisions by using this information. Although artificial intelligence supports the increase of the effectiveness of treatment processes for now, it will provide other benefits in the near future.
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