3A The evolution of technology in health care
Give one example of how technology has improved
1800s: Simple tools like stethoscopes, thermometers, and physician judgement
1900s: Introduction of X-rays, pathology labs, antibiotics
Early 2000s: MRI, CT scans, keyhole surgery, electronic health records
Present day: Wearables, mobile apps, real-time glucose monitors
Shift from reactive treatment to proactive, data-informed care
Diagnosis is now more precise, personalised, and data-driven
What does telehealth include for services
Video consultations
Electronic prescriptions
Digital health monitoring
Define digital health
Digital health = use of information and communication technologies in healthcare
Aims to manage illness, reduce risk, and promote wellness
What is big data?
Large-scale health data collected from multiple sources
What is one example of technology in healthcare?
Wearables: Trackers and sensors for managing chronic conditions
Telehealth: Remote consultations that reduce access barriers
AI diagnostics: Improve speed and accuracy in interpreting data
What is one benefit of telehealth?
Benefits:
Reduces travel and hospital visits
Enables continuous care for rural, immobile, or chronically ill patients
Helps shift care from hospitals to homes
Improves access, lowers costs, and supports hospital capacity management
Outline two digital health services
My Health Record: online summary of personal health info
Telehealth: virtual consultations
Mobile health (mHealth): apps like Headspace or health trackers
E-prescriptions: digital prescriptions sent to pharmacies
Remote monitoring: e.g. glucose or blood pressure tracking devices linked to providers
Give two examples of big data
Medicare billing and claims
Hospital admissions
Health surveys (e.g. ABS)
Personal devices (e.g. Apple Watch, glucose monitors)
Genomics and pathology data
What is a benefit of using technology in healthcare?
Early detection and timely interventions
Customised treatment plans
Fewer hospital admissions and reduced system burden
How does AI assist in healthcare?
Uses:
Interpreting medical scans (e.g. MRIs, CTs) faster than radiologists
Symptom analysis and patient triage
Pattern recognition in large datasets (e.g. cancer detection, risk prediction)
Example: AI distinguishing melanoma from benign skin moles more accurately than clinicians
What is a challenge of digital health?
Digital literacy: not everyone can use health technologies
Privacy: data breaches reduce trust
Cost: some clinics can’t afford new systems
Inequality: certain groups may be excluded
How is big data used in Australia?
Track disease outbreaks (e.g. COVID-19)
Identify chronic illness trends (e.g. diabetes by region)
Evaluate treatment effectiveness across populations
Design targeted public health campaigns
Reduce healthcare spending
What is a risk with technology in healthcare?
Data privacy and cybersecurity issues
Unequal access leading to greater health inequity
Over-reliance on tech may reduce clinical judgement
Give one example of remote patient monitoring
Wearable devices (e.g. heart rate, oxygen, blood sugar tracking)
Real-time data sharing with health teams
What is an opportunity of digital health?
Early intervention via real-time health data
Improved public health tracking
Patient empowerment through access to personal health records
What is one strategy to reduce costs in healthcare?
Avoiding duplication: Access to existing results prevents repeated tests.
Predictive modelling: Identifies high-risk patients for early care.
Efficiency audits: Improves hospital workflows by reducing waste.
Policy insight: Guides smarter funding and resource allocation.
What are 2 future trends in healthcare
Likely developments in the next 5–20 years:
AI diagnostics outperforming human radiologists
Precision medicine based on genetics
Robotic surgery for minimal invasiveness
Explain an example of robotic surgery, one benefit and one challenge.
Technologies: Robotic systems like the da Vinci Surgical System
Features:
Surgeon-controlled robotic arms
Tiny incisions = greater precision
Benefits:
Reduced pain, scarring, infection risk
Shorter hospital stays
Improved patient outcomes
Greater surgical control
Examples:
Laparoscopic gallbladder removal
Knee reconstructions through keyhole surgery
Challenges:
High initial costs
Need for specialised surgical training
How do you evaluate digital health services? (there are 4 factors)
Evaluation factors:
Accessibility: Is it usable by rural, older, or non-English-speaking groups?
Integration: Do different systems connect and share data?
Security: Are health records protected?
Outcomes: Are there actual health improvements?
What is the main goal of big data?
The shift from reactive to proactive data driven care