Wednesday, July 1, 2015

New Technology In Healthcare

Given that the healthcare information technology market is slated to grow by 20% annually for the next three years and mobile health devices are on pace for annual growth of 33% for the next five years, it’s safe to say that healthcare providers are going to be presented with many new types of technology.
While new technology can be exciting and may be the key to unlocking growth, it also comes with a unique set of challenges. This is especially true in the healthcare field. Since any new technology that a healthcare provider is considering can have a significant impact, it’s important to properly weigh every decision.
Because there are so many different elements to consider, we’ve put together the following guide to help healthcare providers evaluate new technology options as they present themselves:
Data is Key
Although the future looks bright, the current reality of home medical devices is only 10% of them are able to generate and share electronic data. Since that creates a significant gap for healthcare providers, shifting to devices that do provide data capabilities needs to be a priority.
Don’t Drown in Data
There’s no denying the fact that data is crucial. That being said, far too many healthcare providers have found themselves in a position where they feel like they’re drowning in data. This is why it’s so important for providers to have a clear understanding of which data truly matters. By taking the time to gain this clarity, it becomes much easier to fully reap the benefits that new technology has to offer.
Focus on Specific Use Cases
Because there are so many different technology options for healthcare providers, it can be hard to figure out where to start. For providers who are struggling to narrow down their list of options, turning the focus to specific use cases can be very helpful. By pinpointing the most pressing use cases, it becomes much easier to determine which technology is worth pursuing and which options can be passed for the time being.
Make Sure You Have the Right Platform
While much of the new technology that’s out in the healthcare industry looks great, things can quickly change when a provider attempts to implement and roll-out new technology. The most common reason for this type of bottleneck is the provider’s existing platform isn’t ideal. If you want to avoid encountering those types of obstacles, you need to make it a priority to review your platform ahead of time and make any necessary adjustments.

If you need an experienced team to help ensure that the integration of new healthcare technology goes as smoothly as possible, contact Full Sky Technologies at 513 206 9971 to learn more about how we can help

The Impact of IT on Healthcare

The Impact of IT on Healthcare


It wasn’t long ago when the field of healthcare was considered a laggard in terms of technology. However, that’s no longer the case. Because healthcare technology is now leapfrogging other industries, experts have compared the speed with which healthcare and its quality are changing with that of the industrial revolution.
While healthcare technology is rapidly evolving across the board, one key area of focus is IT. Because advances in healthcare IT are having a direct impact on this entire field, let’s take a look at some of the specific areas that are driving the impact of IT on healthcare:
Self-Service
Although there are those still stuck in an older mindset, most of the industry agrees that empowered patients are a good thing. Because technology increases the amount of data and decision making for patients, it makes it possible for communication between patients and providers to happen in a more efficient and effective way.
Telemedicine
In-person visits have an average cost of $180. With an average cost of just $60, employers will save as much as $6 billion as more of medical care shifts towards telemedicine. Even though telemedicine may initially seem like something out of a science fiction movie, once people think about what most visits entail, it becomes clear that this is a great way to get faster care without sacrificing quality.
Wearables
Even though plenty of people are still skeptical about the Apple Watch, the reason this company decided to enter this market now and put much of their focus on health is because the market is expected to explode to $30 billion by 2018.
Implantables
While the growth rate of wearables is going to be very significant in the coming years, what’s really amazing is that implantables will be more than twice as big by 2018. With a projected device market of $73.9 billion, there’s going to be a major need for infrastructure in order to support the wide range of implantable devices.
Connected Hospitals
By putting all the technology in place so that medical devices can be connected to electronic health records, it becomes possible for vitals to be entered in less than 1 minute (as opposed to 7-10 minutes). Since nurses continue to face an increasing number of patients, this type of efficiency is crucial for providing quality care.
Wireless Technology
As wireless technology continues to increase in its robustness, all kinds of new opportunities are opening up. Some of the most exciting include real-time location systems, advanced bed & fall monitors and mobile medical devices.

If your business is in the healthcare sector and you’re in need of an IT company that understands all the special considerations in this space, you can get in touch with Full Sky Technologies by calling 513-206-9971