How about a new term for your doctor – Tele-Intensivist.  This is a doctor that can monitor critically ill patients from a remote site employing the latest in technology; even allowing the doctor to speak with the patient while visually interacting through video monitors.  With the improvement of technology and the increased dependability of electronic components and equipment, doctors can greatly increase their oversight of a larger number of patients without the restrictions of time and geography.

And technology is becoming prevalent well outside of the critical care arena.  In areas such as supply cabinets with biometric thumbprint readings, websites where patients can view test results, computerized record keeping and 3D imaging, high-tech products are integrating into the medical community as a whole while creating efficiencies necessary to assist in controlling medical costs for all.  Additionally, high-tech equipment is creating a much safer environment for patients.  The equipment leads to a quicker diagnosis, shorter hospital stay and helps to limit complications.  In fact, an American Hospital Association survey found that at the nation’s 100 most wired facilities, risk-adjusted death rates were over 7 percent lower, on average, than at other hospitals.  To further protect patients, healthcare facilities are moving to a “closed-loop” system with built in safeguards at each step of the prescribing process.  When doctors enter orders on the system, the computer checks for allergies or drug interactions and confirm the proper dosage.  Then, when the prescription is transmitted to the pharmacist, the safety checks are repeated and an electronic “stamp of approval” is issued.  Drugs are stored in locked dispensing cabinets and the only drawer that opens is the one specifically holding the patient’s medication.  When picked up, the nurse will then scan the medication’s barcode and match it to the patient’s wristband.  Utilizing such a system has dropped error rate to less than one percent and allows for quicker treatment of critically ill patients.

With the recent emphasis for the medical industry to upgrade its record keeping systems to electronic formats and the growing use of remote analysis of patients’ tests results, it appears as if the medical field will continue to  create a growing demand for equipment  utilizing all sorts of electronic components, monitors and related hardware.  There is no question as the medical industry’s demand for high tech environments and equipment ramps up, there will be a significant number of critical shortages and electronic component requirements that will need to be address by companies looking to meet future production schedules.