Information and Communications Technology Benefits in Healthcare Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

ICT has improved very many things in health and social care. Compared to ancient times, the modern times have experienced the improvement of virtually all areas in these sectors due to massive ICT developments. All activities are done more easily and quickly compared to previous decades. In addition, both the caregivers and service users can access any type of information depending on their needs. In brief, the benefits of embracing ICT in the health and social care sector are very numerous. Among them include storing, transferring and accessing information, improved communication between institutions, among nurses and, sometimes, with their patients and continuous professional development.

Storage, Transfer and Access to Information

The advancement in ICT has made it possible for anybody to access any information within very short periods. Caregivers can store their patients’ information in computers. Information stored in computers is safer than that stored in paper files. The caregivers will also be able to access such information more easily whenever it is needed. In addition, both the caregivers and their clients can easily find information about their illnesses on the internet.

ICT has also made it possible for caregivers and their institutions to easily transfer information from one place to the other. For example, institutions may want to share information about certain illnesses with other health and social care institutions for the purpose of handling them better. In such cases, they may make calls or send emails to the relevant institutions. Contrasted to earlier periods, such communication receives instant feedback. Hence, problems are solved within shorter periods.

On the same note, automated information systems in health and social institutions have made the handling of patients very easy. Caregivers can carry out tests using the computer; they can monitor the recovery process and even get notifications whenever their patients are in dire need of help. As a result, it takes very little time to diagnose even the deadliest diseases and treat them before they develop into chronic cases. It was very difficult to carry out such activities without the inventions that exist today in the ICT sector. Caregivers used to spend too much time waiting for laboratory results before they could attend to their patients.

Communication

In modern times, almost everybody has a mobile phone and other ICT-related gadgets. Such gadgets have helped ease the process of passing on information from one person to the other. In the health and social care sector, ICT has helped the caregivers to easily communicate amongst themselves, especially when sharing out responsibilities or trying to solve different crises. Therefore, they take less time communicating information on duties and crises compared to periods before health and social care institutions had embraced ICT.

Professional Development

Apart from communication, ICT has substantially fostered continued professional development. Many caregivers can register for online courses for the purpose of advancing their knowledge as professionals. This is a very good way of furthering their professional knowledge without interfering with their daily responsibilities as caregivers. At the same time, they can surf for any information on the web whenever there is need for it. Eventually, they become more skilled and knowledgeable than those who joined the profession before them. This also means they handle their clients better than their predecessors.

In a nutshell, ICT has greatly improved the performance of health and social care providers. Their services are faster and more accurate than those in the past. ICT has also improved communication between institution and service providers.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2020, July 6). Information and Communications Technology Benefits in Healthcare. https://ivypanda.com/essays/information-and-communications-technology-benefits-in-healthcare/

Work Cited

"Information and Communications Technology Benefits in Healthcare." IvyPanda, 6 July 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/information-and-communications-technology-benefits-in-healthcare/.

References

IvyPanda. (2020) 'Information and Communications Technology Benefits in Healthcare'. 6 July.

References

IvyPanda. 2020. "Information and Communications Technology Benefits in Healthcare." July 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/information-and-communications-technology-benefits-in-healthcare/.

1. IvyPanda. "Information and Communications Technology Benefits in Healthcare." July 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/information-and-communications-technology-benefits-in-healthcare/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Information and Communications Technology Benefits in Healthcare." July 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/information-and-communications-technology-benefits-in-healthcare/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1