EXAMPLES OF ICT USES IN MEDICINE
A body scanner sends electromagnetic rays through a patient’s body and sensors detect how much different parts of the body absorb the rays.
Then, a computer uses this data to build up an image of the inside of a patient’s body.
Body scanners allow doctors to find and treat conditions such as tumours in their early stages when the chances of treating them successfully are much greater.
Computers are used in hospitals to monitor critically ill patients in intensive care units.
The patient has sensors attached to him which detect changes in heart rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing and brain activity.
If any of these fall below a preset level the computer sounds an alarm and alerts the medical staff.
The data is also logged and used to analyse the changes in a patient’s condition over a period of time.
Computerised databases are used to help match patients who are waiting for organ transplants such as a new kidney, liver or heart, with suitable organs from donors.
Computerised databases are used by every hospital in the country to store information about patients.
Uses of these databases include: organising the transfer of patients between wards recording the history of a patient’s appointments with a consultant booking outpatient appointments booking ambulances ordering equipment.