8 Medical Technologies Improving Health Care

Medical technology is advancing at a higher rate than ever and it's only picking up speed. What once in the not-so-distant past seemed impossible -- or even inconceivable -- is now at the healthcare professionals' fingertips. In addition, patients are provided with better access to medical services and much safer procedures.

Here are just a few of the technologies that are improving healthcare by leaps and bounds:

1. Telehealth

Telehealth has been rapidly growing in popularity over the last few years. These days, many medical professionals allow patients to access healthcare via their digital devices. Face-to-face appointments aren't always necessary. Among the many benefits of tele-health are the reduced necessity of making trips to urgent care; that's a real plus when the rate of infectious disease is high and getting sick or posing a health risk to others is probable. Besides being safer for patients, it's much more time- and cost-efficient for both patients and providers. These calls can also make a once inaccessible type of provider easy for patients who live in remote locations or lack transportation.

2. Health Wearables

Health wearables go where you go and monitor you in real time, no matter where you are. Now smartphones can track the condition of those with chronic illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular disease and diabetes). With wearables, patients can easily monitor and manage their daily health issues (e.g., blood sugar levels) and maintain fitness.

3. Smart Inhalers

Many patients with asthma and some other respiratory conditions must use inhalers. Smart inhalers take things a step further by helping patients manage their health issues better. Smart inhalers are Bluetooth-enabled and send information on times of each dose and the quality of each administration. The data gathered by the inhaler is sent to the patient's smartphone to assist with keeping track of these details. Studies show that many people find that they can use less reliever medicine than they previously thought.

4. Medical 3D Printing

3D printing is making a significant impact on healthcare. 3D printers can print prosthetics that can match the patient's measurement requirements down to the millimeter. These precise measurements mean increased comfort and mobility for patients. Implants and joints can be created by 3D printers, then surgically implanted. Even more ground-breaking is the development of 3D-printed artificial organs.

5. Artificial Organs

Similar to the method used to regenerate burn victims' skin cells, blood vessels and some synthetic organs have been created. They can grow to replace the original defective organ. Millions of people each year need life-saving transplants, but many don't receive them. Soon, artificial organs will make a massive impact on the medical field.

6. Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is similar to virtual reality but different; it allows the user to stay in touch with reality. However, computer-generated media is swiftly incorporated into the user's eyesight, providing enhanced reality. With this technology, medical students can practice surgery on a realistic virtual depiction of a human body without using a real cadaver. The real-time visuals of medical records can also greatly enhance surgeries for doctors.

7. Robotic Surgery

Surgery has come a long way over the years. Since robotics have been introduced, extraordinary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are becoming possible. Robotic surgery can offer minimally-invasive surgeries in the place of surgeries that were once much riskier. Robotic surgery offers more precision, flexibility and control. Add augmented reality in the operating theater and the futuristic is now.

8. Nanotechnology

From micro-robots to smart pills, nanotechnology is likely to play a key role in the future of medicine. PillCam is a smart pill used for colon exams; it's as simple as swallowing a high-tech pill equipped with a camera. It travels through the gastrointestinal tract while capturing images. Some smart pills can be controlled wirelessly to release drugs on command or to produce diagnostic information. Micro-robots can work as tiny surgeons, making surgery much safer by providing a more precise and less invasive procedure.

Medical technology is advancing every day, improving the lives of patients and healthcare professionals. In just a few years, procedures, and the medical field in general, will look very different than they do now.