I joined medical college almost five decades back. I am aware how medicine was practised those days. Perhaps the only diagnostic support available those days were X-Rays, ECG and some laboratory tests. Thus there was a heavy reliance on clinical examination.
Over the years there is a tremendous progress in medical technology, which has revolutionized the way medicine is practised today. The speed and accuracy of diagnosis and therapy have increased. It is possible to diagnose and treat many disorders which were difficult to manage earlier. The time taken is reduced and the discomfort and advice effects are minimized. On the flip side, medical costs have increased and the doctor-patient relationship is altered.
Take the example of stethoscope, which has been a symbol of medical profession. It is almost getting redundant. We all know how the findings used to be subjective and there used to be wide variations. The new smart stethoscope is accurate without the need of any human interpretation.
This is just an example of new technology. This is true in all vital parameters like pulse, blood pressure and respiration, resulted of which can be seen and recorded.
Such progress has been achieved practically in every branch of medicine. Perhaps the greatest innovation and progress is in the imaging branch.
New X Ray systems like Digital X Ray System YSIO, which is a robotic system with organ program facilities is very convenient to patents. Digital fluoroscopy is also very useful. Similarly is the best available mammography system with biopsy facilities. Then there is Tomogram imaging technology to identify very small lesions.
Ultrasound system, which was great boon to the obstetricians and medical personnel has progressed significant to Elastography and 4D imaging. On similar lines echocardiography has developed further to advanced Color Doppler which is very useful to assess cardiac and vascular disorders.
CT Scans are another great tool in diagnosis. The latest Flash and Force CT Scans have a higher speed with minimum radiation to patients. These machines can perform cardiac CT Angiography which is a non-invasive procedure.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is another great technological advancement in diagnosis and treatment. Skyra is an example of most recent 3 tesla with 64 channel MR imaging system with advance applications like functional brain imaging, brain fibre tracing elastography and spectroscopy.
This technology is also extended to 3 Room Intra Operate Magnetic Resonance Imaging System (IMRIS). The patient friendly technology helps surgeons to detect and remove tumours during real time surgery.
PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography) is another modern technology which is useful in assessing the functions at cellular level. It has revolutionized the diagnosis and prognosis of the patient. Multiple slice PET CT and SPECTCT System with high resolution image is a vital tool in cancer treatment.
Conducting laboratory tests has become so much easier than manual testing which was taking a long time and was subject to human error. Newer automatic equipment are accurate , fast and have capacity to carry out a large member of tests with minimum human intervention . The range of tests have also increased enormously. They are assisting the clinicians to manage disorders better than before.
Equipment like IRECT for automatic complete urine analysis NAT testing for early detection of HIV before blood transfusion are recent additions. Rapid identification system for micro-organism is helping doctors to treat infections effectively. Automatic Quick TB identification is another great advancement.
Management of cardiac and vascular disorders ave changed with cardiac cath laboratories. Angioplasty could be done in these units. The newer hybrid cathlab which combines cardiac cath lab and operation theatre is another advancement.
Modern critical care units which monitor all vital parameters are a real boon to the serious patients.
ICU’S equipped with positive and negligence isolation rooms to manage infected and immune compromised patients including dialysis facility at the room are there in major modem hospitals. Similarly wireless monitoring to manage continuous monitoring of critical patients during transport are also provided in these hospitals.
Modular operation theatres with advanced technological devices help the surgeons and anaesthetists to provide safe treatment to patients. Neuro and ortho navigation system to manage very precise surgeries are also available in some operation theatres.
Minimal invasive surgery and laparoscopy surgeries have changed the concept of conventional surgery. They have made the patients stay shorter and scars much smaller. The newer trend of using the robots for surgery has revolutionized the process. It is very accurate with minimum blood loss and tissue damage.
There are advanced technologies to treat kidney disorders like laser technology, lithotripsy and sophisticated dialysis systems with R.O. System. Similarly to treat eye conditions most modem instruments and technology like laser sophistical operating microscopes are also quite useful.
Management of infertility has changed for the better with IVF and GIFT technology.
Dental care which has become restorative and aesthetic. Treatment uses many innovative techniques and technology.
Rehabilitative care is another area where modern technology plays an important role. Hydrotherapy anti-gravity treadmill, kaynamatics and wireless cardiac monitoring facilities for cardiac rehabilitation are some of the modern technologies used. Robotic driven gait orthosis, computer enhanced and rehabilitation device to improve walking in neurologically impaired patients and similar device to improve hand and arm impairment for patients with brain injuries, neurological disorder or stroke.
The above are only few examples. The list too exhaustive to name. The innovations and progress are so fast that there is a common perception that even if you order the most advanced equipment, by the time it is installed , a newer version will already be in the market.
It is true, that these advances in technology have improved the patient care and adoption of it sooner or later is inevitable. However clinicians should weigh the benefit to the patient vis-à-vis cost before going for newer technology.
(The author is President, Association of Hospitals)