When hospitals ask for funds for new technology, people assume that they will receive better care because of the additional technology that is being put into hospitals. However, as sometimes it is smarter to file your taxes late than to file now, that may not be the case. It is just that every case is different. Many hospitals have seen a decline in patient satisfaction and the link between patient satisfaction and new technology may be to blame.
Doctors and nurses will admit that having computer work stations is much easier than having to carry around charts. It is not only easier to access information on their patients but entering and filing information is easier than having to do it on a clipboard. However, they will also admit that more mistakes and errors are made when using computers rather than writing everything down on chart. It has been proven that people make more mistakes when typing than they do when they are writing something out. Think about how many times you write the wrong letter versus how many times you hit the wrong key when you are typing. Because these mistakes are made, patients are often not given the right dose of medication or an allergy can be overlooked.
New technology has ensured that some diagnoses are easier to make. New technology have allowed us to see into the brain and inside the body like we have never been able to do before. However, many times patients are told they need to go for a type of test that they do not really need. The most common are cat scans and MRIs. Both of which deliver a large amount of radiation and are costly. However, the tests are performed because doctors have become dependent on using the machines to make a diagnosis. The important thing to ask your doctor is if you really need to the test that they are sending you to take. Make sure that you understand exactly what the test is for.