Technology innovation in medicine encompasses the breadth of many events by which an innovative medical technology is either discovered or created, invented, improved, or disseminated to medical care. Such devices and techniques are generally categorized into two broad categories, primary medical technologies and therapeutic medical technologies. The categories further subdivide into specific technologies and specific techniques.

In primary medical technology advances, medical practice improves the quality of services by addressing identified needs. Such technologies and techniques may be geared to addressing common as well as complex medical problems. Such technologies may include surgical procedures, diagnostic tools, and non-surgical treatments such as infusion pumps and automated external defibrillators.

One of the most rapid fields developing is that of medical imaging. Medical imaging refers to the collection, preparation, analysis, and interpretation of images from x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, mammography, ultrasound, or other types of diagnostic, medical technology. Advances in medical imaging have dramatically expanded the accuracy and quality of diagnosing diagnoses. Medical imaging holds a variety of important roles in patient care, ranging from obtaining vital signs during hospitalization to monitoring a patient’s recovery during rehabilitation.

Another rapidly advancing field is that of electronic health records management and surveillance. Electronic health records or EHRs are collections of healthcare information designed to provide healthcare providers with accurate, current, and up-to-date medical information. These systems replace the bulky physical keys used in the past by medical doctors and allow for patient records to be accessed, altered, and shared electronically. EHR technology has resulted in reduced patient workloads and increased productivity, translating into higher profit margins for health information providers.

Technological advancements in medicine have also led to a loosening of physical safeguards in some instances. With technological advances, medical staff are able to administer medication to patients without fully assessing the drug’s side effects, increasing the risk of adverse reactions. The result can be increased risk for those who take medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer. In addition, medical staff may incorrectly administer medications for a patient that does not require such a medication. As a result, an innocent patient is harmed through an avoidable medical error.

Medical technology has also resulted in the development of medical implants, the use of which has led to greater safety and more efficient procedures. Artificial technologies are now being used to create a wide array of prosthetic limbs and body parts, which allow those who have suffered loss or damage as a result of accidents or natural causes to regain some ability to function on their own. Even bone-based artificial technologies have resulted in improvements in the way that artificial hips and knees work. Other prosthetic devices, such as those that replace portions of missing limbs, also allow patients to regain function of these organs. This type of prosthetic surgery is becoming more commonplace in the medical field.

Advances in technology have also resulted in the increased use of pharmacological medications, such as pain relievers and anti-anxiety drugs. These types of medications are often administered by physicians in an effort to decrease the amount of time that patients stay in the hospital following their initial injury or illness. These new methods of delivering healthcare have helped to cut down on the amount of time that patients remain in the hospital following their initial treatment.

The rapid pace of medical technology advances has led to a more knowledgeable patient. A knowledgeable patient can better understand how their disease progresses and will be better able to spot potential warning signs. This can help reduce the number of deaths from heart disease, which has been one of the largest factors contributing to the increase in patient deaths across the healthcare system over the past few decades. It can also prevent the unnecessary loss of life from strokes, which are among the leading causes of death among American adults. Although many of these diseases can be prevented through simple changes in lifestyle and other non-medical measures, medical students are required to learn about the prevention of disease while still in school.