10 WAYS COMPUTERS ARE USED IN MEDICINE

In just a few short decades, the medical field has become increasingly reliant on computers to bring the most advanced forms of diagnosis and treatment to patients. The influence of computer technology can be seen in imaging systems, clinical labs, medical record storage and hospital operations as well as in the business offices of health care providers. The application of the computer in health care has helped doctors and researchers advance medical science while expanding the level of care for patients.

Medical Imaging
Medical imaging is a broad term that covers technology used to create images of the human body for study and diagnosis. It includes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, CT scans and X-Rays. All of these devices are controlled by computers. Even X-Ray imaging, which has been used in medicine since the early 20th century, now uses computers for image adjustment and transfer.


Patient Monitoring
Modern computer-based patient monitoring machines allow heart rate, respiratory activity, blood pressure and other critical vital signs to be collected automatically in digital form. Computer monitoring machines cut down on the time spent on routine tests in doctors' offices. In hospitals, they have the ability to automatically update a patient's chart and notify hospital staff of changes to a patient's vitals.

Computer-Assisted Surgery
Computers are used to assist in planning, teaching and performing many surgical procedures. One of the biggest recent developments in this area is robotically-assisted surgery (RAS), which allows surgeons to use robotic devices and computer software to complete minimally-invasive procedures. The surgeon remains in control and guides the robot device to complete complex operations in confined parts of the body.


Networks and Digital Communication
Computer networks and the internet have increased the means of communication between medical professionals with email, instant messaging, video chats and webinars. Being able to connect digitally helps health care professionals stay current with the latest medical developments. They can also consult with colleagues in real-time and receive second opinions for diagnoses and treatment options.

Telemedicine
The concept of a house visit is returning to health care in the form of telemedicine. Thanks to computers and smartphones, some medical professionals use video chats to visit with patients remotely. Besides benefitting patients who live in rural areas with limited health care options, telemedicine has proved useful following natural disasters and in war zones

Testing Drugs

Medical laboratories around the world use computer technology to test thousands of different compounds for traits that could one day turn them into life-saving drugs. Along with the testing, that number can also be sorted and analyzed in the time it would take a technician to do only a few.

Running Simulations

Computer simulations are critical to the advancement of science, and computer technology can allow medical lab personnel to run thousands of different simulations in a matter of hours. These simulations are used for everything from predicting the effectiveness of a drug to determining the best possible course of treatment for a patient.

Blood Work

Taking blood samples and analyzing the results is an important part of working in a medical lab, and computers do much of the work there as well. Sophisticated computer technology can quickly determine whether the levels of proteins, amino acids, sugars and other elements are within normal ranges. These same computers can be used to generate results that are sent back to the patient's physician.

Generating Research Data

Research is an essential part of lab work, and computer technology can be used to aggregate tens of thousands of individual records and present them in a usable format. From patient outcomes to the results of drug testing, this information can be used in many ways.

Analyzing Patient Data

Keeping patient data accurate and up-to-date is essential if an effective treatment plan is to be followed. The computer equipment used in medical labs can keep track of patient data and make sure that all treatment options are available.