The Digital Age Of Healthcare

The Digital Age in Healthcare

Health care management in the Twenty-First century has evolved tenfold through technology compared to health care in the previous century or even two decades ago. Prior to the Twenty-First century families were provided medical care in their own home maintaining privacy and comfort. Families would take care of their ill family members until all remedies possible were used and then a doctor would be called when family members could not handle the treatments. As research in medicine expanded, new treatment tools and technologies resulted in changes of healthcare delivery, as a result doctors quit making house calls and became affiliated through a hospital. Families relied on each other for physician recommendations. Advances in digital media are changing how patients get information about hospitals and how patients choose a physician.

By 1995 NSFNET was decommissioned, which removed the remaining restrictions on the use of the Internet by the public in the US, consequently a vast array of medical information became public information (internetsociety.org). Medical websites such as WebMD are the first used to self-diagnosis prior to making a doctors appointment. A survey conducted by Pricewater Copper showed the “most trusted resources online do doctors, followed by nurses, and hospitals, post those” (digitaltrends.com). As of lately more medical professionals and hospitals have turned to social media to convey health information. Marketing specialist Amanda Mauck thinks that engaging patients via social media to provide comfort, not just relevant health information. A specialist for Le Bohnheur Children’s Hospital, Amanda says users of the hospitals facebook page “love the photos ...

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... private portals that save and archieve communication into the patients medical record to maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations (CarleenHawn). Managing the relationships and communication between the patient and their physician to ease stress and anxiety in the new era of health is a key aspect of leadership.

In conclusion, when used sensibly and wisely telemedicine and social media offer a platform to promote individual and public health. Strong leadership with a focus on ethical values, and following laws to minimize legal concerns while protecting patient privacy will advance the organization. The digital age is changing the future of the healthcare delivery system, thus management will be reshaped to better facility the new and fast growing market. However, when heedlessly used the dangers associated with these technologies create more harm than good.