Technology in nursing

20 May 2021 By Michael Bowyer

Technology-led services are transforming the way nurses operate, as every part of our daily lives becomes increasingly digitalised. Nursing is continuing to embrace innovation at a very fast rate, with the medical sector seeing the biggest overhaul as a result of the pandemic.

Technological changes are transforming the healthcare industry, supporting nurses with administering exceptional patient care as advancements in technology help to improve and standardise healthcare procedures.

Not only has technology transformed the medical landscape, emerging tech like telehealth, electronic record-keeping and health trackers have allowed patients to have better access to their personal data and help to empower individuals to track and take care of their health themselves.

5 top emerging technologies in healthcare

The healthcare market is in the midst of rapidly evolving digital transformation. These top five emerging technologies provide a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of healthcare:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is being used to improve efficiency, as rapidly evolving AI tools are helping nurses and patients alike to better assess and understand symptoms and how they should be treated. In the future, Chatbots will reach a stage where they will even be able to recommend and schedule doctor visits, which will be an asset for general practice, primary care and acute care.

Wearable technology

Health trackers are not just a fashion trend now! They also enable healthcare workers to access invaluable data about their patients. Ranging from smartwatches to other wearable health devices, such as heart rate trackers, technology is making it possible to generate a real-time insights and a more comprehensive understanding of medical conditions and their treatment requirements.

According to Zebra’s report on The Future of Healthcare: 2022 Hospital Vision Study:

  • 57% of patients use wearables to track health metrics

  • 37% brought health monitoring device data to the hospital in preparation for a stay

  • 95% of patients were willing to share electronic health metrics with hospital clinicians

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

There is an increasing rise in the number of connected medical devices in the healthcare infrastructure. According to a report by Deloitte, more than 500,000 medical technologies are currently available. Internet-connected devices are being used to improve efficiency in healthcare, as well as drive lower costs and better outcomes. As computing power and wireless capabilities improve, the sector is leveraging the potential of IoMT to provide more accurate diagnoses, fewer mistakes and better health tracking.

Telehealth/ Telemedicine

One of the biggest healthcare transformations that was motivated by the pandemic was the move to telehealth and telemedicine. With people across the global under lockdown, sometimes the best way to access critical services was virtually. A global study by Cisco found that 74% of consumers were ready to get their treatment delivered via telehealth.

With the roll out of 5G wireless technology and shifting demands from patients, the healthcare industry has seen a huge uptake in telehealth where care is provided in a cost-effective and socially distanced way.

Benefits of nursing technology

There are many benefits to the rise of technology in healthcare as new medical devices simplify routine procedures and enhance communication, patient safety and faster results. Some benefits include:

Improved accessibility

Remote consultations, mobile health apps, and wearable devices are a few examples of technology enabling patients to not only track their personal data, but share real-time insights with healthcare workers.

Increased focus on patient-centred care

Patients are encouraged to have more involvement in monitoring and looking after their health, with advances in technology contributing to patient-centred care that fosters communication between healthcare workers and patients via online portals, text messaging, and email.

Decrease in nurse burnout

Technology and advanced healthcare systems will decrease nurse burnout by reducing administrative tasks and freeing up valuable time to spend on providing excellent patient care.

If you’re looking for your next nursing role then we want to help. Whether working in primary care or acute nursing, our skilled recruitment consultants are currently working on several opportunities and may have the right role for you.

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