Adrian Johansen03.23.22
Technology is a prominent part of contemporary society. It informs, supports, and enhances an increasing number of our everyday activities. Indeed, leaps in tech can be so commonplace that it can be easy to overlook the incredible impact it can have on our quality of life. One of the most important areas for advancement has been in medical technology.
As patients, we all benefit from the growth of tools from the internet of medical things to artificial intelligence (AI) driven diagnostic software. Some of these make aspects of care more manageable for professionals and many are an influencing factor in saving lives. Nevertheless, one of medical tech’s most important roles is in improving access to high-quality care.
Let’s explore some of the areas in which advancements in medical tech are helping underserved communities.
However, it’s also vital to recognize that the definition of underserved extends beyond racial and ethnic boundaries. Other demographics can come into play. Pediatric patients can be considered underserved in certain medical conditions more commonly found in adults. The term can certainly apply to those from low-income socioeconomic backgrounds. After all, the for-profit medical industry tends to have a bias toward those patients who can pay for it.
There are also several geographical obstacles to healthcare access. Those who live in rural communities are particularly underserved. Less than a 10th of physicians practice in these areas, meaning gaining adequate care is often impractical. Indeed, those who live on the outskirts of cities or in low-income subdivisions might not only have a lack of easy access but also a lack of choice compared to those living in bigger cities.
It’s important to recognize how and why technology can be a positive influence on all these areas.
There are various ways in which the convenience of telemedicine provides accessibility for different underserved demographics. From a socioeconomic perspective, a telemedicine appointment tends to be cheaper than in-person counterparts. The method also doesn’t require a great deal of expensive technology or even advanced tech education. These are simple and secure ways to connect with valuable medical advice. It even serves socioeconomic purposes by making appointments more convenient to fit around working schedules or childcare responsibilities.
Importantly, telemedicine is advanced enough to suit a range of medical queries. Even relatively nuanced issues can begin effective diagnosis over a video call. For instance, patients who may be experiencing early symptoms of high testosterone can receive initial urological gynecological examinations online. High-definition cameras on smartphones and computers can give clear views of physical aspects such as acne in men or hair loss in women. Alongside anecdotal life quality information and diagnostic AI platforms, the need for further tests can quickly be established.
However, advances in remote patient monitoring systems are making strides in mitigating this issue. Mobile applications, in particular, are the most common and inclusive forms of remote patient monitoring at present. Smartphones and smartwatches often have sensor technology that can provide relatively accurate readings on everything from pulse oximetry to sleep quality. Indeed, mobile health (mHealth) apps are becoming increasingly sophisticated. There are those in development to monitor and predict depression and bipolar disorder cycles. Others track nutrition and blood sugar levels for diabetes patients.
These applications allow patients to personally transmit useful data to medical professionals and interact with physicians more frequently. It also empowers those from underserved communities to take control of their healthcare.
This is essential for underserved communities as it gives public health officials information with which to direct resources. This may be about allocating funding toward building new facilities in certain areas or providing greater access to in-need medications. It can also highlight the need for more relevant health educational information tools in communities experiencing high levels of specific health challenges.
As patients, we all benefit from the growth of tools from the internet of medical things to artificial intelligence (AI) driven diagnostic software. Some of these make aspects of care more manageable for professionals and many are an influencing factor in saving lives. Nevertheless, one of medical tech’s most important roles is in improving access to high-quality care.
Let’s explore some of the areas in which advancements in medical tech are helping underserved communities.
Defining “Underserved”
To identify how technology benefits underserved communities, it’s useful to understand what we mean by the term. In the U.S., there are clear groups that have historically had lower qualitative and quantitative access to healthcare. Latinos, African Americans, and American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) are most often the victims of health inequities. While there is a variety of contributing factors to such disparities, unless such gaps are bridged there will be continued damage to the wellbeing of these marginalized populations.However, it’s also vital to recognize that the definition of underserved extends beyond racial and ethnic boundaries. Other demographics can come into play. Pediatric patients can be considered underserved in certain medical conditions more commonly found in adults. The term can certainly apply to those from low-income socioeconomic backgrounds. After all, the for-profit medical industry tends to have a bias toward those patients who can pay for it.
There are also several geographical obstacles to healthcare access. Those who live in rural communities are particularly underserved. Less than a 10th of physicians practice in these areas, meaning gaining adequate care is often impractical. Indeed, those who live on the outskirts of cities or in low-income subdivisions might not only have a lack of easy access but also a lack of choice compared to those living in bigger cities.
It’s important to recognize how and why technology can be a positive influence on all these areas.
1. Convenient Connections
Perhaps the most important way in which medical health advances help underserved communities is through telemedicine. It’s certainly been a vital tool for treatment during COVID-19. Telemedical platforms are especially useful forms of healthcare access for patients who are unable to reach surgeries due to their rural positions. Even those who live with challenges related to disability can obtain timely medical attention through online appointments.There are various ways in which the convenience of telemedicine provides accessibility for different underserved demographics. From a socioeconomic perspective, a telemedicine appointment tends to be cheaper than in-person counterparts. The method also doesn’t require a great deal of expensive technology or even advanced tech education. These are simple and secure ways to connect with valuable medical advice. It even serves socioeconomic purposes by making appointments more convenient to fit around working schedules or childcare responsibilities.
Importantly, telemedicine is advanced enough to suit a range of medical queries. Even relatively nuanced issues can begin effective diagnosis over a video call. For instance, patients who may be experiencing early symptoms of high testosterone can receive initial urological gynecological examinations online. High-definition cameras on smartphones and computers can give clear views of physical aspects such as acne in men or hair loss in women. Alongside anecdotal life quality information and diagnostic AI platforms, the need for further tests can quickly be established.
2. Remote Monitoring
In many cases, an illness or injury doesn’t require just a single appointment. Particularly with chronic illness, there may be times in which patients need to undergo regular checkups, appointments, and tests to get the care they need. This is often less accessible to those in underserved communities either due to cost, availability, or geographical distance. The outcome is these communities don’t always get the level of attention they need.However, advances in remote patient monitoring systems are making strides in mitigating this issue. Mobile applications, in particular, are the most common and inclusive forms of remote patient monitoring at present. Smartphones and smartwatches often have sensor technology that can provide relatively accurate readings on everything from pulse oximetry to sleep quality. Indeed, mobile health (mHealth) apps are becoming increasingly sophisticated. There are those in development to monitor and predict depression and bipolar disorder cycles. Others track nutrition and blood sugar levels for diabetes patients.
These applications allow patients to personally transmit useful data to medical professionals and interact with physicians more frequently. It also empowers those from underserved communities to take control of their healthcare.
3. Data in Public Health
Machine learning is being used by public health professionals to monitor and assess the trends of illnesses in specific communities. On one level, this can help to make for more accurate diagnostic information as a result of correlating similar symptoms and lifestyle factors. But it is also vital for predicting the potential of concentrations and spread of illness based on common community behavioral factors and environmental elements.This is essential for underserved communities as it gives public health officials information with which to direct resources. This may be about allocating funding toward building new facilities in certain areas or providing greater access to in-need medications. It can also highlight the need for more relevant health educational information tools in communities experiencing high levels of specific health challenges.