Although we’re in a worldwide pandemic, many of us are still enjoying the comfort and convenience of being cared for by medical professionals who are committed to providing quality service despite industry limitations and restrictions. Medical and health professionals are working around the clock to not only provide care, but to conceptualize, design, and roll out solutions that make our experience at the doctor a bit easier and more enjoyable.
Just what are some of these innovations that will revolutionize your health care experience in 2021 and beyond? Read on to see how changes to the medical and healthcare industry will significantly impact and improve your experience.
1. Faster blood testing systems
Blood testing results typically take days or weeks. The development of rapid blood testing systems has tremendous implications for how we receive results from our healthcare professionals. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of all sorts of conditions will now be even more efficient with results in minutes rather than days, some of which could produce life-saving results.
2. Drone delivery
Since March of 2020, UPS has been involved with the development and rollout of the Flight Forward program, devoted to delivering critical medical supplies to hospitals, clinics, and even private citizens in dire need of medications. While seemingly the stuff of science fiction and futuristic optimism, the use of drones in delivery enables suppliers to provide medical supplies much faster than using ground delivery or human transport.
3. Stem cell cures for diabetes
Doug Melton had a vested interest in curing type 1 diabetes; both of his children were diagnosed at a young age with the devastating disease. He used his academic influence at Harvard University medical center to create an implantable device that houses healthy beta cells; insulin and glucose can be easily exchanged, while the beta cells are protected from the harmful effects of a malfunctioning immune system. Now, all we need is the knowledge to turn off the autoimmune response in the body, and we’re golden.
3. Wearable technology that communicates with your brain
A newly-developed CNTRL-kit, which detects electrical impulses that travel from arm to brain, helps doctors and researchers understand the science behind brainwave activity and recovery from conditions like stroke, Alzheimer’s, and other degenerative brain disorders. The CNTRL-kit can even be used for therapeutic purposes, encouraging proper communication between compromised limbs and areas of the brain that may be compromised due to illness or injury. The implications are profound, and researchers and patients alike are excited about what possibilities are in store for improved healing.
4. The pocket ultrasound
Nearly 4 billion people worldwide do not have access to ultrasound technology; this imaging can accurately diagnose and treat issues once identified. Thanks to the entrepreneurial pursuits of a certain Jonathan Rothberg, a Yale genetics researcher, this handheld device connects directly to your iPhone via an app, allowing you to see for yourself what’s going on inside that wondrous body of yours. A word of advice? Get a professional assessment of your images before attempting to implement treatment.
5. 3D digital hearts
Millions of Americans are diagnosed with heart disease every year, and even more have to undergo painful, invasive procedures to determine the cause of heart dysfunction. With the advent of 3D imaging and technology, biotech companies are finding it possible to create a full-scale 3D replica of your heart, allowing doctors to practice implementing different treatment scenarios that could prevent invasive treatment altogether. Providing patients with better care as they manage risk factors is hope for all cardiologists working to eradicate heart disease and cardiovascular disease for good.
