Technology and Health Care

Abstract

Abstract People's needs, not availability of technology, should determine policies and priorities for its application in health services. Technology can improve efficiency and assist in solution of problems, but cannot "drive the system" or cure all ills. Fragmentation of markets, lack of organized health-care systems, and absence of national policies and standards are serious deterrents to technologic innovation. To avoid costly failures, we should concentrate initially on applications that reinforce services of demonstrated efficacy and affect large numbers of patients and providers. Before widespread adoption, we must rigorously test and evaluate the cost effectiveness and acceptability of these applications. Areas offering the greatest immediate potential for technologic applications include management information systems and "do-it-yourself" tests and devices for ambulatory medical care, hospital-discharge abstract systems, automation of commonly performed procedures in clinical laboratories, emergency-care systems for defined populations, restorative devices, and new communications media for health education.