Healthcare Technology Featured Article

May 13, 2019

How Doctors Use Technology to More Accurately Diagnose Injuries




The use of technology in medicine is nothing new, but the reach that a modern doctor has now with the aid of technology is impressive. Being able to help patients recover from an injury is important so that worse issues do not ensue. Consider some of the technologies that doctors are using to make a precise injury diagnosis simpler.

For Better Patient Record Analysis

Some hospitals are developing complex patient information systems that allow for the smooth exchange of patient data between divisions and hospitals. Artificially intelligent systems can study patient information and spot negative trends that may denote injury. Having access to all of a patient's electronic records can make it simpler for a physician to diagnose injuries that may not have obvious symptoms.

This technology also ensures that doctors can access the information to make a more educated guess, and patients do not have to retake unnecessary tests or go through additional discomfort when detailed results are already on file. Emergency medical professionals can also pull up a patient's records and make an evaluation of injury based on the patient's general health and present conditions.

It also makes it easier for patients to gather the documents needed for taking legal action when necessary. A workers compensation lawyer or car accident lawyer will have a much easier case to make if able to point to detailed charts, graphs, and imagery expressing the extent of injuries sustained.

Get Insightful MRI Scans, X-Rays, CT Scans, and Ultrasounds

A picture of the patient's internal processes can be projected onto the screen using an MRI scan, CT scan, x-ray, or ultrasound. Being able to find out whether or not someone has an injury can be seen with the help of these perceptive technologies. Although many can make a prediction, diagnosing an injury with technology that sees inside of you is easier.

MRI scans can be used to gain insight into the brain and body using radio waves and may uncover muscular or skeletal damage. Advanced x-ray technology uses a low dose of radiation to take pictures of bone-related injuries, and can spot broken bones, foreign items in the body, and even bodily injuries that are at various stages. CT scans are recommended when there may be tissue damage. MRI brain scans have the capacity to locate hotspots in the brain and can show where the patient has a blockage. An ultrasound uses sound waves in order to diagnose patients by looking at live structures and processes of the body in real-time.

After a severe accident such as a car crash, doctors may not always know where to start treating the patient. If he or she is unconscious, they cannot share where the source of the pain or injury is with the physician. Many times, it can be difficult to determine exactly where the source of the problem is in a patient's body. Since the pain can be unlocalized, getting the right scan can help to pinpoint the problem. A patient may believe that one area is affected when unexpected injuries can occur on any part of the body. The images that they produce can be used to diagnose all kinds of injuries and treat them with a precision that is unavailable when only looking at a patient externally.

Evaluate With Physical Therapy Equipment

Workout equipment that is embedded with the latest technology can take a patient's vitals and record other measurements that may be an indication of a physical injury. When an individual claims that he or she is injured, they may be tested using simple machines like stretch bands, to more advanced machines, like treadmills. Using one physical therapy machine during a session can unveil other parts of the body that may be injured, especially in sports and work-related injuries.

Zooming In on Injury With Instruments

Advanced medical technologies now allow scientists and specialists to see when an injury occurs on a diminutive level. This is a significant advancement that was not possible years before the magnification tools and surgery instruments, and other equipment was developed, some injuries remain invisible to the normal human eye. For example, if a doctor suspects a tooth injury, he or she may magnify the area to find the point of injury before administering treatment.

Technology will continue to be developed and used in medical practice, diagnosis, and recovery for many years to come. Not only are these technologies able to help spot injury, but some are also used in general practice to gauge a patient's current health status and the rate of recovery. Some medical jobs will become easier with the use of technology, while others may require complex readjustment within the medical industry. With the aid of tech, accurate diagnoses of injury will happen faster, and patients can get on a quicker road to recovery.



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