Telemedicine is the use of medical information that is exchanged from one site to another through electronic communications to improve a patient's clinical health status. The exchange of health information provides healthcare providers and patients with the ability to properly access medical information and securely share it electronically. Strategies to streamline health IT systems can facilitate the electronic exchange of health information and improve health outcomes. Similarly, medical applications and portable devices help patients and doctors improve health.
Doctors and nurses can monitor patients' vital signs without them being in the office. They can be used for general health and well-being, or for specific medical conditions, such as seizures or diabetes. The apps can also help patients understand when they should call a doctor and when a simple over-the-counter medication might help. Once again, this saves resources in clinics and helps patients save time and frustration.
Medical software and technology allow nurses to change the amounts that leak and the doses of medications so that patients don't have to wait for changes to occur. Barcode medication delivery systems are electronic systems that integrate electronic drug administration records with barcode technology. These systems are designed to prevent medication errors by ensuring that the right patient gets the right medication at the right time. The normal medical transcription procedure includes dictating medical notes on a recording device for translation by an expert transcriber, followed by research and authentication by the doctor.
In short, emerging medical devices and technologies, especially mobile phones and tiny nanometric sensors embedded in various electronic devices that allow information to be sent and received wirelessly, are changing the face of 21st century medical practice. Automatic dispensing cabinets (ADC) are electronic drug cabinets that store medications at the point of care with controlled dispensing and monitoring of the distribution of medications. There is substantial evidence that implementing an electronic medical record reduces medical errors and improves patient safety. Traditionally, electronic medical records (EMR) were limited to office desks, but with tablets, users can access medical records from anywhere, such as smartphones.
