It should come as no surprise that healthcare is in need of some improvements. From the handling of patient care to innovations in the field, often the medical world falls behind when it comes to advancements. When it comes to incorporating new methodologies and treatment plans, many times the healthcare system as a whole shrug and looks the other way. So why is there a hesitation when it comes to updating our healthcare system? Moreover, why is it so crucial that we improve it now before it is too late?
The challenges of improving healthcare
Within an established system, there is always hesitation when it comes to drastic changes. In the healthcare system, this is doubly true, mainly due to the level of risk that is at play. While most systems, such as the school system or our driving laws, are essential and any dip in their effectiveness would cause issues, the healthcare system directly impacts the lives of millions of people on a daily basis. Any problem with the healthcare system could be deadly, and the large the issue the larger the consequences. Because of this, when it comes to implementing new policies and technologies to the healthcare system, often there is hesitation.
One example of improvement-based technology that is slowly making its way into the world of healthcare is artificial intelligence. Thanks to a wealth of horror movies and worst-case scenarios, artificial intelligence, and learning technology are largely distrusted by the public as a whole. However, using learning technology in the medical field could help reduce the chances of medical errors and could streamline a significant portion of patient care, taking some of the stress off of our buckling healthcare system. If applied correctly, learning technology could help diagnose patients and would be able to aid doctors in tracking symptoms and genetic illnesses that may go undetected otherwise. These are all great things that would help improve the healthcare system. However, with significant gains comes the enormous potential for misuse.
Setting aside the 1980’s-style idea of artificial intelligence going rogue and taking over the world, having all of a patient’s information shared across medical platforms and then compiled into one place is a considerable risk. While a comprehensive list of a patient’s medical problems, symptoms, and real-time vitals would help make health care provider’s jobs much easier, it can also pose a huge threat to the privacy of the patient. All systems come with their flaws, and with a learning computer set to take information from dozens to hundreds of computers the potential for a virus or information leak is astronomical.
The need for change
According to one source, medical-related deaths are among the top ten causes of death in the United States alone. Medical errors and misdiagnosis are common and can be deadly if not caught right away. The cost of medical care is skyrocketing, and there is a marked deficit in health care providers in hospitals around the world. While improvement can be risky, the current state of the healthcare system cannot be sustained for long. We must find ways to fix our current system before we face a real healthcare crisis.
Source(s):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160284
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/78a9/5d30a5e62a5fd9c5241192338786362c8ad0.pdf
https://hbr.org/2006/05/why-innovation-in-health-care-is-so-hard