Other Peoples' Claims

I have found numerous postings and writings on the Internet from other individuals or companies about technology that potentially reduces the cost of health care. I selected three of the most interesting and informative claims that I saw because I think that they are important enough to discuss here. The first of which is remote monitoring equipment. According to the article I read, hospitals are beginning to use technology such as cameras, scanned medicines, and “smart beds” in order to better monitor patients in Intensive Care Units (McFadden, 2009). The cameras are sophisticated to zoom in and track patients so that doctors and specialists can watch their patients from far away to make sure that they are okay. Scanners would be put into place to watch the medicines being given and take by the patients to make sure nothing is mistakenly taken. In addition, the “smart beds” will be able to check vitals, weigh patients, and ensure that nurses do not need to check on patients as often as they would without these beds (McFadden, 2009). The claims by this author seem to be very believable; she is a reporter who specializes in developments in biotechnology and the medical world. She also cites a statistic from a Johns Hopkins Professor who conducted a survey and discovered that “high intensity staffing…is associated with a 30-percent reduction in hospital mortality and a 40-percent reduction in ICU mortality (McFadden, 2009). As a reporter whose interest and study specializes in the field of medical technology, this seems like a very valid claim and a good example of bioengineering technology that reduces the cost of health care by increasing hospital safety and reducing complications and problems that can result during hospital stays. Another article I found extremely appealing and educational is one from Reader’s Digest. Inside, numerous medical technologies are discussed and summarized. The technologies that are discussed can be categorized into many of the points that I discussed below about ways technology can reduce health care costs. Examples include improved surgical and diagnostic technology (such as heart valve repair, spider silk bone implants, and breast cancer screening), remote monitoring equipment (such as microchips to monitor drug intake and restorative nanotechnology), and improved vaccines and drugs for a variety of diseases and illnesses (such as cancer, the flu, and other infectious inflictions) (2007). This magazine is a reliable and knowledgeable source that, like the last one, does not have any apparent underlying political or economic motives, such as advocating a product to sell. These sources both are great examples of more detailed and viable ways that technology can reduce the cost of the health care both in the near and far future.

(2007, March). New medical technology. Reader's Digest, Retrieved from http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/new-medical-technology-lifesaving-and-life-enhancing/article34117.html

McFadden, M. (2009, September 9). New remote monitoring technology offers round-the-clock care. Retrieved from http://www.wndu.com/mmm/headlines/58176697.html