Health Care Education in the 21st Century
Health care is changing quickly in the 21st century, with more emphasis on prevention and wellness. This post will cover some of the most fundamental changes in modern health care and how they are impacting education of medical professionals.
Education has been fundamentally changed by technology's rapid pace, but nowhere is this more evident than in health care. With a rapidly aging population and new technologies like telemedicine, doctors need to be prepared to adapt at every turn. To maintain their competitive edge doctors will increasingly have to be tech savvy, creative thinkers who can grapple with complex data sets.
Teaching physicians to be innovative, creative and engaging.
Earlier in the 19th century, medical degrees were exclusively scientific in nature. They primarily taught anatomy and physiology, with little emphasis on the humanities or soft sciences. Graduates of these programs were expected to completely immerse themselves in science and medicine in order to be effective practitioners. Much of this focus was because it was the only way for students to gain access to clinical training. But today we know that this is not true - healthcare has many unique aspects from a patient's perspective that can not be reduced to a single discipline alone.
Doctor's are increasingly becoming computer scientists as they work with technology in every aspect of their practice. A 2013 survey of primary care physicians showed that 21% reported working with computers in their practice, up from only 4% in 1988. In the same time period, the use of internet technologies increased from 39% to 75%. Results from the same survey were obtained 10 years later, showing that 57% of physicians were using computers in their practice, as well as 23% who used internet technology.
Although secondary and post-graduate education is still dominated by scientists and technology, many are looking to shift this trend. The growth in health care computer work is interesting because we don't usually associate science with creativity or artistry. But research shows that to be successful, doctors must learn how to deal with complex data sets, which requires creative skills. We are now aware that the humanistic disciplines are needed to give doctors a holistic approach as they go out into the field and interact with patients.
Education is diversifying as well. More medical schools are including humanities in their preclinical curriculum and writing about patient care has become a big part of the job for many physicians. Many health care providers already know that patients want more than just a prescription - they want explanations in layman's terms; they want to be listened to and heard by their physician; and they want some say in the treatment process.
New programs in the health care field are also focusing now on patient education, as more emphasis is put on making sure each patient has timely access to healthcare providers. Screening programs, lectures and training for patients to become more involved in their own healthcare are all important.
We are entering a new age of health care education, which means that doctors need to learn how to be aware of how their actions will impact the patient. To be successful in this new world requires that doctors learn how to not only conceive but think holistically about their practice. Doctors have always been creative thinkers, but this type of thinking is now essential as they start implementing practices like telemedicine and remote monitoring practices using computers.
This article first appeared at Fast Company.
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Health Care Education in the 21st Century Health Care Education in the 21st Century
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Government policy and reform aimed at improving access to medical care for all Americans is an important element of health care reform.
The Affordable Care Act of 2010, also known as Obamacare, is a major overhaul of America’s health care system, expanding the insurance coverage that Americans receive.
Many are concerned that increasing access to health care will drive up costs and reduce quality. However, research is finding that expanding access to health care improves medical outcomes and gives providers more time to focus on patients while reducing paperwork. With time and resources freed up through telemedicine, primary care doctors should be able to work with patients in a seamless fashion by utilizing technology in their private offices and hospitals throughout the country.
Telemedicine is one type of extended service for rural areas; another extension provided for under Obamacare is Community Health Centers (CHC). These centers provide health care services to residents across America, many living in rural areas where access is difficult.
CHCs are funded by the federal government; they are run by public-private partnerships and offer a variety of health services, in addition to primary care and emergency medical assistance.
Some states have passed legislation allowing greater autonomy for CHCs. In 2011, Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act, allowing states to experiment with innovative methods of providing health care which will create a national framework under which small-scale health-care programs can operate.
New technological advances can greatly improve life expectancy as well as quality of life for people with chronic illnesses.
The positive effects of technological advancement in the health care field are being widely publicized, with a wide range of new partnerships and projects being formed. The following examples provide some insight into the range of upcoming changes to the healthcare sector in the near future:
This list is by no means exhaustive.
"Healthcare IT News" is a trade publication focused on bringing readers news about technology trends and developments in healthcare information systems. Since its founding in 1992, the publication has grown to reach more than 100,000 healthcare IT professionals each month.
For the 2013 Healthcare IT News "Salary Survey", published January 29, 2014:
In 2012 a new hospital opened in Starkville, Mississippi (US). The facility was designed specifically with modern technology needs in mind and features robotic microscopes and digital imaging as well as a number of other innovations. According to Health Care Design magazine, the facility is “a clear reflection of how hospitals are evolving from an industry founded upon mechanically driven technology to one informed by increasingly complex medical knowledge and its translation into clinical care.”
Nominating and electing of members to boards and commissions is a significant source of power for health care providers.
Some of the key appointments that may be announced during this period include:
On May 1, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released proposed rules that will make it easier for doctors to use electronic prescribing of controlled substances. Electronic prescribing allows licensed physicians to send Pre-fill Rx applications directly to pharmacies rather than have them faxed or mailed into the pharmacy.
Conclusion: Digital health care will continue to grow and reach new levels.
Health care systems have a long history of creating innovation from within the industry, but new technology is often developed elsewhere. One reason for this is that demand has traditionally been lacking in health care. Another is that other industries have been more successful in developing technology that fits their needs and applying it to their processes.
Telemedicine is a widely discussed concept due to its potential to improve access to medical care and containment of costs. However, many people do not know what telemedicine really means or how doctors use it on a daily basis. According to Dr.