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Admin
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10. January 2021 21:19
Today’s information technologies are capable of doing a lot more than they did in the past decades. Moreover, they have become more ubiquitous and affordable for consumers and service providers alike.
This scenario definitely applies to the health sector, which is becoming more and more reliant on scaled-up health technologies. One particularly game-changing field of technology is application programming interfaces, or APIs. These interfaces, which allow communication and data sharing between disparate applications, have taken healthcare institutions way beyond the pen-and-paper legacy systems that once drove them. Even smaller facilities like clinics, as well as startups working in healthcare for the first time, can handle data challenges like their bigger counterparts.
Ultimately, the wide usage of APIs in healthcare technology is a good thing. Innovation, better data management, and greater synchrony within large patient-provider networks are needed more than ever in saving lives and improving the quality of life.
Here’s some insight on the impact of API technology on modern healthcare, courtesy of Stoplight API design. These developments should inspire API designers to pursue more healthcare-related projects in the near future.
There’s Already a Wide Following for Products Related to Health Connectivity
When thinking about the current reach of API technology in healthcare, it’s worth remembering that much of the public already consumes related services. For example, many people use either wearables or mobile apps to count the number of steps they’ve walked, calories they’ve consumed, or hours they’ve slept. These comprise of a family of services involved in “health connectivity,” an idea that marries patient health and wellness with IT. Services like these are powered by APIs, which should give the common consumer an idea of just how familiar APIs are in current healthcare technology.
APIs Enable Interoperability between Disparate Healthcare Technologies
In general, API technology also makes current healthcare systems more resilient to change. The growth and scaling-up of existing healthcare technologies is inevitable, and some providers need a cushion. Without a doubt, APIs make it easier for various technologies to work together smoothly and will also allow for trouble-free integration with future services. Healthcare providers can expect API-driven systems to work in their favor and be interoperable with future technologies they’ll invest in.
APIs Allow Real-Time Health Record Management and Analysis
One specific application of APIs in healthcare management is the use of APIs to store and analyze patient records. A diabetic patient can use an API to store results of their daily blood sugar tests, and the service can monitor any alarming spikes. In the same vein, a hypertensive patient can record their daily blood pressure and get alerted on instances of high blood pressure. Instead of getting tests done manually, patients can bring these directly to their doctors and receive accurate, responsive medical care right away. Patients will end up with greater control of their health data, and they can also be more conscientious about their overall state of health before their scheduled doctors’ appointments.
APIs Can Facilitate Great Matches between Patients and Their Care Providers
What if patients could find the best medical practitioners for them in a way similar to how headhunters can find qualified job candidates using a service like LinkedIn? In truth, such matches are already possible thanks to APIs. Patients can now enroll in services that introduce them to a doctor’s specialty and experience and can contact them for medical care immediately. That saves the patient the trouble of hopping from doctor to doctor trying to find a good fit for their circumstances.
APIs Are Behind the Rise of Modern Telemedicine
If going to a hospital for face-to-face treatment is difficult or inconvenient for patients, there’s now the option of receiving treatment via telemedicine. APIs make it possible for patients to schedule an appointment, get their checkup done via video conferencing, and pay their provider using consolidated platforms. Even if distance, cost, or mobility is an issue, patients can still establish contact with medical professionals and transact with them with the same efficiency.
APIs Streamline Basic Processes Needed in the Delivery of Healthcare Services
APIs can also do the work of streamlining adjacent processes in healthcare service delivery, like appointment setting, assessment, payment, and alignment with insurance policies. Much of these can be done by automating the services themselves and then establishing linkages between them through APIs. This ultimately helps providers work more quickly, stay accurate, and keep organized in their work. It also guarantees their patients’ trust and continued patronage in their healthcare services.
APIs Can Improve the Reach of Medical Research
Lastly, APIs can also do their part in expanding the reach of current medical research. As long as they have consent, researchers can use APIs to gather relevant patient data on health trends, rates of disease transmission, and the like. This gives them a larger and richer pool of data to draw accurate conclusions from, which will prove extremely valuable to future medical practice
Conclusion: An Improved Healthcare System Thanks to APIs
Listed above are concrete examples of API technology’s impact on the health sector. But the possibilities are in no way limited to these. As the years pass, and as API-driven systems become more of the norm, we can expect even greater technological advancements to take place in healthcare.
There’s a lot of evidence that APIs can help patients stay healthy and motivate healthcare professionals to be even better at their jobs. May this knowledge inspire you to make your own contribution to digital healthcare infrastructure, all through your work with APIs.
