The Tools of Modern Technology Have Made Surgeons More Effective and Efficient

Technological advancements impact today’s surgeons in many different ways. Technological tools have changed how surgeons perform surgery, how they communicate with their patients and colleagues, and how they keep and review medical records. These advances have reduced the costs of surgical procedures, making them accessible to more patients. They have also made surgery safer, reducing risks and, ultimately, saving lives. 

Technology has transformed surgery, making it more precise and economical.

In years past, a surgeon’s chief tool was the scalpel. Today, it is arguably the computer. Surgery has rapidly changed with technology, and is continuing to evolve in new directions.   

With technological advances, laparoscopy continues to improve. Surgeons have started to use three-dimensional cameras in place of the current standard two-dimensional surgical cameras. A study conducted by doctors at the Washington University School of Medicine shows the differences between 2-D and 3-D visualization in laparoscopic surgeries, and how the increased perspective provided by the new 3-D technology has resulted in higher levels of efficiency and accuracy. Overall, 88 percent of participants in the study favored 3-D over 2-D laparoscopic surgery.

 

Dr. Alan Kravitz is a prominent general surgeon in Rockville, Maryland who has adopted laparoscopy and other new techniques into his practice. Dr. Kravitz describes how these technologies have benefited his practice:  

 

Consistent with Dr. Kravitz's observations, a fact sheet issued by the Advanced Medical Technology Association points out that minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopy saved $8.9 billion in U.S. health spending in 2009. These techniques also reduced patient recovery times, saving an additional $2.2 billion across the country. If all patients had participated in these procedures, another $3 billion would have been saved.

Technology has improved surgeons' interactions with their colleagues and patients by facilitating communications and organizing medical record-keeping.

Smartphones, personal computers, and the Internet have changed how surgeons interact with their patients. Doctors now receive a text message when it’s time to enter the operating room, and are in regular contact with their patients via text, email, and even social media. Medical professionals can do significantly more work from home, including viewing x-rays and patient records. Many medical practices are adopting websites, with 55 percent of all practices currently online.  Websites generate greater feedback, making doctors more in-touch with their patients and responsive to their treatment needs. 

Dr. Kravitz discusses how technology has affected his work, including his day-to-day interactions with other medical professionals:

The innovations discussed by Dr. Kravitz have been developing for some time. A study published in 2001 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association talks about how adopting new technologies can help improve medical care. The study described common medical errors and recommended greater use of technology in medical practices to increase patient safety. It urged adopting technology to add safeguards and facilitate communication between medical systems. One of the recommendations in the study that we see widespread today is the use of bar-coding on hospital devices, medications, and even on patient identification bracelets. 

 

Another key application of medical technology is the introduction of electronic health records (EHRs). As discussed on the Healthcare IT.gov website, EHRs improve care by providing doctors with quick access to patient records, ensure accurate coding and billing, and lead to safer, more reliable prescribing. Seventy-four percent of patients say that they saw enhanced care with the use of EHRs, and 75 percent of healthcare providers agree that EHRs help them to deliver better patient care. In light of those benefits, the U.S. federal government has been funding efforts to help the conversion of patient records so that they will be in use across the country.

  Doctors acknowledge the benefits of electronic records. Dr. Michael Oppenheim, vice president and chief medical information officer for North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System in Great Neck, N.Y., was interviewed in a recent U.S. News and World Report article describing how electronic record-keeping streamlines medical data. Dr. Oppenheim pointed out that EHRs "eliminate handwriting errors, and help with planning and caring for patients with chronic medical problems." Indeed, 90 percent of doctors keep their electronic system once it has been put in place. In addition, 79 percent of doctors report that EHRs help their practice run at a higher level of efficiency. While conversion from traditional paper records is difficult and time-consuming, there has been a sustained growth of EHR use across the United States, with the number of doctors that use EHRs having doubled from 2005 to 2011.

Looking to the future, technology should continue to improved medical practices, both in out of the operating room.

With technology continuing to advance, the prospects look bright for continued medical improvements. As an example, technicians are currently designing the next generation of minimally invasive surgery: miniature robotic devices that can enter incisions as small as 15 millimeters to conduct procedures. Surgeons will direct these devices to carry out specific actions, monitoring the results by miniature camera. Outside the operating room, many see universal medical record keeping as the next goal in improved patient care. These records would allow every hospital and medical office in the country secure access to every patient’s medical records. Universal records would alleviate many problems with medications and treatments that occur when patients don’t keep track of or can’t remember their medical history.

New surgical techniques, better communication, and improved record-keeping have all combined to make surgery faster, safer, and less expensive than ever before. Since 1980, medical technology has cut the number of days that patients spend in hospitals by 59 percent, and this trend is likely to continue. New tools have helped doctors become better caregivers. But these tools have also challenged doctors to adapt to rapid changes in their practices. Technological advancements will only increase, and the doctors of the future will have to adapt at an even greater pace. If they can successfully meet this challenge, we will all benefit from the better health care that new medical technology promises.

Online Interactive Timeline Shows the World's Reaction to North Korea's Nuclear Arms Activity Over the Last 15 Years

The interactive graphic, "China, North Korea, and Nuclear Arms" is very explanatory and easy to use. It utilizes an interactive timeline to depict North Korea's nuclear arms activities over the last fifteen years, and how the world has responded to these threats. This graphic is a great example of informative visualization of data because it is very simple and straightforward, but also includes a lot of detailed information for the user to access.

The graphic uses four timelines, tracing the actions of North Korea and the responses of China, the United States, and the rest of the world. When you click on an event in one of the timelines, a text bubble pops up with an in-depth description of a particular country's action or response. The graphic enables a user to focus on a particular year, country, and event. A timeline is a great way to visualize data because it organizes data both in a chronological order and in a visibly appealing way that is very easy to maneuver.

Studies show that television and video games affect their users in different ways, with video games’ having the more profound effects. 

       Television and video games affect their users differently. Television informs and entertains and, through that, can influence peoples’ preferences and opinions. In contrast, video games provide an interactive experience that is more engaging and intense. These differences stem from the repetitive and active nature of gaming compared to the more passive experience of watching television.

         Studies show that television affects viewers’ opinions and preferences. Following World War I, Harold Lasswel created the hypodermic needle model, based on his analysis of propaganda efforts during the war. This model was supported by research conducted by George Gerbner, which argued that media messages have a deep impact on individuals’ views. Gerbner’s research found that people who saw repeated murders on television became strong supporters of a powerful law enforcement system. The hypodermic needle model was also supported by a 1992 study by the American Psychological Association titled, “Big World Small Screen: The Role of Television in American Society.” This study showed a correlation between watching violence on television and aggressive behavior based on child test subjects who viewed television violence and then held ”attitudes and values that favor violence.”
           Other studies challenge the hypodermic needle model’s conclusions, suggesting that television has less of an impact on its viewers. A 1928 study by the Payne Fund showed that it was hard to assess the effects of television on children because of the many different influences at play. Additionally, a 1969 study focused on the unrealistic nature of most television violence and that “good guys” almost always prevail. This study suggested that television serves as entertainment that has less of a profound impact on its viewers. On the other hand, the prevalence of television advertising, including political advertisements, indicates that television can affect peoples’ preferences and opinions.
          Video games have gained popularity in recent years, taking away some of television's audience. Many video games have a "story mode," where the user goes through a progression of missions in order to reach a goal. This step-by-step advancement creates a deep connection between the user and the game. There are thousands of video games on the market, varying from interactive simulated sports to children's games to first-person shooter games. Video games are most commonly used for recreation, but they are also used for fitness and for learning. Sesame Street and other educational groups have developed interactive teaching games for video consoles.

            A study conducted by Torben Grodal at the University of Copenhagen titled “Media Entertainment: The Psychology of its Appeal” investigated the effects that video games have on their users. Grodal studied users’ active experiences during video games, observing that they make repeated cognitive decisions with a high sense of realism. Video gamers actively relate and coordinate visual attention with motor activities. Because a video game can yield many different results, it creates a learning process. Users then form a connection with the game and become invested it. For some users, this deep impact can blur the line between gaming and reality and even affect their actions. For others, the intensity of video games provides a valuable tool for learning. The connection between children and educational games can in some ways be compared to the connection between a student and a teacher.
            The intensity of the video game experience is the principal difference that sets it apart from television. Because television shows are generally watched only once, television’s effects are normally short-lived. In the 1950’s the Bobo Doll studies found that children who watched television shows where the violent actor was rewarded were more likely to punch a doll than children who watched shows where the violent actor was unsuccessful. However, these studies also found that these effects on the children’s thinking and behavior diminished over time. If this study were conducted today on video gamers, the repeated use and long-term relationship with the games could indicate a different and more long-term effect. This would be due to the deeper connection that video game users have to their game as compared to television viewers.
            Years ago, television was criticized as having a “pied piper” effect on its viewers. People were worried about television’s influence on its viewers and the negative effects on society. Video games are more intense than television and, as a result, can have a greater influence on their users. From this perspective, video game can be criticized as having an even greater pied piper effect. However, this new technology should not be seen as all bad. Video games give players an outlet to act out their desires, and to have new and different experiences. Children use video games to learn. Athletes and others can use video games to stay fit. Like television, video games provide opportunities that, if properly used, can be helpful and entertaining. However, because of the intensity of video games, they should be used carefully and in age-appropriate ways.