The health care industry is fraught with stress and heartache. Read about some contemporary factors that challenge health care workers and organizations.
Challenges in the health care industry come from all angles. Technology may fail; patient data can be compromised; health care workers can experience burnout. These enduring difficulties only get worse during a catastrophic event, such as the current worldwide outbreak of COVID-19. To learn more about the challenges the health care industry faces, read about some of these notable modern medicine challenges.
Compromises Via Technology
Due to its integration with technology, health care is more streamlined and flexible than ever before. However, this combination can also create some weak points. Ransomware—which infects patient files until the health care facility pays a certain fee—is a widespread problem. The costs of ransomware are vast and can cause lengthy patient care delays. Ransomware can infect a medical facility’s servers or enter via e-mail or other phishing schemes that require some unknowing action by a health care employee. As security against ransomware becomes more sophisticated, so do the attempts to avoid these security measures.
Furthermore, with the increase in helpful medical equipment comes the possibility of electromagnetic interference (EMI) inhibiting devices’ ability to function by disrupting frequencies. EMI shielding techniques prevent this disruption, ensuring that health care facilities don’t have to worry about their sensitive devices.
Data Privacy Versus Availability
Recent legislation has pushed to lessen restrictions on patient data. Practically, this allows greater patient access to their data but navigates into uncharted waters regarding data security. If patients don’t understand the risks involved, their data could fall into the wrong hands. On the flip side, greater availability could allow patients to take a more active role in their treatment.
Medical Professional Burnout
As the coronavirus pandemic surges, medical professionals serve increasingly grueling shifts to stem the tide of infections and to preserve life. These workers—already overworked—are more likely to suffer burnout during this time. In general, a lack of emotional support, assistance in the field and supplies can cause qualified medical professionals to leave the field for other work. This depletes expertise from the industry and compromises the future of health care.
Popularizing Prevention
Our final modern medicine challenge involves the industry’s marketing. Crafting educational resources, partnering with other organizations such as charities and schools, and generally building the case for a healthy life has been difficult. Popularizing prevention would streamline modern medicine and better patient outcomes by making reactionary treatments unnecessary. This includes marketing exercise programs to kids, encouraging checkups with adults, and much more.