How Medical Device Connectivity Is Improving Accessibility in Healthcare

Our modern world is interconnected globally through a host of digital systems and networks. From the internet itself to the Internet of Things (IoT), the power of connectivity in healthcare makes for more accessible, better care.
 
This is the reason the global medical device outsourcing market is expected to grow in value to $85 billion by 2023. With such value on the table, medical professionals must explore the potential of connected medical devices in streamlining care accessibility and providing unprecedented solutions.
 
To understand how the fifth generation of wireless connectivity sets the stage for better medical devices, we must explore how the more devices we connect, the more patients we can treat.
 
The Power of 5G Networks for Medical Devices
The modern era has been defined by our smart devices and access to them. The medical field is no different. From wearables to electronic health records, our sources of networked information can lead to a host of new and more accessible care options.
 
Chief among these has been the rise of telehealth services propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Without comprehensive data networks to monitor and connect patients, telehealth solutions would have been nowhere near as effective as they were. 5G wireless technology makes these remote care solutions even more efficient and feasible.
 
But what is 5G? Simply put, 5G is the next generation of wireless tech that includes a host of benefits for all devices operating on a mobile network. These benefits include:
 

• Higher bandwidths
• Greater capacity to connect devices
• Faster speeds
• More seamless communication

 
These benefits can make all the difference in care solutions and accessibility. For example, wearable technology has already been applied in cleanrooms to limit contaminants and track patient vitals. Paired with telehealth services, wearable technology can give care providers real-time access to patient data to provide them the best possible insights at any given time.
 
With a comprehensive approach to wearable medical device technology, patient concerns can be limited to more trivial matters like the right adhesives for the job. As a result, we can cultivate better care solutions in a more accessible healthcare network.
 
More Data Means Better, More Accessible Care
Care experts increasingly recognize the value of medical device connectivity. As a result, the future of healthcare information systems is shifting towards digital data services. For example, electronic health records (EHRs), smart clinical administrative systems, and patient data portals are already transforming the medical field to allow unprecedented access to care and interoperability among patient medical records.
 
This translates to exceptional value. Interoperability alone means that a patient has control over their own medical records. In turn, they can transfer their information to and from specialists with little concern. Meanwhile, experts across the medical industry have the insights they need to cultivate growing databases of invaluable medical information, while at the same time keeping the patient’s private data safe.
 
One can imagine how this improves the quality of care. First, there’s the impact on patient choice as the patient has the freedom to take their information from doctor to doctor without losing essential medical records. Then, there are the insights cultivated through data generation. Medical professionals can analyze symptoms, treatments, and the patterns they form to craft specific treatments for individual patients.
 
These incredible features not only power better care solutions but they open up a world of new care options that were previously impossible. Telehealth and its many functions are excellent examples of this.
 
In the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became unsafe for many patients to get out and go to the doctor. Instead, 57% more Americans than ever before opted for telehealth solutions for everything from mental health treatments to vision tests. The application of connected devices paired with smart data applications and artificial intelligence meant doctors could diagnose, prescribe, and treat these patients from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
 
The implications for this care on rural and otherwise previously underserved healthcare markets are great. No longer will lengthy dangerous drives be necessary to visit a doctor. Instead, for many procedures, patients can simply pull up an app on their smartphones.
 
In addition, telehealth services have been proven to cut costs for care providers and patients alike. This new affordability can challenge the harsh reality of staggering care costs while providing new avenues of care to all kinds of demographics. The effects will make for a more equitable care marketplace.
 
In short, the advancement of medical device connectivity can transform our healthcare situation in which half the world lacks access to essential care services.
 
A Future of Connected Care Solutions
As 5G wireless connectivity expands what’s possible from connected medical devices, care providers can treat more patients at home and access all kinds of underserved patients from all over the world. For patients, this means a world of care accessibility that was unimaginable only years ago.
 
Explore the power and potential of these smart medical devices and apply them in your own life or practice to streamline the accessibility of care.
 

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Adrian Johansen uses her experience in the healthcare technology industry to provide straightforward information to the public. You can find more of her writing on contently.