Role of technology in controlling health care costs

The objectives of medical technology are to define basic knowledge about the function of the body and to aid in making patients better. Because the escalation of costs for advanced technology has been dramatic, it has been labelled one of the culprits for the great increases in health care costs in the past decade. Yet technology can improve the quality of care while providing mechanisms for lowering costs. Such an approach requires improved productivity. Several approaches to improve productivity, with emphasis on the electronic and computer revolution that has been brought to medicine, are discussed. In addition, it is suggested that the use of technology gives medical staff more time to meet the personal needs of patients.