Software Engineering Insights

The healthcare industry is on a constant lookout for digital solutions to conduct the financial, administrative, and clinical operations of a hospital. These days, these are largely carried out by means of a set of informatics tools, collectively known as Hospital Information Systems (HIS). In addition to a  patient's health information, inventory and personnel data are also stored, managed, and transmitted across a HIS.

Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is a healthcare data exchange standard created by Health Level Seven or HL7. Having developed advanced tools for safe and secure data exchange such as EMR, Diagnostic Data, or PHI – FHIR has given a boost to the healthcare sector.

Ever since the intense scrutiny faced by organizations that developed COVID vaccines, pharmacovigilance has become a hotly discussed area of interest. The practice of pharmacovigilance basically aims to reduce the entry of drugs with adverse side effects into regular circulation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been permeating this field in recent years due to the immense potential for automated pharmaceutical discovery that it offers.

In the healthcare domain, there are two significant challenges that come into view: the concern of high costs and the ongoing effort to enhance patient experiences. Despite the abundance of data gathered from various sources like health records, insurance claims, medical trials, and interconnected devices, finding practical insights to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency remains a hurdle.

In recent times, the way healthcare works has changed significantly. Instead of solely relying on traditional methods such as paper records and telephone communication, the integration of software and digital technology has brought about a complete transformation in the delivery of healthcare services.

To me, nothing seems more fascinating than the fact that machine, a manifestation of human knowledge, could be developed to such an extent that it is able to be on par with human. Be it self-driving vehicles, the infamous Chess match or Google's Alpha Go, technology is giving end-to-end competition to humans. With the rapid advancement of technology and automation, there is rarely a field left untouched by machines. One such field is the healthcare industry.

In the not-so-distant past, virtual reality (VR) was mainly associated with gaming and entertainment. However, today, VR has become a driving force in the healthcare industry, along with other significant healthcare technology trends.

Throughout history, medical devices have played a crucial role in improving patient outcomes. From the stethoscope's introduction in the early 19th century to the invention of X-ray machines and pacemakers, these physical devices have completely changed the way healthcare is delivered.

From our smartphones to smart homes, technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, and now, it's making a profound impact on how we approach our health and well-being. Among the numerous technological advancements, one that stands out for its transformative potential in healthcare - wearable technology.

Even before the pandemic hit, healthcare organizations were already embracing digital transformation strategies to provide patient-centered experiences and ensure their survival in a competitive landscape. However, when the world faced an unprecedented crisis, hospitals and health systems had to kick their transformation into high gear. In a matter of months, the healthcare industry experienced a digital revolution that would normally take years to accomplish.