Technically Easy

Category: Medical

Technology is very important in the medical community, and many advancements in diagnoses and treatments can be attributed to the advance in technology.

  • Technology Tricks for a Work-Life Balance

    Technology Tricks for a Work-Life Balance

    Gone are the days when jobs ran from 9-5 and people never worked on weekends. Today’s careers demand that we stay on top of information whether at home or in the office, as well as spending time with our families and our pets. Don’t forget to hit the gym and pick up the groceries too.

    Don’t forget to hit the gym and pick up the groceries too.

    In such a busy world, it seems like our to-do lists can become endless, so it’s important to find ways to create a healthy work-life balance. Here are five great tech ideas to free up some time.

    Create a schedule

    Even people with the best of memories are bound to forget things. Apps can help fix that. For simple schedules, try Google Calendar or an MS Office to-do list. For those who need to incorporate client meetings, soccer games, and doctor appointments try a mobile scheduling app that can draw information from multiple sources. This creates a single point of contact for the busy worker on the go.

    Also, companies as Agendize.com can make it easier for you because they provide an integrated suite of apps that help businesses generate higher quality leads,improve business efficiency, maximize customer engagement and increase revenues.

    Remove distractions

    Some of the most productive people around are also the most focused. Eliminating distractions can help you get your work done faster so that you have more time to focus on the fun stuff.

    Noisli makes a customizable digital white noise machine and app that can help you tune out distracting sounds. Try the Pomodoro method to balance bursts of productivity with periods of rest.

    Get moving, stay active

    A spin class can provide heart-healthy cardio and weights can provide strong muscles that burn extra calories. But that’s not all. Exercise is also good for your brain. Exercise has been shown to improve cognition, enhance creativity, and promote faster learning.

    Motivate yourself with apps like Map My Fitness or earn incentives for achieving fitness goals with Pact.

    Eat well

    When it gets busy, many of us default to grabbing food to go, or even skipping meals. If you are already tired and stressed, this can actually make your problems worse.

    When it gets busy, many of us default to grabbing food to go, or even skipping meals. If you are already tired and stressed, this can actually make your problems worse. Eating well will not only keep you physically healthy, it will help you mentally and emotionally too. Eating highly processed foods has been linked to anxiety and depression, as well as lethargy..

    Take the time to prepare a home-cooked meal together, or dine out at a full-service restaurant. Skip the fast and processed foods, and instead opt for nutritionally sound choices to enjoy your meals and boost your brain too.

    Join app communities like Spark People or Fitbit, to stay accountable and on-target.

    Schedule some fun

    Not all entertainment is going to happen spontaneously, especially for those with a busy schedule. If you think you’ll be running short on free time, take a block from your week and schedule some fun.

    Spend an hour at the wading pool while the kid is on summer break, or plan a date night movie. Set a reminder if needed.

    Stop feeling guilty if you need to play CandyCrush on a break. Even better, schedule some time to do nothing — or everything. Free play is important to your mental health, creating a healthier, happier, and more productive you.

    Life’s demands won’t get any easier, and most of us will continue to struggle to balance work, home, and happiness daily. Remember these app ideas to maximize your work time and enjoy the rest.

  • Are Computers and the Internet Helping People With Dementia in Any Way?

    Are Computers and the Internet Helping People With Dementia in Any Way?

    Dementia is referred to as a chronic disease that causes a decline in a person’s cognitive and mental abilities. These changes are way more than just forgetting why you entered a room or not being able to recall a certain word in a conversation.

    But instead are severe enough to impact a person’s day to day life, preventing him or her from leading a normal life.

    According to stats, it was estimated that by 2015 the number of people suffering from dementia will be 850,000 in the UK alone, moreover, only 44% of those people will ever receive a diagnosis.

    While it may be true that dementia is on the rise, and the cure for this disease has not yet been found, different measures have been taken to overcome or prevent the symptoms of dementia by professionals in different industries.

    However the technology sector takes the lead when it comes to figuring out ways to combat this disease. This is where different apps and innovations are devised to aid the care taking and other processes associated with dementia patients. Mentioned below are ways computers and internet are helping people with dementia.

    1. Reducing memory problems

    Since we are all well aware that decline in memory persists in most dementia patients and is one of the main syptoms when it comes to dementia. Specilists came up with different usues of computers to overcome that problem.

    According to a recent study by the Mayo Clinic, using computer can actually reduce memory problems in the older population way more than knitting or socializing can. 1,929 people, above 70 were reported to be involved in the study.

    At the beginning of the process, they were classified as having ‘normal memory and thinking’ skills. The study followed those people until they developed mild cognitive impairment or remained problem free on average. This was usually four years per person.

    Mild cognitive impairment was said to be found in 193 out of 1,077 people which is 17.9% in the group who used a computer. It was also found that 263 out of 852 people, which totals up to 30.9% in the group, did not report computer use.

    2. Different apps are designed to tackle different symptoms of dementia

    As mentioned above, dementia consists of wide variety of symptoms, which further varies within different patients. Hence, different apps have been introduced for that very reason such as Living map of ageing population by Nesta, gives a quick guide to some of the most exciting things going on in the world of senior citizens.

    This is so that dementia patients can keep in touch with their surroundings.

    3. Convenient solutions to complex problems

    Tablets are said to be much more intuitive to use than conventional computers, and avoid the complexity associated with a keyboard, mouse and operating system which may stop older adults from using technology.

    Tablets give people with dementia the opportunity to remain connected with their family and friends and sharpen their various mental skills through games and puzzles.

    Tablets can be used for a wide range of activities such as gaining access to the internet, conversing with family and friends online, using apps to paint pictures, create music using simple touch controls and much more.

    4. Helping caretakers understand the disease better

    Applications such as ‘House of Memories’ has been devised to help caregivers understand dementia better.

    Although this app is mainly aimed at dementia patients, it can still be used by anyone. Designed by National Museums Liverpool, this application helps people with dementia revisit memories from the past, bringing them back to life virtually.

    The exciting feature where elders can create their own memory tree can be very beneficial for dementia patients. They can save their favorite memories in different media forms such as videos and pictures, these can also be revisited any time in the future.

    This helps them keep a firm grip on their memory. Furthermore, the privacy policy of this application only lets the user share their memories with specific people only if they wish to. This digital reminiscence therapy gives a new dynamic to traditional way of recalling memories.

    It may encourage people with dementia to talk about their memories and stimulate conversations with their loved ones or caretakers, allowing them to understand the disease better.

    There is quite a lot of evidence to bolster the benefits associated with reminiscence for older people, not just for those living with dementia but people around them as well.

    Research shows that using reminiscence therapy creates a stronger bond between caretakers and their loved ones within a care home setting. Through this therapy, caregivers report a reduction in stress and improved knowledge of their loved ones along with helping them to relive family moments and events.

    5. Applications to give confidence to caretakers

    Another application called Alzheimer’s and other Dementias Daily Companion – an extension of the book: Confidence to care is created by Home Instead Senior Care for the sole purpose of giving ease and confidence to dementia care takers.

    This application includes tips and advises on how to take care of dementia patients, in relation to their behavior and other situations they would normally have to go through on day to day basis. This application also gives 24/7 care giving help via phone or email.

    6. Improve cognitive skills

    Another study suggests that placing a computer screen in the living room can help people with dementia keep a track of the time and date and remember appointments. This helps them delay the effects of dementia for longer.

    Lumosity is another application used to help dementia patients. Used by 60 million people worldwide, this app offers a numerous variety of cognitive and scientific games to stimulate the brain.

    This application is used by people with dementia to strengthen their ability to pay attention to the right information in a given setting and ignore other irrelevant things in the game as well as in their everyday life.

    We are all well aware that dementia is a challenging problem, and one of the most difficult things about dementia is that patients often require care 24/7 along with frequent appointments with specialists. Technology can help meet all these needs.

    A group of researchers at the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center has developed something they call a “care ecosystem,” which uses the Internet of Things along with machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, as tools to provide care that’s “more continuous and personalized” than what people with dementia commonly get today, said Dr. Kate Possin, one of the study directors.

  • Create Your Personal Health Record and Take Charge of Your Health

    Create Your Personal Health Record and Take Charge of Your Health

    It’s not always easy to manage your own healthcare or that of a loved one. Between doctors’ appointments, lab and test results, and keeping track of prescription medications new and old, caring for your own health or that of a loved one can become overwhelming. But, just as technology is making all other aspects of our modern lives easier, it’s making this aspect of our lives easier too.

    EHealth software can make juggling your healthcare responsibilities easier by helping you establish and maintain a personal health record (PHR). With the help of software or an app, you can create a detailed record of your own or a loved one’s health information that will allow you, and others involved in yours or your loved one’s care, to access the information they need when they need it, quickly and easily. Your PHR can become a valuable tool to help you maintain control over your own healthcare decisions, or those of a loved one who depends on you.

    Simplify Your Medical Records

    The biggest advantage of establishing a PHR is that it puts all of your medical records and crucial information in one place and in one easily navigable format. Instead of flipping through pages and pages of medical information written out the old-fashioned way, you’ll be able to quickly search through your medical history to find the information you need. Your PHR will serve as a complement to the medical records your providers are already maintaining about you. It will let you easily share your medical information with family members and caregivers who need it.

    EHealth apps and software platforms often make things simpler and easier to manage by automatically backing up information to a secure cloud-based storage system, so that you don’t have to worry about losing your information. With one of these cloud-based systems, you or a designated advocate will be able to retrieve your information from any device.

    Build Your PHR

    Some people choose to maintain a PHR in an Excel spreadsheet or Word document that can be digitally stored and shared on a USB drive. However, these documents can become unwieldy, especially as your medical information becomes more expansive. A better option is to choose one of the many home healthcare software options available. A software program or app designed to help you create a PHR may allow you to compile information that you may want your healthcare providers to have access to, such as data about your sleep patterns or exercise habits, use of vitamins or over-the-counter medications, or family medical history.

    These software platforms typically include tools to help you enter and update health information, monitor use of medications, and even track test results, insurance payments, and more. Many programs and apps include a Web portal that could allow you to contact your doctor with questions, schedule appointments, or refill prescriptions.

    Help a Loved One

    If you’re caring for a loved one, a PHR can be invaluable for helping you keep track of that person’s needs. It’s hard enough staying on top of your own care needs sometimes, not to mention keeping another person’s allergies, medication schedules, emergency contact information, and medical history straight.

    A PHR allows you to keep track of an elderly parent’s or child’s medical information so that you can make sure he or she gets the medication he or she needs at the right times, makes it to his or her doctors’ appointments, and avoids potentially deadly allergens and other hazards. Some other common features might allow you to track blood pressure or blood glucose levels, access immunization records, and provide identifying information to make sure that home caregivers or emergency personnel who need to use the PHR are accessing the right information for the person they’re treating.

    Whether you’re looking for a way to better manage your own healthcare, or need help balancing a loved one’s care, a PHR could be the answer. A PHR provides an electronic record of a person’s health history, medications, allergies, and other important data that you build and maintain yourself; it works alongside a physician’s electronic health record (EHR) to make sure that all caregivers and emergency personnel are on the same page. The information you collect in your PHR — or that of a loved one in your care — could make all the difference when it comes to yours or their health outcome, so take it seriously and make sure it is complete and up to date.

  • Best Technology For Better Healthcare Provision

    Best Technology For Better Healthcare Provision

    Technology not being used to its best is useless. A lot of technological development is taking place currently. People from all over the world are benefiting greatly from technology in business, healthcare, media and so much more. The technology in healthcare and medical practice is probably the most beneficial in the world today. It is possible to receive top notch quality medical attention better that you would have a few years ago. This is all thanks to the data that is available in hospitals.

    More and more businesses are waking up to the revelation that data is an important asset. It can searv in making informed decisions that are extremely crucial in any business process. A major problem that many medical practitioners have had and continue to have in some places is management of data. The data have to be stored, protected, integrated and retrieved easily. This is easier said than done. You should be able to use data meaningfully. This is where meaningful use comes into discussion.

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  • Where Will Healthcare Technology Be In 5 Years?

    Where Will Healthcare Technology Be In 5 Years?

    Healthcare technology is always evolving. There is a seemingly never-ceasing quest to provide higher standards of patient care.

    There are two primary reasons for this thirst for excellence, and both have to do with survival. The first reason is that the right technology can save patients’ lives and reverse or mitigate serious illness. The second reason is the intense competition in the industry for hospitals and medical suppliers.

    In five years time, the medical profession is expected to change beyond recognition. The current high standards will quickly become obsolete.

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  • Benefits of Electronic Health Records for Patients

    Benefits of Electronic Health Records for Patients

    Electronic health records have proven to be an effective way for patients to improve how they deal with their care. As a patient, you need to be aware of your health information because this simplifies the process of updating and sharing your medical records. A significant amount of the activities you undertake to safeguard your health take place outside medical facilities.

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  • Technology is Leading a Healthcare Revolution [Infographic]

    Technology is Leading a Healthcare Revolution [Infographic]

    Learn more about how technology is leveraging a healthcare revolution. Americans spend trillions of dollars on healthcare and companies are looking for innovative ways to tap into that market. The future of healthcare is rapidly changing. If you would like to learn more about an exciting and rewarding career in healthcare we invite you to check out our Online Healthcare MBA Program.

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  • Mobile Technology and Medicine

    Mobile Technology and Medicine

    The medical sector has experienced a drastic improvement in the last decade. Diseases that were once thought to be incurable no longer exist while services to patients have been improved greatly. One of the biggest contributors to these positive changes has been technology. The integration of medicine with technology has basically raised the heights to what the medical community could achieve.

    In particular, we are going to look at mobile technology and how it has been of benefit in the medical field. The use of mobile technology has enabled remote medicine to be achieved. This simply means that now patients do not have to physically visit the doctor at the hospital for various health services.

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