Technology in healthcare: the revolution in medical and health care

Healthcare is a key driver of economic growth in developed economies and is, without a doubt, undergoing a major revolution propelled by the increasingly personalised needs of us, the patients. Knowledge has become a key driver of change and technology ín healthcare will play a key role in this development. E-health will increasingly play a leading role in how we receive medical care. But what is e-health? What does it involve? What is this new technology in medicine?

Using new information and communications technologies (ICT) will help move towards a new model of healthcare, with a smarter and more patient-centric approach to healthcare services.

In today’s post, we will give some examples of new information and communication technologies that are contributing to the current radical transformation of healthcare.

1. Artificial intelligence. Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare will be an extremely important part of advancing diagnostic processes and treatments. AI enables practitioners to analyse vast quantities of information, patient records, imaging, and more – all of which streamlines research. Robots will also play a key role in the use of new technology in medicine. For example, the use of robots is helping to improve the communication skills of autistic children, and remote-controlled robots for operations are already a reality.

2. Mobile applications. The use of mobile devices to complement medical care can improve the relationship between medical professionals and, of course, between patients and doctors. Applications are also being developed that allow patients to store information and manage their own health through these devices.

3. Is the use of computer technology to access healthcare services remotely. Telehealth is the name given to this method of accessing healthcare and includes a range of activities to assist in education, awareness, prevention, diagnosis, self-care and treatment.

This long-distance option allows people with reduced mobility, and those who live in rural or isolated areas, to access these services. Telehealth includes services such as portals for scheduling medical appointments, reviewing test results, and holding video conferences between doctors and specialists or doctors and patients.

4. Telemedicine. Telemedicine is one of the most significant branches of telehealth. More specifically, it is the exchange of medical information through any form of electronic communications. Telemedicine allows practitioners to provide healthcare services when distance is an issue.

5. Devices that we incorporate into our bodies. These devices are biosensors that are used to track and manage various aspects of patient health. They allow practitioners to detect and manage diseases in a much less intrusive way, which is a basic element of this new concept of technology in healthcare.

6. EMR and EHR software. These are different platforms that allow practitioners to manage patient information quickly and efficiently.

In order for all these tools – which facilitate the development of the healthcare system – to be effective, there is a very important detail to remember: they have to be available in the native language of both the patient and the medical and healthcare professional. It is also important to remember that, in less developed regions, where telehealth and telemedicine have a vital role to play, there are also often higher levels of illiteracy. In that kind of context, images and symbols become extremely important, and the appropriate localisation of symbols, colours and other visual elements is crucial to ensuring that the message is delivered properly and appropriately to the target audience. CPSL is experienced in this area and understands the complexity of localisation processes.

Basically, it is critical to be sensitive to the linguistic and sociocultural characteristics of all these regions where new technology in healthcare is to be applied.

Personalised healthcare is meaningless if the patient does not fully identify with the language being used to communicate with them, whether messages are delivered in writing, verbally, or visually.

That is why it is so important to develop each of these devices, portals and software applications in collaboration with a language partner with expertise in translating and localising this kind of content; a language services provider that can draw upon professionals who are familiar with the language and special features of the healthcare sector, the local environment or milieu and its customs. It is also important that the LSP is certified in accordance with ISO standards* relevant to the sector.

Do you need to create an efficient, easy-to-use, audio-visual training programme from scratch? CPSL is partnering up with a renowned immersive and interactive technologies provider to offer comprehensive multilingual digital solutions. Contact us to explore the possibilities!

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