Digital Health Informatics Growing in Hospitals |
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September 20, 2006
by Joe Cooper
joe.cooper@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
Appointment times, hospital operational expenses, even patients' length of stay--all of these can be decreased through developments in health information technology. With growth projected for healthcare informatics, technology training will also grow in importance as more hospitals move to digital radiography and record-keeping.
High-Tech Health Comes of Age
Health informatics is developing rapidly with major electronics and medical device makers offering new products in health information technology. High-tech scanners, 3D X-ray machines, and digital imaging equipment is turning up in more hospitals as hospital managers look to modernize the health informatics at their sites.
Prominent hospitals associated with colleges and universities aren't the only hospitals using advances in health information technology. Some local hospitals are joining the trend, opting for digital radiographs and medical records instead of the "old-fashioned" kind.
Technology at a Price
Huge costs are associated with these new health informatics tools. A 64-slice CT machine costs over $1 million, and depending on the software package, can reach up to $2 million. An independent panel found that the use of imaging equipment grew 45% between 1999 and 2003. This year, patients under one big insurance provider will pay 20% more for imaging services.
Technology Training
So what should hospital staff do to prepare for this growth? In order to meet the demands of digital imaging and keep costs under control, technology training will be essential to healthcare professionals in the coming years. There are a number of programs in health informatics and healthcare information technology. Some technology training is even available online.
If you're interested in health informatics and medical technology, the following careers are at the frontline of this area:
- Radiography
- Medical assisting
- Digital Imaging
- Navigation Technology
Sources
About the Author
Joe Cooper is a freelance education and technology writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.
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