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With technology advancing so rapidly, it can feel overwhelming to keep up with all the changes. For some, it might even be scary to think about. We’ve seen the horror movies where robots come to life and take over the world, but luckily, that’s the opposite of what’s happening in healthcare, where the goal is to support your overall health (and preserve humanity, not, um, destroy it).
From the stethoscope to the MRI, new technology has been changing medicine for centuries. But some of the developments of the last few years have been especially transformational in how doctors better care for their patients, and how patients themselves can track their own health on their own time. Here are a few of the more recent — and coolest — developments:
New ways to connect with your doctor and your health
Staying on top of your health doesn’t look the same as it used to now that most people have computers, phones and wearable devices.
Telemedicine
This one might seem basic, but not too long ago, you needed to leave the comfort of your home for a doctor’s appointment. Now, with telemedicine, you can connect with your doctor for appointments via video chat or phone from your home.
“One of the silver linings from the COVID pandemic has been the advancement of telemedicine,” says John D. Scott, MD, UW Medicine’s medical director for telemedicine. “My patients really appreciate the convenience of telemedicine, and I get a glimpse into their lived experience.”
Comfort aside, the technology developed for telehealth appointments makes healthcare more accessible. It helps those with mobility issues, transportation or childcare challenges, or those needing follow-up visits after surgeries or other procedures to still see their doctors without the stress of arranging transportation.
Wellness apps and devices
Wearable devices, such as smart watches with fall detection or smart rings that track sleep habits, are making health tracking much easier than it used to be.
“Wearables enable real-time monitoring and proactive disease management,” says Majid Chalian, MD, a musculoskeletal radiologist and an associate professor of radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
If you have irregular menstrual cycles, are trying to conceive, or are pregnant, these wearables can help you understand more about your health, fertility and pregnancy. Basal body temperature tracking that doesn’t require waking up at the same time to check manually? Potential game changer.
Keep in mind, however, that the data you get from your wearable devices isn’t perfect. It’s a good way to keep you broadly informed about what’s going on with your health, but if you have any questions, concerns or want more information about what the data is telling you, export that data and bring it to your next appointment with your doctor so you can review it together.
There are lots of at-home tools for your mental health, as well. Meditation apps can offer mindfulness activities, meditation practices, stress management tools and breathing exercises that you can do at home or on the go.
Some even use therapy-approved techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you process big emotions if you don’t have access to a therapist (or in between appointments).
These apps, of course, aren’t a replacement for one-on-one work with a therapist, though, so keep that in mind when using them. They may work for you, but if you don’t feel like they are, consider reaching out to a professional. And if you’re looking for a therapist, there’s an app for that, too.
Smart rooms
Even hospital rooms have been upgraded with new tech. New smart rooms have screens that let patients interact with a virtual nurse, that can answer questions, greet families and let patients know the last time they got pain medications. It can also call an actual nurse, if needed.
“One of the biggest complaints we continue to get is that patients feel like we’re not able to answer questions fast enough,” says Sommer Kleweno Walley, the chief executive officer of Harborview Medical Center. “So this is an incredible advancement.”
The hope is that if a patient or a family member has a question, it can be answered sooner rather than later if a doctor or nurse is checking in on another patient — but don’t worry, your care team will still take care of all your needs, if and when you need something.
A smart room demonstration at Harborview Medical Center / © UW Medicine
Faster and more efficient medical procedures
Technology also has the potential to help doctors make a diagnosis and begin treatment more quickly.
AI and radiology
AI isn’t only used to help you refine emails or create an itinerary for your next perfect Seattle adventure — doctors are using it in their clinics to help with triaging and diagnosing.
“We’ve integrated artificial intelligence into our workflow,” says Chalian. “We primarily use it for patient imaging organization and worklist prioritization.”
If a time-sensitive or critical case needs attention, these AI tools will help flag it so doctors can review it sooner. In Chalian’s case, these AI tools also allocate the radiologist’s attention more efficiently in the radiology department, leading to faster turnaround times for patients with more urgent needs.
“We’re also exploring other applications of AI to improve how we read, share and process medical images, make reports clearer, and help predict health issues earlier,” says Chalian.
AI in the exam room
AI is also being used to help doctors with transcriptions during appointments, making sure nothing gets missed and allowing doctors to spend more time with patients instead of typing into a computer. It can also help your doctor with their notes and overall health assessment. This AI scribe technology is currently being piloted in clinical settings.
“It allows me to really focus on my patient, instead of the computer,” says Scott.
Infusion pumps
Some hospitals, including UW Medical Center – Montlake, are connecting IV pumps to electronic health records. This integration helps make IV infusions safer, more efficient and more accurate through automatic programming.
“The dose, the volume and the rate it’s supposed to be infused are transmitted directly to the pump,” says Beth Chamberlain, PharmD, a pharmacist at UW Medical Center – Montlake. “That helps us avoid manual programming errors, for example, if someone types in an extra digit, so it’s 115 instead of 15.”
Hybrid operating room
Until recently, surgeons often had to transport patients out of the operating room to get images the surgical team needed to guide the surgery. Now, there are operating rooms equipped with their own imaging systems, making it possible for patients to be imaged without leaving the OR. These “hybrid” operating rooms are making operations safer and operating times shorter.
New treatments and therapies
Technological advances are also leading to new ways to treat people with even the most challenging conditions.
Spinal cord stimulation
Have you ever heard of a spinal cord simulator? Yes, it exists.
Chet Moritz, PhD, a professor of rehabilitation medicine and Neuroscience & Biophysics at the UW School of Medicine, led a clinical trial of a new, FDA-approved device designed to simulate the spinal cord. The main goal of the device is to help people who have lost muscle function due to spinal cord injuries to regain movement and strength.
“When the stimulator is used in combination with rehabilitation, they regain a tremendous amount of function and dexterity,” Moritz said. “We’ve seen people who have no function of their hands at all go from not being able to pick up an object or manipulate an object all the way to being able to play an electric guitar or use a paint brush on a canvas.”
Ultrasound technology for kidney stones
Kidney stones are painful, and a big nuisance for those who get them frequently. A new technique uses ultrasound technology to move the kidney stone out of the ureter with no anesthesia and minimal pain.
“It’s nearly painless, and you can do it while the patient is awake, and without sedation, which is critical,” says M. Kennedy Hall, MD, a UW Medicine emergency medicine doctor.
The technology can also break apart the kidney stones using a technique called burst wave lithotripsy. Patients who have received this treatment said they felt immediate relief after the procedure.
3D-printed tissue
Incredible advances have already happened, but even cooler things are on the horizon.
For example, researchers at UW Medicine and the University of Washington helped develop a 3D-printed device that helps scientists create models of human tissue. The goal? Creating lab-made conditions that allow cells to develop into functioning tissues and organs. Initially, these model tissues and organs will help researchers study complex diseases and develop new treatments, and maybe in the future, to create lab-grown tissues and organs to replace those lost or damaged due to trauma or disease.
3D printing is also being used in other applications to help develop prosthetics, organs, implants and more.
Acknowledging the risks
Even if you’re not worried about a robot takeover (or other related technological fears), the most advanced technological innovations still pose various risks. Chalian mentions five key factors to think about:
Data privacy and security: Increased use of digital tools can raise concerns about patient data breaches and cybersecurity threats.
Bias and inaccuracy: AI models can reflect biases in training data, leading to unequal or incorrect outcomes.
Over-reliance on technology: Clinicians may become too dependent on tools, potentially overlooking clinical judgment.
Cost and accessibility: High-tech solutions may widen disparities if not equitably available or affordable.
Training and adaptation: Staff may need significant training to use new systems effectively, which can be a barrier.
You should talk to your healthcare provider about the potential risks and benefits of any new technology. Chalian says healthcare providers are adopting these technologies with proper caution.
“Careful implementation, oversight and ongoing evaluation are essential to minimize these risks,” says Chalian.
With telehealth appointments, for example, many healthcare organizations use multiple layers of security to protect their patients.
With AI systems, bias can creep in during their training. If, for example, the system is trained on data from patients of only one racial group, it may not perform well for patients from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. That’s where your doctor’s expertise comes in. They should never rely solely on AI to make decisions, but use it as a tool, like other tools they have at hand, to inform, but not to make their decisions. If you have concerns around your doctor’s decisions, don’t hesitate to speak up.
Moving forward
Sure, we’re not quite in flying car era, but where we are is pretty neat, too. New technology promises to make healthcare more efficient, personalized and responsive, says Chalian.
“As our healthcare needs grow, technology will be key to delivering high-quality, accessible care,” he says.
