Medical professionals are using video in an increasing array of ways. Did you know that clinical recording can actually improve patient outcomes? Let’s look at what’s possible.
New Technology
Video technology has leveled up, providing us with incredible detail, and therefore increased insights. Surgeons are using tools like Google Glass to record surgeries, and the resulting stream is so detailed that hand movements can be determined from eye motion and body language. These videos are creating some unprecedented opportunities for learning.
Training
One way that videos can improve care is by opening up new training opportunities. Students can view surgery in much more detail than was previously possible. They can even watch live streams. And new camera technology makes an actual doctor’s-eye view possible. It’s even possible to enable two-way communication, allowing for dialogue between students and surgeons during the procedure.
Troubleshooting
Video technology can also lead to critical improvements for active surgical teams. Studies find that teams miss as many as 75% of the AEs (adverse events) that occur during surgery, but a video allows them to catch those errors after the fact and make corrections that will increase the accuracy of future procedures. When using videos for this purpose, the emphasis should be on studying how the team as a whole can improve.
Access
Digital video can also be used to provide better service to patients, as evidenced by the increasing trend of telemedicine. Telemedicine uses video teleconferencing to conduct appointments, follow-up care, and so on. You can see the myriad of potential uses this could have. For one thing, access to physicians wouldn’t be limited by geography. Patients would be able to seek out consultations with specialists in distant cities. People in more rural areas would have better access to medical care in general. Ongoing check-ins and relatively minor ailments could be handled via video, which would also improve service and decrease wait times for patients with more serious injuries or concerns.
Professional Networking
Of course, medical practitioners can use video to seek out education, as well. Virtual conferences and trainings are increasingly common, and the same technology that allows patients to seek out far-flung experts allows you access to the insights of world-class physicians. Telemedicine and teleconferencing can easily be done with laptops, tablets and mobile devices, so in addition to being useful, it’s an extremely flexible option.
The bottom line is that video makes the world of medicine more like one big neighborhood. It provides two-way training, peer review, better medical care and consults, and can be used on multiple platforms with ease. All of this pays off for patients in a big way, improving physicians’ skills and patient access, and improving outcomes as a result.