The Medical Field
Diagnostic Tests
Doctors often use X-rays and CT scans in order to acquire more information about a patient before diagnosing them. X-rays and CT scans produce images of the body's internal structure through the use of radiation. After running these tests, doctors search for abnormalities that can explain problems at hand. X-rays allow doctors to look at a patient's internal structure from one, two-dimensional angle. CT scans, on the other hand, use a computer to compile X-rays and create a multidimensional view. Computer programs are used to assemble the X-rays in a way that reflects the structure within a patient's body.
Additionally, doctors use Magnetic Resonance Imaging to assess the condition of soft tissue within the body. MRIs use powerful magnetic fields to scan and reproduce an image of the internal body structure. The machine used for MRIs feeds bioelectrical activity detected internally back to a computer that recreates a picture of a particular region. The computer is able to map out a three-dimensional image of activity within the area being scanned. The image created by the computer allows doctors to analyze the activity (or lack there of) within a patient's body and effectively diagnose them. Without computers, doctors would need to perform invasive surgery in order to find physical and operational defects within the body as a form of diagnosis.
Doctor and Patient Research
Medical research has drastically improved as computers have become increasingly more effective and technology has advanced. Computers have allowed doctors and scientists to compile information into large databases and access shared information from all over the world. Computers have also provided scientists with access to the Internet, which has become a main source of medical information in today's society. Online databases are helping researchers more accurately predict trends in illnesses, outbreaks and treatments. For example, scientists were able to monitor flu activity online over the course of several years and predict the severity of outbreak in future years. This breakthrough in computer technology is helping scientists make more informed estimations on disease activity and take preventative measures in controlling disease outbreak.
Computers, more specifically Internet websites, have become a staple in patient assistance. The Internet serves as a resource where people can look up common symptoms before coming into a doctor's office. Instead of making a doctor's appointment for slight symptoms, patients are able to better understand the problem through their own basic Internet research. Additionally, patients are able to use the Internet in conjunction with information from the doctor. For example, once receiving a diagnosis, a patient can research treatment options and different medicines on the Internet. Doing their own research on the web allows patients to make a well-informed, independent decision.
Patient Monitoring
The monitors and computer software systems can help regulate fluctuations in the body. Additionally, the computers are often programmed to alert nurses and doctors of fluctuations that present a danger to the patient's health. If the statistics monitored on the screen vary too drastically, the patient is at risk and may need assistance only the doctor can provide. These software systems allow doctors to monitor more patients without being physically present when it's not necessary.
Apnea monitors Blood pressure monitors Defibrillators EKG Machines Fetal Monitors Multi-Parameter Monitors Pulse Oximeters
Apnea monitors detect pauses in breathing and prevent oxygen desaturation. Blood pressure monitors keep track of systolic and diastolic numbers, which keep track of the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and between heartbeats, respectively. Other machines are not as simplistic and require more complex monitoring software. For example, EKG machines check for problems with the electrical activity in a patient's heart and translates this activity onto a screen with waves comprised of spikes and dips.
Communication
Primarily, the Internet provides the patients, doctors, and nurses with quicker communication. This way, the three can communicate from greater distances at the same speed as if they were together. Online medical forums allow the practitioners to discuss particular portions of a medical scenario and to come up with timely conclusions. Furthermore, Electronic Medical Records are believed by clinicians to have instigated a greater amount of communication with patients is multiple ways. Those who use EMRs' e-mail function agree that it "lowered communication barriers" and "improved the quality of relationship" by increasing communication between office visits and eliminating phone tag. Also, because clinicians do not have to run down the hall for test results, or leave the room to pull up medical records, they are spending more face-to-face time with their clients. The appointment time can go uninterrupted because the doctor/nurse has everything they need operate smoothly at the click of a button.
In addition, online communication between multiple doctors provides a wider amount of information that puts the patient at greater ease. They are better able to trust the diagnosis and the conclusion of the doctor because he has received numerous second opinions. The communication barrier created by the medical language can also be torn down through the ready availability of information for the patient provided by computers. While the clinician can verbally explain to their patients how something works, they can also pull information from educational resources and other records in other to aid them in this process. Computers help to better communication in the medical field in a variety of ways. Without computers, communication would be less frequent, less personable, and more perplexing.
Storing Information
In making sure that a patient gets affective and appropriate health care, their medical history must be kept on record for constant referral. Information such as the health status of the patient, as well as the health status/history of his relatives, is necessary in aiding the doctor to give him the correct diagnosis. Medications being prescribed and medications being taking by the patient at the present can also important pieces of information stored by computers. Additionally, the medical bill, meal times, bath times, and medication times are all kept track of by computers, acting as somewhat of an electronic planner.
Computers are the number one choice for storing information in the medical field, due to the enormous amount of memory they have. A medical device data system is a system that offers the electronic stowing and recovery of medical data such as: patient medical history, research, prescriptions, healthcare provider info, and diagnostic test results. Through this system, communication in the medical field can be done much more effectively.
Surgical Procedures
Computer-Assisted Surgical Procedures are also referred to as Robotic Surgical Systems. More complex and involved surgeries not only utilize computers, but also rely on them in order to give faster and more precise products in any given medical procedure. Computers are used for tasks such as viewing internal organs, examining them, and moving surgical utensils around accurately in small incisions. Most surgeons use many different instruments with the robotic surgical system, these include, scaplels,
forceps,
graspers,
dissectors,
cautery,
scissors,
retractors,
suction irrigators.
The robotic-assisted surgical systems allow the surgeon to use computer technology to control and maneuver these surgical instruments during minimally invasive surgical procedures.
The computer-assisted surgical systems commonly include these three components: A console, the bedside cart, and a separate cart that contains supporting hardware and software. The first of these is the regulation center of the system and allows the surgeon to view his area of surgery and physically control his instruments. The second of these is the portion of the robot that holds the cameras and the instruments that the surgeon is controlling. And the third contains equipment such as the electrical surgical unit (ESU), a light source for the endoscope, and suction/irrigation pumps. As made evident, computers have become an essential piece in all types of surgical procedures and have increased the quality as well.