Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 2014. Cardiovascular health is a concern for many Americans. This has led to new developments in patient-centered heart health technology. These technologies are changing the way that cardiovascular physicians practice medicine. It has opened up patient-physician communication and increased patient health collaboration. When patients can see, in real-time, the effect that their choices are having on their health, it can encourage them to work harder to get healthy. 

Nurses are absolutely crucial to the healthcare industry and are taking on more responsibility than ever before. Even with the influx of medical technology, most nursing programs in the United States do not offer nursing technology courses. Instead, basic healthcare technology—like EHRs and databases—is integrated into each class. Nurses typically learn how to use these systems during clinic hours.

Homebound patients have limited access to quality primary care. In some cases, healthcare providers travel to them. For some primary caregivers, travel time and other logistics mean that they can only see about six patients per day. Telehealth for homebound patients is an incredible opportunity to increase access and decrease overhead.

IT experts are front-and-center in the evolution of clinical processes. This is because tech now informs numerous ways that clinicians carry out their work. From wait time apps to medical wearables, there are endless ways that healthcare is being roboticized, digitized and otherwise updated to inform best practices. Here are three key ways that quality improvement is supported by tech optimization in healthcare facilities nationwide.

Every medical practice in the United States has been impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis. As America reopens and patient confidence returns, there are some indicators of what the future holds for providers and clinicians. These indicators are on display as some states have opened public buildings and facilities faster than others. While the healthcare landscape varies widely—depending on whether it is privatized, individual state or facility decisions and more—the shift back to “normal” may not be straightforward or even immanent.

Late in 2019, Apple released a version of its Apple Watch that claims to detect atrial fibrillation. Wearables have become so common that many people in the U.S. have daily data about their heart rate, step count and even sleep patterns. But the question remains: can a smartwatch (or smart device) replace your doctor? 

Mobile health is so mainstream that most of us don’t even question checking our heart rate or logging a meal on our smartphones. MHealth has streamlined so many of our self-care routines and has worked its way into our framework of medical self-care. But is the crossover making its way into official medical treatment? 

Most of us can picture this: it’s the middle of the night, you’re burning up, you have stomach pain and the room is spinning. Your symptoms get worse, not better. And you have to make the call: go to the ER? 

Whether you are on vacation and your baby is burning up with a fever or you injure yourself and need acute care, being able to locate a doctor quickly is important. Doctor locator apps are increasingly popular and give you access to a wide network of map-based medical facilities. With most of these applications, you can quickly discover:

Whether we’re training for a marathon or in rehab after surgery, smart devices have invaded our healthcare. And they’re not going anywhere. Smart contacts, smart limbs and smart triage systems are transforming medical care. These require standards and compliance.