Everyone loves to talk about medical innovations like robotic surgeries and 3D printed organs. They are innovative and have a wow factor that makes you think you’re in a sci-fi movie. However, some of the most used innovations are those that quietly work in the background helping everything else run better. They are the process improvements that make healthcare delivery more accurate, the diagnostic tools that help medical professionals catch problems, and the research that’s improving medical accuracy. These innovations may not make headlines, and you probably won’t notice them, but here’s what’s quietly going on in the background.
Smart Diagnostic Tools to Catch Problems Earlier
Medical professionals rely on tools to help them gather data about a person’s health. From the pulse oximeter that tracks oxygen levels for someone struggling to breathe to the otoscopes that help doctors view a swollen and infected ear that’s causing pain, these tools are essential. These diagnostic devices allow doctors to catch problems sooner.
In the background of medical clinics and hospitals, each of these devices require reliable parts that aren’t going to break when they are needed the most. Facilities rely on high quality OEM components, like Welch Allyn parts for example, to ensure they have the right batteries, electronics, and even cables to make the devices run accurately. A broken cord can be as much of an issue as a broken thermometer. It’s important to have a maintenance plan in place to ensure that everything is working well, and that broken parts are replaced when needed.
Research for Everyday Medicine
Medical technology doesn’t just magically appear. It takes a team of clinicians, engineers, and researchers doing years of study and experimentation to come up with new ideas that actually work. While robotic limbs and advances in spinal repairs make a splash in the headlines, there are other innovations in research that fuel the everyday medical landscape.
Intuitive monitors, smarter records keeping, and even the decentralization of important healthcare discoveries are all crucial for delivering good care. Good medical outcomes rely on medical professionals who can get access to the best treatment modalities sooner. The ongoing research happening in this space ensures that doctors can review these new findings and treatment options for their patients. No longer is it locked up in a local server, instead, research is being housed in more centralized databases to ensure that more people can benefit from it.
Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring at Your Fingertips
More and more people are recognizing the importance of 24/7 access to doctors and medical professionals. While traditional models might have required expensive visits to the ER, nowadays patients have more choices. Whether they need a medication refill while they are on a trip or they need remote monitoring for a sleep study, telemedicine is quietly disrupting the delivery of healthcare services.
From virtual doctor appointments to routine checkups, so much can be done through remote medicine. This infrastructure relies on many different medical innovations that aren’t flashy or headline worthy. They are the online portals, the Bluetooth enabled diagnostic tools, and even the smartwatches and insulin pumps that automatically deliver insulin to a diabetic patient when needed. These everyday innovations are helping more and more patients get well.
Infection Control Innovations You’ll Never See
Behind the scenes of any medical office or facility is an infection control protocol you’ll never notice unless it’s not working. From the technology that helps doctors control infectious diseases like Ebola to the standards that ensure medical devices are sterilized, there is more happening in the background than you’d realize. Things like UV cleaning lights and better ventilation systems are there to help reduce patient exposure to infectious diseases.
Did you know, for example, that an immense amount of research went into developing UV cleaning lights? Researchers discovered that ultraviolet light that can destroy bacteria, mold, and viruses by damaging their DNA or RNA. It was then that they decided to use UV lights in places like operating rooms, ICUs, and even on high-touch surfaces like tablets, remotes, and medical tools. Traditionally, these surfaces would have only been cleaned with a spray based disinfectant. But because of research, they now have additional options that can be layered together.
Healthcare innovations continue to make patient lives better and improve access to quality care when it’s needed the most. Behind every splashy medical advancement, things like good medical parts, UV cleaning lights, and even telemedicine are helping improve patient outcomes.
