Technology and Healthcare
Running head: TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTH CARE
Technology and Health Care
Barbara Carter
University of Phoenix
HCS 531
Jennifer Culotta
May 28, 2013
Health Care and Technology
Healthcare is a growing industry that has evolved over the years. The rapid growth of modern technology has impacted the health care system as a whole placing emphasis on quality of care, health care payments systems, access to care and the overall patient experience. Use of technology has simplified the health care delivery system for both the patient and medical facilities while identifying various trends within the health care system as well as potential areas for improvement. “Without doubt, medical technology is indispensable for people 's health and better quality of life in some areas; and contributes billions of dollars to the economy” (Ong and Tan, 2002). Use of the internet, tele-health and other clinical health information systems have allowed patients to take control of their health while offering a number of benefits such as “access to provider education, a reduction in cost, time and travel, in addition to a reduced number of referrals, outpatient consultation and emergency room visits" (Vo, 2008). Internet health services systems like WebMD have encouraged patients to analyze their own healthy lifestyle choices and increase the quality of their lives. This paper will analyze what WebMD is, how it has impacted quality of care, access to care and cost. In addition this paper will place emphasis on how WebMD has impacted technology in health care from a social, economic and ethical standpoint.
WebMD is a health information service system that was established in 1996 by Jim Clark and Pavan Nigam. WebMD is a public internet services site that offers information to its consumers regarding health, health care services such as a symptom checklist that allows the consumer to input current symptoms to determine the patient’s possible illness (WebMD, 2013). In addition WebMD
Technology and Health Care
Barbara Carter
University of Phoenix
HCS 531
Jennifer Culotta
May 28, 2013
Health Care and Technology
Healthcare is a growing industry that has evolved over the years. The rapid growth of modern technology has impacted the health care system as a whole placing emphasis on quality of care, health care payments systems, access to care and the overall patient experience. Use of technology has simplified the health care delivery system for both the patient and medical facilities while identifying various trends within the health care system as well as potential areas for improvement. “Without doubt, medical technology is indispensable for people 's health and better quality of life in some areas; and contributes billions of dollars to the economy” (Ong and Tan, 2002). Use of the internet, tele-health and other clinical health information systems have allowed patients to take control of their health while offering a number of benefits such as “access to provider education, a reduction in cost, time and travel, in addition to a reduced number of referrals, outpatient consultation and emergency room visits" (Vo, 2008). Internet health services systems like WebMD have encouraged patients to analyze their own healthy lifestyle choices and increase the quality of their lives. This paper will analyze what WebMD is, how it has impacted quality of care, access to care and cost. In addition this paper will place emphasis on how WebMD has impacted technology in health care from a social, economic and ethical standpoint.
WebMD is a health information service system that was established in 1996 by Jim Clark and Pavan Nigam. WebMD is a public internet services site that offers information to its consumers regarding health, health care services such as a symptom checklist that allows the consumer to input current symptoms to determine the patient’s possible illness (WebMD, 2013). In addition WebMD
References: Ong, KL & Tan, LTH (2002). The impact of medical technology on health care today, Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine. Retrieved on May 28, 2013, from, http://www.hkcem.com/html/publications/Journal/2002-4/231-236.pdf Vo, Alexander, H. (2008) The Telehealth Promise, University of Texas Medical Branch. Retrieved May 18, 2013, from, http://telehealth.utmb.edu/presentations/The%20Telehealth%20Promise-Better%20Health%20Care%20and%20Cost%20Savings%20for%20the%2021st%20Century.pdf WebMD. (2013, March 12). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:20, May 28, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WebMD&oldid=543618121 Ballas, Marc S. (2001). The Impact of the Internet on the Healthcare Industry: A Close Look at the Doctor-Patient Relationship, the Electronic Medical Record, and the Medical Billing Process, Einstein Quarterly Journal of Biology and Medicine. Retrieved May 28, 2013, from https://www.einstein.yu.edu/uploadedFiles/EJBM/Impact_Internet_79-83.pdf WRGH (2013). The impact of information technology and the internet of healthcare cost, quality and access. Retrieved on May 28, 2013 from, http://www.wrgh.org/impact_on_it.asp Masys, Daniel R (2013). Effects of Current and Future Information Technologies on the Healthcare Workforce, Health Affairs. Retrieved May 28, 2013, from, http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/21/5/33.full