Importance
of Computers in the Medical Field
Storage of Patient Data and Health Information
Computers are the excellent means for storage of patient-related data.
Hospitals employ computer systems to maintain patient records. It is often
necessary to maintain detailed records of the medical history of patients.
Doctors often require information about a patient's family history, physical
ailments in the family (if any), already diagnosed diseases and prescribed
medicines. This information can be stored in a computer database. Computers can
keep track of prescriptions and billing information. They can be used to store
information about the medicines prescribed to a patient as well as those, which
cannot be prescribed to him/her (ones which the patient is allergic to).
Computers enable an efficient storage of huge amounts of medical data. Medicine
comprises a vast information base. Computer storage can serve as the best means
of housing this information. Medical journals, research and diagnosis papers,
important medical documents and reference books can best be stored in an
electronic format.
Using Computers in Surgical Procedures
Computer software is used for diagnosis of diseases. It can be used for the
examination of internal organs of the body. Advanced computer-based systems are
used to examine organs of the body. Some of the complex surgeries can be
performed with the help of computers. Computer-assisted Surgery (CAS) is a
fast-advancing field in medicine, which combines medical expertise with
computer intelligence to give faster and more accurate results in surgical
procedures. In CAS, a model of the pateint is created, then analyzed prior to
surgery. The surgical procedure is simulated on the virtual image of the
patient. The sugery can then be performed by a surgical robot, as programmed by
a medical professional or the robot may only assist doctors while they do the
actual surgery. In both cases, computer intelligence is at work, thus
underlining the uses of computers in medicine.
Using Computer Technology in Diagnostic Tests
The different types of monitoring equipment in hospitals are often based on
computer programming. Medical imaging deals with techniques to create images of
the human body for medical purposes. Many of the modern methods of scanning and
imaging are largely based on the computer technology. We have been able to
implement many of the advanced medical imaging techniques, thanks to developments
in computer science. Magnetic resonance imaging employs computer software.
Computed tomography makes use of digital geometry processing techniques to
obtain 3-D images. Sophisticated computers and infrared cameras are used for
obtaining high-resolution images. Computers are widely used for the generation
of 3-D images. Many of the modern-day medical equipment have small, programmed
computers. Many of the medical appliances of today work on pre-programmed
instructions. The circuitry and logic in most of the medical equipment is
basically a computer. The functioning of hospital-bed beeping systems,
emergency alarm systems, X-ray machines and several such medical appliances is
based on computer logic.
Communication between Medical Practitioners and Patients, Knowledge Sharing
between Doctors
Computer networking enables quicker communication. Computers and the Internet
have proven to be a boon in all the spheres of life. In the field of medicine,
computers allow faster communication between a patient and a doctor. Doctors
can collaborate better over the Internet. Today, it is possible to obtain
experts' opinions within seconds by means of the Internet. Medical
professionals sitting on opposite sides of the globe can communicate within
minutes by means of the Internet. It is due to computer networking technology
that network communication has become easy. Medical practitioners can discuss
medical issues in medical forums, they can blog, write articles, contribute to
medical journals available online. Updates in the medical field, advancements
in medicine, information about new methods of treatment, etc. can reach the
common man within minutes, thanks to the Internet and easy access to computers.
Doctors can exchange images and messages in seconds and derive conclusions
speedily. They can seek advice and share knowledge in a convenient manner over
the Internet.
The importance of computers cannot be stressed enough. Computers have given a
new dimension to every field and medicine is no exception.
