5 Ways Online Technology is Changing Healthcare
Posted February 1st, 2010 by Glenn Seaberg
Glenn Seaberg
Spyder Trap Online Marketing
As with most other business segments, online marketing is changing health care. Here at Spyder Trap, we see it first hand everyday. Here are just 5 ways online technology is changing healthcare:
1. Improving fundraising efforts
More and more, leading healthcare providers like Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota are implementing simple but effective fundraising pages to their websites. At the Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota Online Giving Store, visitors can even select how their donations will be used.
2. Increasing patient convenience
What could be more convenient than an iPhone application that allows users to locate nearby doctors, clinics, and hospitals within its network? One of many apps, DocGPS, uses iPhone’s GPS system allowing users to search over 20 types of health care facilities and nearly 60 types of physician specialties.
3. Increasing access to quality care
Telemedicine is rapidly becoming a reality. Using teleconferencing and other technology, the day rapidly approaches when patients can see doctors remotely; from their workplace, private kiosks in malls, and even in mobile clinics towed by semis. Here’s one example: www.ConnectedCareAmerica.com.
4. Increasing awareness
By actively engaging in social media, caregivers are able to promote their facilities, the patient successes, and their latest initiatives. Check out how Children’s of Los Angeles engages its various constituencies using YouTube.
5. Reducing patient anxiety
Anyone who has ever faced an upcoming medical procedure knows the dark fear of uncertainty that precedes it. By accessing any of the numerous specialized websites, blogs, chat rooms, and other social media, patients can now connect with caregivers and other patients in various stages of their respective treatment. In doing so, patients learn from the experience of others what to expect. This removes much of the uncertainty and reduces anxiety.
What changes have you noticed as you’ve navigated health issues? For me, if I would have had access even to www.WebMD.com in the winter of 1989, my personal battle against cancer would have been much different. What’s on the horizon? What do we need? Let me know. We’re in this healthcare debate together.
Tags: Children's Hospitals, DocGPS, Telemedicine
5 Responses to “5 Ways Online Technology is Changing Healthcare”
February 4th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Cool read, thanks for sharing. DocGPS looks like a really cool app, must download now! Was that built by a MN company? Lots of cool changes going on in healthcare, nice insight.
Casey
February 4th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Thanks for the feedback Casey. I’ll try to find out who developed DocGPS. This blog post could have been much, much longer. You are exactly right – healthcare is changing faster than just about any other industry; with or without legislation.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:24 am
[...] Glenn Seaberg lists five ways online technology is changing healthcare [...]
February 8th, 2010 at 11:32 am
The internet is so powerful and helps so many different industries. I like what you had to say in this post about health care and the influence technology. Out of your list I would think number 4 is the most important. By increasing awareness, patients and clients will be in the ‘know’ a lot faster and can access information with the click of a mouse. Thank you for sharing.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Joey is correct. Among the trends in healthcare, the most important is that individuals are taking control of their care. The technological innovations in health support this either directly or, to a lesser degree, indirectly. Thanks for you comment!
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