surgery Archives - MyHealthSpin

2014 has passed in a flash. Healthcare continues to develop in amazing ways.

What are 5 medical breakthroughs that happened in 2014?

1. Wearable Technology Used in Surgery: AMAZING! Dr. Rafael Grossman was the first surgeon to use Google Glass in surgery. While operating, Dr. Grossman and others like him can pull up the patient’s medical history, view specific medical texts, or stream a live feed from the operating room to his or her students. Google Glass and other wearable technology will continue to advance, allowing doctors to interact with patients in new and different ways.

2. Telemedicine: Telemedicine continues to grow throughout the world. This technology allows patients who live far away from specialists to be seen by those doctors via the Internet. Since good patient results tend to depend on seeing the right doctor at the right time, this growing technology will greatly help improve patient outcomes.

3. 3 D Printing: You might not know that 3D printing is being increasingly used in medicine. Healthcare providers are using 3D printers to print skin for burn patients, blood vessels for cardiac patients, and patching holes in patients. This technology will help solve many healthcare problems over time.

4. Bionic Eye: In the past, very little could be done for blindness. Now, for some types of blindness, surgeons have successfully implanted a bionic eye that allows patients to detect light and dark and see movement.

5. Seniors at Home: With all the technological advances in medicine, more and more seniors are able to live independently longer. For example, health conditions can be monitored with special wrist monitors and tablets, which allow healthcare providers to track their care while allowing the patient to stay comfortably at home.

As 2014 comes to a close, we continue to watch healthcare grow and develop in exciting ways. I will continue to keep you updated on the healthcare issues that affect you the most. Happy Holidays!

Every week, there are hundreds of health care stories posted online and it can be hard to keep track of what’s important and what’s worth reading. With that in mind, every Friday, the team at MyHealthSpin is going to be collecting some of the most significant health care links of the week and presenting them for your reading pleasure. And, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

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What to Expect When You Have Surgery (Wall Street Journal)

Some interesting new programs are helping patients weigh the pros and cons of electing to have surgery.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Our Response to Ebola Right Now (WhiteHouse.gov)

The official website of the U.S. President has put together a breakdown of their response to the recent Ebola scare and a list of what the average America should know about Ebola.

U.S. Finds Many Failures in Medicare Health Plans (New York Times)

Federal officials have begun taking punitive action against Medicare health plans that improperly reject claims from their customers.

The Flu and You: Advice for Fighting Flu This Season (Well & Wise)

It’s flu season and everyone has their own home remedies. But, if you’d like some more professional advice, this link collects a few things to keep in mind if you want to avoid the flu this year.

Dr. Oz’s Smart Patient Checklist (Doctor Oz)

The popular TV doctor offers some advice on how you can be more proactive and take charge of your own healthcare.

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How do you make the right decision about moving yourself or a loved one into an Assisted Living Facility without being overwhelmed? How do you even begin talking about it? MyHealthSpin’s “Easy Healthcare: Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” ebook guide gives you all of the practical advice you need to make the right choice.