Without technology, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy many of the comforts that we do today, nor would we be as productive as we are. The way that we’ve been using technology to help weather the COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect example of our dependence.
Unlike previous instances, this pandemic has made it clear that all sectors need to adapt to the rapid development of technology. Even the late-adopter healthcare sector has shown to use technology at an increasing rate in order to compensate for the dwindling medical resources that are available.
The Diminishing Ability to Handle the Pandemic
Seeing as there isn’t a vaccine for COVID-19, treatment for the virus takes anywhere from a few weeks to months. This means that the rate of infections still far outpaces the rate of recovery, thereby leaving hospitals and their staff overwhelmed. The worst part is that this trend is projected to continue as long as there isn’t a vaccine for the virus.
The Forms of Technology That Are Being Deployed
The need for automation has never been more apparent than it is in the healthcare system. Automation has proven to reduce stress and work buildup, whether it’s through chatbots that are able to provide website visitors with information without the need to allocate personnel for the task, automated answering machines that are able to direct callers to their designated reception areas, or the internet allowing doctors to keep track of their patients without having to risk exposing themselves to the virus.
The value of technology lies in its ability to allow us to automate processes, which, in turn frees up valuable hospital personnel to perform more urgent tasks.
Future Applications
This drive toward a more aggressive adoption of technology couldn’t have come at a better time considering the fact that we’re nearing a major technological leap. Emerging disruptive technologies such as the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and 5G all have the potential to redefine the way we do things. The industries that are able to adopt these technologies earlier will also dictate and develop the best ways to use the technology.
There are several applications of these new technologies, such as using artificial intelligence to diagnose a patient faster and more accurately, self-driving ambulances and cars helping to make emergency patient transport safer, or the “internet of things” making it easier to monitor procedures and pandemic logistics. The effects of these technologies may even improve the way that different industries work, meaning that not only will the rate of medical malpractice incidents decrease substantially, but it’ll also be easier to contact expert medical negligence attorneys should you need one.
The importance of technology in the coming age cannot be overemphasized. The COVID-19 pandemic has made a very strong case for this proposal, and we should expect hospitals to be more tech-focused in the near future.
