Introduction
In the current state of the health industry, numerous developments have been realized and most of them are products of the advancement in technological breakthroughs. The medical field, in particular, has been bee experiencing unmatched growth and improvement. However, the numerous breakthroughs have been both advantageous and disadvantageous. Some of the randomly raised issues with regard to technology in the medical filed include ethical concerns. This paper seeks to prove that the involvement of technology is of great benefit to the human race than it is harmful.
Research question
How do technology aid practitioners in the medical field and how does its inclusion in the health practice add value to the human race?
Medical technology as a discipline
Medical technology is also known as clinical laboratory science (Giannicola, Sacchetti, & Cinotti, 2014). In this field, students are prepared in chemistry, microbiology, and hematology among other related subjects in the file (Giannicola et al., 2014). Professionals in this field are absorbed in the medical industry as medical technologists or clinical laboratory technicians. Medical technology professionals are mostly involved in medical researches and scientific studies due to their in-depth understanding of the microorganisms.
Medical technology as a filed
Technology as a broad field has numerous effects in our daily live. Health is one of the greatest fields in human life that technology has really been useful. Technology and its prevalence has become an inevitable phenomenon not only in the healthcare systems but all in other sectors such transport, communication and security among other areas. Like any other phenomenon, technology has its challenges and benefits to the human race.
However, in analyzing the viability of any decision, one must carefully weigh the merits and demerits thereof in order to make an informed decision. Although this paper has a presumed position to support and emphasize the role technology in the health industry, some of the negative implications will also be outlined.
Importance of technology in the current modernized/globalized world
We are living in the twenty first century where technology has taken over all our human functions. Thing are no longer working it the ways that we used to know twenty years ago. The changes have affected every aspect of our lives such that we are more depended on technology than we were in the last few decades. Some of this dependencies can be seen are disadvantageous but most of them have contributed positively to the development of healthcare facilities. Adopting technology in the healthcare system is very important. For instance, technology has enabled data storage in the healthcare facilities to be more efficient and easy.
Technology cannot be wished away in our societies due to the roles it plays in ensuring our safety and efficiency. Historical information of patients is very crucial in diagnosis and medical operations such as treatment. Therefore, storage and ease of access is very crucial. Currently, the numerous technological breakthroughs have changed the entire medical practice globally. This revolution has not been made only on the machinery aspect but also in the practice and the entre healthcare structure and organizations (Inthavong & Fucharoen, 2014). Good examples of these milestones are seen in the advancement in bio-medical engineering and technology (Liang & Si, 2014). Due to technological advancement, healthcare delivery methods have changed significantly.
Medical technology has been very helpful and as we speak it has become an indispensable factor in the healthcare practice. Other than the health benefits that accrue from the adoption of technology in the health system, there are economic and financial gains. It is estimated that technology has contributed billions of dollars to the economy (Barrack, Ruh, & Nunley, 2014). The rampant usage of electronic gadgets in the healthcare system has helped the industry to save billions of dollars in the care cost. Nonetheless, the economic aspects of technology in the healthcare system are not the focus of this paper.
Time saving aspects
Everybody appreciates the importance of time in the health industry. In fact, one second in the healthcare practice can be the determining factor between life and death of a patient. Time is crucial and the most effective ways of utilizing and saving it are more than welcome in the healthcare system. Technology has been more than helpful in saving time in medical practices.
Better management and data coordination
Technology has also brought sanity in the storage of data in healthcare systems. This has reduced the amount of time spent in looking for specific information hence saving precious time. I addition, proper data storage systems have been put in place to allow the ease of information flow. In some health facilities, the use of technology such CCTV cameras and other tracking devices has been very useful in regard to management of the workforce. With the ease on tracking and accessing information, the ease of diagnosis has become easier and extremely accurate compared to the pre-technological era.
Surgical procedures
Currently, the modern and civilized lifestyles have sprung up different health challenges that were not common in the past. Our eating habits for instance are to blame for the rampant cases of cancer. In additional, due to lack of physical activities, the modern man is more prone to cardiovascular ailments. All these diseases require surgical interventions to diagnose and treat. Those that cannot be treated like cancer require highly specialized technology at least to control their effects and severity.
Technology has enabled practitioners to perform such surgical operations more accurately and effectively through the various equipments that have been developed to perform such functions (Franken, Ansems, & Damink, 2014). This has reduced the invasive procedures that had dominated the health practice for many years.
Disadvantages of technology
One of the most disadvantages of technology is the internet and the access to it. Although this argument is debatable, there are underlying risks that cannot be ignored. For instance, the internet has presented its users with a vast wealth of medical information that can easily replace physicians. Physical extermination must always be done by a physician because one simple symptom can be mistaken as a mild effect when it may have severe lifelong implications.
Conclusion
As noted in this paper, technology is one of the greatest inventions and its contribution to human existence has been great over the years. While the adoption of technology may be advantageous, this paper was not blind to the fact that it can also prove to be disastrous if not checked. However, the general advantages of adopting technology outweigh the disadvantages.
The paper has discussed the importance of adopting technology in the health sector giving several examples. The aspect of medical technology has been defined to help the reader to understand the real issue and to paint a clear picture of the dire need for technology in the healthcare system.
References
Barrack, R. L., Ruh, E. L., & Nunley, R. M. (2014). Impact of socioeconomic factors on outcome of total knee arthroplasty. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 472(1), 86-97.
Franken, M., Ansems, J., & Damink, B. (2014). Quality of medical technology for flexible endoscopes and disinfectsors. Physica Medica: European Journal of Medical Physics, 30(1), 119-120.
Giannicola, G., Sacchetti, F. M., & Cinotti, G. (2014). Radial head, radiocapitellar and total elbow arthroplasties: a review of recent literature. Injury, 45(2), 428-436.
Inthavong, S., & Fucharoen, S. (2014). Prevalence and risk factors for anemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among female children and adolescents in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Journal of Medical Technology and Physical Therapy, 26(2), 141-149.
Liang, W., & Si, W. (2014). U.S. Patent No. 8,765,181. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.