Continual changes in technology have increased demand in healthcare, Dr. Robert Lieberson.
The speed of advancement is nothing shy of a race beyond the stars and into the vast unknown. When it comes to medical advances, the changes are both exciting and overwhelming. Recent developments highlight the importance of computers in medicine.
Dr. Robert Lieberson, MD, MHA, FACS, FAANS is a Stanford-trained neurosurgeon who has been practicing medicine for three decades. He was trained as a computer scientist at the University of Pennsylvania Moore School and used that specialty to pay for medical school as a computer scientist. Now, his background in computer science helps him stay on the cutting edge of medical tech.
Lieberson performed the first outpatient cervical disc surgery in Northern California and the first outpatient pedicle screw fusion surgery in the West. He then went on to teach and mentor young neurosurgeons at Stanford.
Dr. Robert Lieberson notes that there are multiple ways computers are used in the medical field. Some of the top uses for tech include:
Storage and protection of patient data:
Tech can offer a higher level of security in safeguarding patient records, medical history, and more.
Knowledge sharing:
Medical professionals can use tech to share experiences, procedures, and medical data to help improve prognosis across the boards.
Patient awareness and education:
Dr. Robert Lieberson says that the tools, like patient portals, can help keep patients in the loop for easier access to their medical information, practitioner instructions, and diagnostic results.
Surgical procedure tools:
Computer software can be used to diagnose patients and help with certain complex surgeries. Dr. Lieberson explains the first robot used for surgery in 1985 was used in the field of neurosurgery. The first FDA-approved robot for surgery was the NeuroMate robot, created in the 1990s.
Scheduling ease:
Technology has also made it easier for patients and healthcare professionals to schedule tests, procedures, and appointments. Tech has made it faster to choose the available slot and ensure all departments are kept up-to-date with changes to the schedule. Automated updates can be used to help keep patients in the loop for any changes Dr. Robert Lieberson explains.
Pharmaceutical oversight:
Tech oversees pharmaceutical recommendations, catching potential conflict among patients’ medications or allergies. Programs simplify the process of applying insurance and prescription savings cards towards the medication cost. Tech can also allow patients to schedule refills instantly and send out automated texts that keep patients in the loop.
Dr. Robert Lieberson goes on to mention that “These are just a few of the different ways technology has enhanced our medical capabilities,” explains Dr. Lieberson. “It’s difficult to fully comprehend how much things have changed over the past 30 years. It’s exciting but also overwhelming for many in the medical profession; we are learning new tools all the time for the good of our patients and the practice.”
