Over the last 200 years, healthcare has dramatically improved. Technology has played a major role in shaping the industry.
The biggest advance in modern healthcare was made in 1796, when Edward Jenner invented the smallpox vaccine. Jenner was still a medical school student at the time, but he made history. He inspired other healthcare providers to take a more scientific approach to providing healthcare to their patients.
Healthcare Changes Since the Invention of the Smallpox Vaccine
In the late 1800s, common medical problems such as influenza, staph infections and even the common cold were often fatal. According to Bob Fies, an internist at Santa Rosa medical group in Santa Rosa, California, this changed by 1911. "For the first time in history the average patient seeing an average doctor for an average problem had better than a fifty-fifty chance of benefiting from the transaction," Fies writes.
Medical knowledge continued to improve over the next 50 years. Healthcare providers had a better understanding of the importance of sanitation and other ancillary factors, which significantly improved healthcare outcomes.
While all of these factors are significant, technology plays in even larger role. Here's an overview of some of the biggest changes in the last century.
Improved Surgical Technology and Knowledge
According to the CDC, more people die of heart disease than anything else. One hundred years ago, the mortality rate was very high. Fortunately, advances in surgical technology and better surgical training significantly improved outcomes.
New Medications
For most of human history, people relied almost exclusively on a holistic medicine. In the 1900s, medication played a dominant role in the healthcare industry.
Medications were developed to treat almost every ailment imaginable. Antidepressants, antibiotics and hormonal medications have transformed the profession.
Digital Technology
Computers were widely available in the 1990s. They played an important role in shaping modern medicine. Healthcare providers used computers for storing patient records, medical imaging and many other purposes.
Most Healthcare Advances
Technology is still improving in unprecedented ways. Here are some major changes that are expected to shake up the healthcare industry in 2017 and beyond.
Wearable Technology
Wearable technology has influenced the healthcare industry in unexpected ways. In 2013, Dr. Rafael Grossmann became the first surgeon to use Google Glass to perform an operation. Other healthcare providers have used it to provide better care.
Robotic Nurse Assistant
Nurses often have to lift patients. Both patients and nurses are often injured in the process. Fortunately, new robotic nursing assistants can lift patients better, which minimizes the risk of injury.
Nanotechnology for Medical Modeling
Digital modeling has played an important role in healthcare for years. Nanotechnology is making the job even easier. Healthcare providers can implant a small microchip in their patients to track symptoms, provide a more accurate diagnosis and develop a detailed care plan.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring will allow medical providers to keep track of their patients without having to be in the same room.
"We are coming together at a pivotal time in the mobile healthcare industry. As health reform demands more focus on delivering quality outcomes and reducing costs, providers are turning to technology like remote monitoring to diagnose and treat more patients in ways that use time, money and human resources efficiently and effectively. Our shared vision is to become a worldwide leading remote monitoring company," said Jon Otterstatter, President and Chief Global Strategy Officer of Preventice Inc.
Artificial Retinas
Visual impairment is a common problem that affects 285 million people around the world. There was little hope for people suffering from serious retinal degeneration – until now.
New artificial retinas make it much easier for people to see. They may be a cure for the legally blind within the next few years.
Technology for Better Dental Care
Technology for brushing teeth has played a role in healthcare. It can significantly reduce plaque, which minimizes the risk of tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health problems. Since gum disease is a contributor to heart disease, this technology helps minimize those risks as well.