Homework Question on Impact of Technological Innovation on Public Health
- In Chapter 25 of your text (page 609), the authors mention four major forces that are likely to shape the future of primary care as it relates to public health. These four forces are changes in healthcare organization and finance, technological innovations, an aging society, and population/cultural migrations.
- For this conference, post a recent article (past 2 years) from a newspaper, magazine, or academic journal that relates to one of the four forces and briefly discuss how you think the issue might have an impact on public health or public health administration.
Homework Answer on Impact of Technological Innovation on Public Health
According to Cutler and McClellan (2001), medical technology is an important aspect and its importance only becomes evident if its advantages in the medical sector outscore the costs involved. Traditionally, health has been a worrying phenomenon to the public and stakeholders in the health sector not only because of the sad endings of most health cases but also due to lack of effective systems to combat health related issues. For this reason, adoption of health care technological advancement has eased the burden the public initially faced.
Despite the rise in health care costs because of technological adoption, public health institutions have embraced it and the benefits of technological advancement illicit happiness within families. The benefits health care technology contributes ranges from a prolonged life span of humans with advanced life structures, effective and efficient data systems to general public health improvement. While citing various technological systems adopted in the health sector so far, Cutler and McClellan highlight the corresponding health benefits the systems have enhanced as compared to a time when none existed.
Some of the systems are computed tomography, coronary artery bypass graft, and magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, cancer screening is now more efficient considering how the disease has been a menace for the past decades, while other stubborn diseases are now manageable because of advancement in technology. Concisely, the embrace of medical technology has enhanced better research methods and implementation, an achievement which is crucial in defining the future of mankind.