What is eHealth technology?

During the pandemic, some countries have leveraged the predictive power of big data to keep the global spread of the pandemic in check.

This is just one of many examples of how technology can be used under the banner of eHealth to help save millions of people around the world.

Since 1960, World Bank data tells us that life expectancy has risen by 20 years, and who knows if soon humans could live upto 150?

According to Gregory Stock, biophysicist and former director of the Program on Medicine, Technology and Society at UCLA (University of California), it could well happen. What we all know for sure is that if people are to live longer and better, we will have to rely on research and technology, the same combination that has managed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, do you know what is eHealth? I guess you might have heard about this word earlier too but, let's see it in detail.

What is eHealth?

The E-healthcare system can be seen as an emerging field that makes use of information and communication advancements in the healthcare domain.

This is done to provide enhanced healthcare services to customers around the world. You can say that it is a network that aims at delivering improved health services to patients using ICT technologies. Isn't this is an amazing concept? Haha! Yes, it is!

What are digital health services?

Don't you think that technology plays a vital role in our lives? Without a doubt, they do.

The great advantages of new technologies in the healthcare sector are how versatile they are. Can you name some of them?

Here are some of the most widespread solutions they offer:

1. Telehealth

People in remote areas with limited access to healthcare can get the medical attention they need. It also saves time, money and travel for both doctors and patients.

2. Apps

Having certain mobile apps that are dedicated to health turns your phones into personal trainers, sleep monitors, diagnostic, devices and more, with apps for both healthcare professionals and patients.

3. Serious Games

These special video games are used as a learning resource for healthcare professionals and students to enhance their training.

4. Wearable technology

The well-known term wearables include smart clothing and accessories such as wristbands, glasses and watches to monitor and collect information on our health and physical condition.

Like in common words it is called a smart watch. Haha! I purchased it once and really it works like wonders.

5. Augmented reality

AR can help health professionals to visualise organs in 3D. Even it helps doctors to look at the organs properly during surgeries.

6. eHealth record

Having a digital health record means information can be stored in one place but be available anywhere, so patients can share it safely and healthcare staff can access it at any time and just he should have a smartphone with him.

So, these are some of the digital health services that you can use.

What are the benefits of eHealth?

Do you know what are the certain benefits of eHealth? There are so many benefits. Let's see them one by one:

1. Improved patient monitoring

Communication is easier with this new digital channel.

It also means the patient's condition can be monitored and their progress can be recorded in real-time.

2. More informed patients

Patients can make better health decisions.

ICTs also provide you with access to guide books and best practice that is very useful.

3. Encouraging healthier habits

Now, by using certain apps on your devices you can keep a track of what you have to eat, how much exercise you have to do, how long or soundly you sleep and how fast your heart rate is.

4. Easier decision-making

ICTs really helps to identify optimal treatments more easily or detect illnesses at an early stage.

5. More accessible and equal healthcare

Access to healthcare is no longer limited by time and space, which means avoiding unnecessary travel.

So, technology brings healthcare to more people, especially patients who have the risk which means more equal opportunities for everyone.

So, these are some of the advantages of eHealth and in the pandemic, it has really helped many of us. Isn't it?

What are some key challenges for eHealth?

Without a doubt, everything in this universe has both advantages and disadvantages. So, let's see some of the disadvantages of eHealth:

1. Lack of adequate awareness of the value of medical informatics and e-health in the development of health services.

2. The absence of a clear vision among the health institutions designated to provide health care services.

3. Inability to bear the costs of developing the infrastructure and the application of e-health services.

4. Lack of experience and lack of good and qualified human capabilities in the field of medical information.

5. Poor level of cooperation and linkage between different health sectors.

So, these are some of the challenges of eHealth and for sure it's important to overcome these challenges to become successful in it.

How to Overcome eHealth Challenges?

Let's see how you can overcome eHealth Challenges?

To overcome it you can apply the following tips and techniques:

1. Develop a clear vision for the Ministry through a strategic plan based on data and inclusive of all current and future needs.

2. Emphasize more on the concept of electronic health file.

3. Provide full cooperation between all health sectors and health care providers.

4. Set up the standards, laws, and legislation related to eHealth and ethics of the profession with emphasis on confidentiality and preservation of patient information.

5. Spread information awareness among all sections of society, especially about medical informatics.

So, these are the challenges that need to overcome as soon as possible.

What are some new technologies in health?

There are some new technologies in health. Can you name them?

So, let's see them one by one:

1. Internet of Things

It helps to customise healthcare, save costs, reduce the likelihood of incorrect diagnosis and shorten waiting times.

2. Big data

Using big data to perform macro data analysis allows for tailored treatments and helps to detect the risk factors and potential side effects of drugs.

3. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence can help healthcare professionals to make wiser decisions and deliver better treatments. During the pandemic, AI was used to identify the sequence of antibodies and their compatibility with future treatments.

4. Blockchain

It affords safe access to a patient's health record, which makes a more efficient administration.

5. Chatbots

It provides a tool to enable faster and more direct doctor-patient communication. The World Health Organisation set up one of these channels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, these are some of the new technologies in health and without a doubt, it's helping a lot especially in this pandemic when it's difficult to visit a doctor physically.

CONCLUSION

The world has seen considerable developments in recent years in terms of technology. The progressions in the healthcare system are one aspect that has given rise to the standards in the facilities provided to patients across the world.

E- healthcare system has certainly proven to be one such development that has provided a lot of ease to its users. It makes really convenient for the patients to save and record their health data.

However, the privacy of all this data is really important to be kept safe for which the respective healthcare organisation needs to ensure the execution of important safety measures. Literally, imagining life without technology is difficult.

Thank you for reading it till the end. Hope you found this blog post helpful.

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