The U.S. government and its population incurs more out-of-pocket expenses in terms of per capita than ever before. The question that arises as a result is: does the increased expenditure result in either improved quality or quicker access to healthcare? To answer this question, the role modern technology plays in the deliverance of healthcare is analyzed in this chapter. An important conclusion that can be drawn from this analysis is that the U.S. needs to fund research to develop, monitor, and implement healthcare technologies that will allow physicians to supplement and improve their practices. Further, capacity management of beds and increased investment into healthcare in general appears to be critical, regardless of how effectively technology is used.
TopIntroduction
Healthcare costs –government and out-of-pocket– in the U.S. are on the rise. For example, from 2011 to 2018, the increase in the US government healthcare expenditure (per capita) was 35.52 percent while the same number for the European Union was 0.77 percent (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Government healthcare expenditure per capita, current US$
The US population experienced a 15.26 percent increase in out-of-pocket expenditures (Figure 2), whereas people across the Atlantic enjoyed a 3 percent decrease. These numbers certainly demand analysis. When our government in terms of per capita and the population in terms of out-of-pocket pay more dollars for healthcare than ever before, the obvious question is: does it result in improved quality or quicker access to healthcare? To answer this question, we look at the role modern technology plays in the deliverance of healthcare.
Figure 2. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure per capita, current US$
Despite expectations to the contrary, challenges in delivering high-quality healthcare appear to be intensifying in many of the world’s most developed countries, including in the United States, during an era of rapid innovative technological developments and global pandemics. Technological developments are expected to impact the quality of healthcare, although change has been reported to be difficult to implement.2 These technological developments have been better adopted and utilized in healthcare fields in some parts of the world than in others. In general, developed nations have been able to harness technology more efficiently for improved patient care (Heathcare Tech Outlook, 2020).3 As the quantification of health in modern society intensifies and innovative health technologies become the cornerstone of these developments, the connection between technology and healthcare is garnering increased attention.
Recent years have witnessed an era of intensified technology use in healthcare services as well as developments in personalized medicine. These advances have promoted a growing dependency on technology in society and the collection of advanced information, which are then used to influence the decisions and behaviors of not just ordinary citizens but also large institutions, health personnel, and private companies.
Healthcare technology refers to information technology (IT) tools or software designed to boost hospital and administrative efficiency and productivity, give new insights into medicines and treatments, or improve the overall quality of care provided. Several innovations are generally seen as positive developments, improving the diagnostics and treatment of diseases as well as general public health; however, their wider societal implications can be questioned. It appears likely that these technologies could be improving general public health but at the cost of overall coverage and greater efficiency in healthcare provision. The U.S. healthcare system is not well designed to provide equitable care, as evidenced by the prevalence of disparities in care by race, ethnicity, language, and social status. As the United States invests in the design and implementation of health IT, consideration must be given to the impact that these innovations have on the quality and cost of healthcare for all patients, including those who experience difficulties.