The Scoop December 2015 | Page 13

by Trayvon Smith

Medical technology is a broad field where innovation plays a crucial role in sustaining health. Areas like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, information technology, the development of medical devices and equipment, and more have all made significant contributions to improving the health of people all around the world. From “small” innovations like adhesive bandages and ankle braces, to larger, more complex technologies like MRI machines, artificial organs, and robotic prosthetic limbs, technology has undoubtedly made an incredible impact on medicine. In the healthcare industry, the dependence on medical technology cannot be overstated, and as a result of the development of these brilliant innovations, healthcare practitioners can continue to find ways to improve their practice – from better diagnosis, surgical procedures, and improved patient care.

Improving the quality of life is one of the main benefits of integrating new innovations into medicine. Medical technologies such as minimally-invasive surgeries, better monitoring systems, and more comfortable scanning equipment are allowing patients to spend less

time in recovery and more time enjoying and living a healthy life. Referring back to healthguideinfo.com, “[Integrating] the medical equipment that we have in technology [today] has also created robotic surgeries, where in some cases, physicians do not even need to be in the operating room with a patient when the surgery is performed. Instead, surgeons can operate out of their “home base”, and patients can have the procedure done in a hospital or clinic close their own hometown, eliminating the hassles and stress of health-related travel.” Though that provides an option for the technology-reliant and trusting demographic of today and may sound like the next best thing, there will always be the other half of the population that condemns the innovation. Some may be afraid and other may think that robotic surgeons totally undermines the personal care that doctors are supposed to offer. Whatever your take on this is, technology has planted its seed and its roots are heavily entangled with medical care and health. And inevitably, it will continue to grow.

At the end of the day, the evolution of how technology integrates into today’s medicine had really made an impact on people’s lives. Although technology is now at its prime form, we still have a long ways to go. Cheers to the future of Medical Technology.

Medical Equipment Technology