by Eileen O’Shanassy

Technology is the main element working to change modern healthcare education and the healthcare industry at large. More medical students are going to school online or on a part or full time basis, and more professors are working online to post their lectures and conduct research using online resources. Knowing how to deal with trends that affect the ways that people learn and teach and the changes in the industry will make you a more valuable player in the field.

Methods of Learning 

The methods of healthcare learning are expanding thanks to the Internet. When classes are offered online, students are more likely to enroll and complete their studies. There are also hybrid courses that combine online and classroom methods of learning. Even though most medical classes must be completed in person, students can take a few online courses for convenience. This is especially helpful for cutting down on time spent in school getting a more involved or specialized degree.

Recordkeeping

Millions of medical records are available digitally for viewing by doctors and nurses only. Electronic medical records are easier to retrieve on computers and are indestructible in case of building fires or floods. Experts that specialize in EMR conversion technology have helped thousands of hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinics that needed to make the transition from physical records. Students in health information technology and medical assisting should become more familiar with computers. They have to combine traditional recordkeeping with computer technology skills if they want to keep their jobs.

Student-Teacher Interactions

Students often find it easier to interact with teachers when using technology. More students are using phones to do their work, and need apps to access their studies online. Teachers need the convenience of mobile phones and emails to communicate with students and many use virtual learning tools to connect on an interactive level. For anatomy and physiology classes, there are software programs that provide medical simulations and three-dimensional models of the patient’s body.

Labs, Tests, and Experiments 

Technology has changed the experimental side of healthcare education. Teachers now have the tools to perform many laboratory experiments with detailed accuracy. Some nurses and surgeons work closely with computers in a technique known as computer-assisted surgery (CAS). Before surgery, doctors use computers to look at detailed, colorized scans of internal organs, and make diagnoses. Students of today are realizing that they have the opportunity to take greater risks and achieve better, faster results.

Technology has changed every facet of living in a modern society, and it has improved the results of healthcare education. Using computers, students get the education they want in a shorter period of time, and doctors make diagnoses more accurately. From pharmaceutical technology to biomedical engineering, every type of healthcare education benefits.

Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter, @eileenoshanassy.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.