There is no denying the fact that technology will literally dominate every aspect of our lives from this point on. From the way in which we approach healthcare to the foods we eat, the cars we drive and even the way in which we secure our homes, technology has infiltrated every industry. Because of this, a tech startup can go in any direction they want to — and one field which is a virtual goldmine is healthcare.
From the way in which patients are diagnosed and treated to the way in which patients, doctors and administrators communicate, technology is central to the entire field.
Advances in Geriatric Technology
While you may not view pharmacology as technology, the way in which new drugs are tested is dependent on microbiological technology, which lets cells be inspected down to the atom. New drugs such as Metformin are being proclaimed as the end-all of diseases prevalent in seniors. Tests have been approved by the FDA to test 3,000 people in their 70’s and 80’s to slow the aging process and reverse such things as cancer, dementia and heart disease. The technology used to create and advance this amazing drug is only the beginning and there are high hopes that we will soon be seeing people ‘naturally’ live well beyond the centennial mark! Imagine a healthy quality of life to 110 or 120 years of age!
Secure Communications Are Mandatory
In healthcare, the way in which medical professionals communicate among themselves and with patients is actually governed by law. Since the advent of HIPPA regulations, medical professionals must go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that any and all patient information is secure and held private. When it comes to HIPPA compliant communication, this is no easy task.
Some companies like Spok have made it a mission not only to ensure secure voice and email communications but text (SMS and MMS) communications as well. Startups in healthcare could focus on advancing privacy and security so that hacks would be a thing of the past. Just look at the havoc recent breeches have caused and you will clearly see there is a real need for this type of secure communications.
Robotic Medical Assistants?
One of the most difficult tasks for nurses to undertake would be lifting and safely moving patients. Now there are robots that are able to take the burden off humans by lifting and/or repositioning patients as the need arises. If you are interested in robotic technology, check out one product called RIBA, robot for interactive patient assistance, to see all that it can do. RIBA can easily lift a patient into or out of a bed and into or out of a wheelchair just as easily. The beauty of this technology is that RIBA can lift, move and reposition patients safer than humans can and of course without injuring or straining its back!
The future of healthcare is dependent on technological advances and if you are a tech startup, it would be a wise move on your part to invest part, or even all, of your resources to healthcare technology. With a shortage of qualified medical professionals, technology will be increasingly called upon to fill the void. A startup with innovative healthcare technology just can’t lose – it’s a goldmine waiting to be explored.