The importance of technology as a driver for social, economic, and educational advancement has been well documented in recent years. Technology has become integrated into the daily activities of millions of people throughout the world’s most industrialized nations. The information and communication revolution offers new and effective means of exchanging science knowledge and advancing education and research, which promote the economic and social development of all people.
Technology is an essential part of any professional work now. It allows a flow of information and sharing of ideas all over the world which has lead to improved and better patient care in the medical world. Medical world is connecting with the fields of physics, chemistry, engineering and non medical sciences like never before. The uninterrupted flow of information is allowing a revolutionary transition in all fields at an exponential rate.
Better medication for chronic manageable diseases like hypertension, diabetes has improved quality of life. Similarly, some previously untreatable diseases like hepatitis and tuberculosis are now thoroughly treatable due to newer drugs. Life expectancy has increased significantly in the last two decades. Biotechnological innovations has made pills smaller and more effective with a longer and stronger activity timeframe.
Diagnostic procedures like Endoscopy, Doppler Ultrasound, Angiography, PET Scan and many others have proven very beneficial in learning about the human body and its various illnesses as well as about managing and treating said ailments in the best possible manner
Surgical advancements are also second to none. The introduction of laparoscopy and robotic surgery are amongst the biggest breakthroughs of this century so far. Minimally invasive and highly precise operations have significantly decreased the percentage of surgical site infections and iatrogenic insults during surgeries.
The Yin and Yang of life apply on everything and the technological advancements of medical field are no stranger. Where we see plenty of breakthroughs in medicine and surgery alike due to new technology, these advancements aren’t without some issues of their own.
In this day and age where countless new researches and endless information is available to anyone at a swipe of finger or a simple voice command without any check, the medical field has become more tricky than ever.
The biggest challenge posed to doctors earlier was, keeping up with the new researches and fancy work being done in their field. However, now a bigger challenge of convincing the patients to not believe everything they google or every therapy they tumble upon on Facebook or WhatsApp, stand tall. Doctors spend a big chunk of their time working as myth-busters for some random piece of wrong information that has become common knowledge amongst social media users of all ages.
Secondly, the availability of labs and radiology has decreased the trend of old-fashioned history taking, examination and doctor-patient interaction. History and examination are The pillars upon which the diagnosis of the patient rests. The dependency on technology will prove detrimental in conditions where the doctors have to work without new machinery.
In conclusion of my opinion piece, a doctor should be ready to embrace the new technology and learn the new trends while still keeping the essentials of classic medical work in mind. nothing is inherently good or bad but one must learn to take the good things out of the given situation and work with them in the best possible way.