Medical Technology is defined as the practical application of the scientific body of knowledge for the purpose of improving health and creating efficiencies in the delivery of health care (Shi & Singh, 2019). The types of medical technology vary from survival to illness management. Quality improves when advanced techniques are able to provide a more accurate medical diagnosis in a quicker manner. The improvement of technology has also been found to provide a more effective, less invasive, and safer therapeutic approach to the health care delivery system. The advancement of medical technology has allowed individuals to overcome their limitations in speech, hearing, vision, and movement with the help of prosthetic devices and therapies. In addition, new drugs and modern technology has also allowed HIV/AIDS which was once viewed as a killer, to now be considered as a manageable chronic disease.
Diagnostic technology involves the use of medical imaging to that allows better diagnose and develop and more effective treatment plan. For instance, to diagnose cancer doctors use different types of image procedures to detect the location and size of the tumor. CT scans link x-ray machines to a computer and create a detailed picture of your organs. Nuclear scans involve something that is called a tracer and it flows through your blood stream collecting in certain bones or organs. The 3-D process of this is called and PET scan. A scanner then detects and measures the radioactivity creating pictures of bones or organs on a computer screen or on film. Ultrasounds send out waves that bounce off of the tissues inside of your body. The echo like waves are picked up on a computer and create what is called a sonogram. X-rays are just a low dose of radiation that creates images of the inside of your body and a detailed version of this is called a MRI.
There is no question as to whether or not medical technology has played a huge role in improving both the longevity and quality of life. For people opposed, their questions and concerns seem to be more directed towards ethical decisions, cost effectiveness, medical necessities, and how accessible it is to the majority of the population. Geography is one of most important factors in access to technology. How does the advancement of technology necessary benefit those who do not have access to it? As science-based medicine increased, so did the demand for advanced services. Though this all sounds like good news, you have to keep in mind that there are still people who cannot afford all of this stuff. In addition, if they lived in a less populated area, they then have to worry about the cost of transportation on top of covering the medical treatment. When new things are being introduced into the health care system, you should consider the world as a whole. The things I have access to may not be the same as someone else’s so they should ask themselves how they can accommodate as many people as possible.
The next question that arises is does the benefits justify the cost? With new inventions being introduced as fast as they are, how do we know that the same incremental improvements aren’t being reinvented? Cutler and colleagues examined this very issue by studying medical spending from 1960 through 2000 and comparing the cost of care to the resultant gains in life expectancy in that period. During those 4 decades, overall lifetime healthcare spending climbed nearly 6-foId, from $14,000 to $83,000 per person (Lockwood, Charles). This raises a concern for people because if healthcare spending increased this much, there should be something to show for it. Healthcare is already expensive enough and nobody wants to see their money going to waste. When an opportunity to purchase any kind of medical technology is presented, the main goal should always be to accurately measure the medical technology investment and in terms of patients, the care, safety, and organizational efficiency.
The first step in this process is understanding the upfront costs that are required to implement medical technology. Engaging in different areas of expertise within the organization or even out of contract is a great way to obtain the skill set that is required to perform a thorough analysis. Assigning a project manager and system architecture design specialist to more complex technologies can increase the potential of having a successful implantation. Capital costs include but are not limited to things in the manner of integration point and network infrastructure. Operational costs relate to gaps in the skill level to support the new technology, contracts for service and parts, and training. To help in the process of determining both the capital and operational costs, it is important to identify the key stake holders and lay the ground work architecturally. Taking into account that the healthcare systems are being more dependent than before on medical technology, it is extremely vital that medical technology is contributing to the quality of healthcare that is delivered, improved access of information, and contain costs. Furthermore, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the life cycle and expected years of use associated with that particular technology.
Modeling excellent and efficient organizational processes information such as actual costs, service, repair requirements, life expectancy, quality of care and efficiency are all just a few factors to consider when making that final decision. The overall goal in purchasing medical technology is an efficient organized process. Being fluid in strategic and equipment plans makes it easy to meet the organizational needs as the ever changing healthcare environment continues to evolve. Funding options that are made available to the organization should be addressed as the options of medical technology can range anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars. The short, medium, and long term financing options should be evaluated in addition to exploring other options like leasing. Once the medical evaluation is complete, then comes the time to decide whether or not the purchase of the latest medical technology will be made. Decisions should not be driven my emotional or superficial motivations nor should they be impulsive.
The United States has yet to found a way to limit the use of high-cost medical technology as a result of out tendency to gravitate towards purchasing the latest technology solely because it is available. I feel like once everything hit the ground running, it took over the folk remedies that families and communities were accustomed as a way to heal the sick. They cycle continues because healthcare professionals associate new medical technology with better quality and they all have in their minds that newer is better. There is a such thing as too much and just because we can do something does not mean it is necessary. It then becomes easier for healthcare professionals to order unnecessary diagnostic testing because patients are under the impression that laboratory tests and imaging means that they are receiving high quality care. This causes them to not think about the financial aspect of it all. Preventative care and technology are just as important as all the others, if not more. With that being said, the same efforts should be made to prevent as many illnesses and diseases as possible.
Medical technology is not all bad. It had helped tremendously in the process of evaluating and understanding the symptoms people experience and even created new jobs that were not there before. Radiologic and MRI technologists are the individuals that perform the diagnostic imaging examinations and operate the scanners. They typically work in healthcare facilities with more than half of them working in hospitals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment is expected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026. Much like Radiologic and MRI technologists, Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Vascular and Cardiovascular Technologists also assist in helping physicians assess and diagnose conditions by operating special imaging equipment. In addition to working in hospitals, they can also work in physician offices or diagnostic laboratories. New machines, medicines, and treatments has allowed healthcare providers to deliver better treatment and patients to suffer less. Informational technology has made the healthcare workforce more efficient, safer and more reliable.
For me, it is difficult to determine whether or not the impact of technology on the health care system is more good than bad or vice versa. I love the fact that medical technology is continuously advancing. On the other hand, I do not think enough though is put into it. The healthcare system is always looking for new ways to enhance technology and it has come a long way. Doctors can now have easier access to their patients via video chat, patients do not have to worry about losing a paper prescription because the doctor can send it straight to the pharmacy, and there are machines that do almost everything that was once manually done. Though this all is amazing and I am so elated that the health care system has gotten this far, it has it’s cons. The people who cannot afford health care are always left out of the process when these new ideas are introduced. The goal of this paper was to enhance the knowledge of my peers because I know that it is something that is not often thought about. To be completely honest, before taking this class I never gave it too much thought either. Technology can be too much at times and that is something that people do not understand. It also affects the healthcare system because some medical doctors may not be able to keep up with all of the changes that are continuously happening. When new things are introduced into the health care system, the world as a whole. Not everyone comes from the same background, or has access to all the same things.