Medical Technology Essay -- Healthcare, Technology

What is medical technology? Medical technology is procedures, equipment, and processes by which medical care is delivered. It is also any scientific discovery that finds its application in delivering health care. As technology advances the ability of providers to diagnose, treat and prevent health problems also increase, as stated by the Congressional Budget Office â€Å"the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) defines technological advances broadly to include any changes in clinical practice that enhance the ability of providers to diagnose, treat, or prevent health problems.† (CBO). The use of medical technology has an important role in the health care system and how the FDA plays a role in it, these issues will be discussed later. Medical technology comes with many Pro's and Con' s that effect our health industry and these Pro's and Con's will also be discussed. We use medical technology in our health care every day; we use this technology in clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities. The technology we use is used for equipment, devices, Pharmaceutical, and in medical and surgical procedures. We also incorporate technology to make our medical database for patients through information system, and this helps us manage and organize data. Some of the information technology applications are clinical information system, administrative information system, decision and support system, and internet and e-health applications. A lot more physicians and patients are using internet and e-health because, certain applications can make physicians more productive like virtual visits appropriate for monitoring and follow up. The U.S. is one of the leading countries in developing technologies because we as Americans demand that the most advanced... ... growth of health care spending. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/89xx/doc8947/MainText.3.1.shtml (FDA) "U.S. Department of health and human services." FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration. N.p., 12/1. Web. 22 Nov 2011. . (ABC news) More americans using high-tech medicine, cdc finds. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/technology-medicine/story?id=9864930 (MAAW) What does it mean by to much?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://maaw.info/ArticleSummaries/ArtSumBastRueWesbury93.htm (WHO) World health organization. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501361_eng.pdf (KFF) kaiser, H. (3/8/). How changes in medical technology affect health care costs. Retrieved from http://www.kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm030807oth.cfm