Digital Doctors

Digital Doctors - The Future of Health Care

A consistent theme throughout this class has been how can we use technology to benefit our society. I came across a video (http://vids.kvie.org/video/1676974660/) as I surfed the web which addressed this issue. New technologies have always been a part of the health care industry. Advances in medicine and equipment are developed rapidly all which benefit the overall experience of the patient. Telemedicine, which is discussed during this short PBS documentary, is no different. This all encompassing term refers to the use of video conferencing and medical imaging to treat patients over long distances. Obviously there are numerous benefits to this type of technology, primarily a decrease in the overall cost of health care, the removal of language barriers, instant availability regardless of geographical location, as well as the elimination of physical limitations in most instances. 

The first benefit is obvious, the ability to connect to doctors via video conferencing cuts both explicit and implicit costs for health care. Patients no longer have to pay for transportation to and from a hospital or doctors office which can be expensive. Perhaps more importantly they save a great deal of time without the inconvenience of a waiting room. These “virtual visits” to the doctor also improve productivity cutting visit times and medical expenses. This technology also has the ability to remove language barriers. Patients can now visit a doctor anywhere in the world from the comfort of their homes. The ability to find a doctor that speaks the same language will allow patients to communicate with doctors and ultimately understand a diagnosis.

In my opinion the most beneficial aspect to the new technology is the ability to receive care from a doctor that is not located in the same geographic region. The video gives the example of a girl in a car crash in a rural area. The local hospital had no pediatrician on staff but were able to connect to a doctor one hundred miles away to diagnosis and monitor the girl. Having a camera in the room that could be controlled by both doctors inside and outside the local hospital allowed experts the ability to constantly watch the patient. This type of round the clock expert care, especially in under equipped rural areas, will be invaluable to patients. 

Like all technological advances that we have discussed this quarter, the underlying concern to this type of technology is the reduction of privacy. Personal information and medical records can be sent around the world instantly. Some patients feel that the exchange of information happens to easily and are worried that their private information could become public without their consent. This is a legitimate concern, however in my opinion this is not a reason to reject the technology for a more traditional form of medical care. There will always be hospitals but this technology creates a system that is much more efficient and beneficial for all in my opinion.