Is technology improving or damaging the health of the general public?

Technology has become a major force in healthcare with improvements in most of medical activities. Through technology, traditional healthcare has become obsolete. Better methods have come up assuring the public excellent medical care.  Although technology may have some demerits, its value to the people or public is incomparable. Therefore, the use of technology in healthcare should be improved as it would mean greater value for the people. New technology has led to new systems that have attracted mixed reactions with some being accepted and others rejected. As such, technology in healthcare remains major concern for the public.

Through technology, the public receives timely and quality healthcare. Technology has made handling of patients faster and highly effective. Speed in delivering services means that the healthcare provider would handle more patients within short time. As such, it assures the public of speedy attendance with guaranteed outcome. Therefore, patients have become more confident in medical care and they are sure that their wellness is assured through the use of modern technology (Cucciare & Weingardt, 2009). Such confidence amongst patients is out of the technology that makes processes or procedures more accurate and dependable.

Equally, technology has personalized services by making most of the services accessible through mobile applications. Users have access to mobile applications that are meant to improve their health. For example, there are applications that help the user to monitor their blood pressure, heart beat, and blood sugar among other health conditions. Such applications have made the services that previously required the patient to go to the hospital, accessible at their comfort. It creates an opportunity for patients to monitor their health daily in an affordable manner (Cucciare & Weingardt, 2009). Through such applications, technology has had massive impact to the public.

Moreover, technology has improved the wellbeing of the public through better research. Technology has made it easier to use new and improved machines for research. Research is highly useful in healthcare as it is the path through which improved medical processes, facilities and strategies are realized. Improved medical processes, facilities, and strategies would be an assurance for excellent care for patients. They would be guaranteed of value in their pursuit for wellbeing. Medical researchers have been exposed to more information that would be highly significant to improve the lives of the members of public. As a result, medical care for the members of public would be greatly improved (Cucciare & Weingardt, 2009)

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Lastly, through technology, the procedures that were considered complicated have been improved and there is an assurance for excellence in handling them. Doctors have been equipped with new knowledge and expertise that would be highly instrumental in realizing proper healthcare for members of public. Currently, some surgeries have become easier to perform with lower risks because of the application of modern technology. Also, medical examinations are faster and more reliable because they are performed using highly reliable procedures. Technology has made such procedures easier and more effective for members of public. Easier procedures mean value for the people and assurance for proper medical care for the people (Friis, 2018).

What technological approaches are being implemented in health care that have strong supporters and strong critics?

Technology in healthcare has attracted support and critique in equal measure. Some parties have supported it while others have rejected it depending on the value or the risk that come with it. There are certain technological innovations that were considered valuable, but have attracted criticism and rejection as they are viewed as irrelevant to the people. Some of the innovations were viewed as dangerous or unfavorable to human race. Society challenges every element despite the value that it brings. As such, technological approaches that are being implemented have strong supporters as well as strong critics.

Organ harvesting and donation has become a major technological innovation that has been instrumental in saving people’s lives. Technology has made it possible for people to share organs and support survival for the donor and the recipient. The technology has been embraced by society because it has saved the lives of people and given hope to those who were on the verge of death. Developed societies have had the privilege of using the best technology in organ transplant and donation making survival for the people more meaningful. They have supported the technology because it assured the people safety and completeness (Friis, 2018).

On the other hand, the technology has been challenged by some parties who considered it inappropriate and immoral. Religious people in society have had mixed reactions to the technological advancements because they considered it inappropriate and irrelevant. They viewed human transplant and organ donation as unethical and immoral. Some people have criticized the technology because they viewed it as the cause to the mysterious murders where body organs are removed. Also, the technology is said to have supported the illegal trade of human organs. People have been reduced to objects which are traded at ease and without conscience (Beyar, 2011).

Also, the use of electronic records in healthcare has been supported and criticized in equal measure. Health records have been supported in account that they have added value to how healthcare is delivered. It has ensured that patient information or data can be retrieved any time and in the most outstanding manner. The medical practitioners consider it a valuable innovation that has made their work easier and efficient. As such, it is an approach that brings value to the people and instills confidence to the practitioners. The technology has also been supported by patients who considered it valuable and most significant as per their needs. It assures them proper maintenance of personal medical records. Also, they believe that it offers them an opportunity to be served faster and in the most convenient manner (Thimbleby, 2013).

Nonetheless, medical records have received equal criticism as they are considered an easier way of exposing personal data of the patients. Some parties who are interested in the privacy of the patients would argue that the information that is exposed through the electronic records risks the privacy of the patients. Some parties argue that the data can be used by hackers in collaboration with medical assistants to leak the personal details of patients, which may be used for fraud. It would mean that there is a duty to convince the people to find value for the medical records and maintain them accordingly. Also, health records ought not to be shared with third parties who are not involved in the treatment process. Some parties argue that electronic records are subject to error, which may cause extensive loss to individuals and medical facilities. There is no guarantee that a patient cannot be treated using another patient’s medical records (Thimbleby, 2013). As such, criticism on the electronic records would be continually questioned.

References

Beyar, R. (2011). Challenges in organ transplantation. Rambam Maimonides medical journal, 2(2), 49-54.

Cucciare, M. A., & Weingardt, K. R. (Eds.). (2009). Using technology to support evidence-based behavioral health practices: A clinician’s guide. Routledge.

Friis, R. H. (2018). Essentials of environmental health. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Thimbleby, H. (2013). Technology and the future of healthcare. Journal of public health research, 2(3). 28-38.