Healthcare Trends

Since the 1970s, the advancements in computer technology have created an industry that supplies products and services used in almost every facet of our daily lives. From personal computers, laptops, handheld devices, the Internet, or wireless technologies, our lives are tremendously impacted by IT. Although the health care industry lagged in technology, it has begun to feel the effects of technology and it has now established a dependence on IT in several areas from maintaining patient record, billing and accounting, to scheduling. IT has also enabled the health care industry to address pressing concerns within the industry such as: an increase in medical errors, rising costs, and the fragmentation of care delivery (DePhillips, 2007). This paper will address the impact of distance delivery on health care, and it will how the issues of email, telemedicine, and the electronic transfer of record will impact health care today and in the future.

The Internet and Health Care

Throughout the years health care has discovered the Internet and it can also be said that the Internet has discovered health care. With more than half of U.S. consumers having high household incomes, some college education, in addition to access to a computer it is no surprise that health care consumers of the future will be more actively involved in making decisions about the health care they receive. Patients will expect high levels of choice, control, interaction with their health care providers, and access to information. The Internet will serve as a path for health information and communication because it is inexpensive, easy to use, provides a wide array of health care information, in addition to allowing its users a global network of people with common interests. The use of the Internet has become increasingly common by health care professionals and consumers. The rising health care costs and aging population has turned the Internet into an invaluable medium for providing healthcare...