Medical software for computers has been a vital tool for many health care professionals for several years now. From EMR software to practice management to specialized diagnostic and surgical programs, physicians, nurses, surgeons, EMTs and other members of the medical industry consider these programs absolutely indispensable. In fact, the government has even decided to mandate that doctors “go digital” over the next few years. One notable holdout has been the FDA, or Food and Drug Administration. Despite the fact that computers are everywhere nowadays, the FDA has continued to allow paper filings from physicians, drug companies and medical device makers who need to report problems with products that have already hit the market. Now, however, the government agency is seeking to incorporate medical software into their standard reporting protocol.
Essentially, the FDA wants to make electronic reporting mandatory in the interest of patients who may be affected by flawed or faulty drugs, devices or products. According to an online posting from the FDA, requiring these reports to be filed online will “help lead to faster identification of potential safety problems.” In addition, it seems that an electronic method would allow health care professionals to communicate their findings and concerns more efficiently, and prevent certain reports from being lost, overlooked or tied up in processing.
It seems clear that the FDA should take the plunge and go electronic. While drug companies and device manufacturers have had the option of filing these reports online since the year 2000, making the use of specialized medical software mandatory seems like a step in the right direction for all parties involved. Government agencies like the FDA should be leading the charge when it comes to digitizing the medical industry, not falling behind the times. Implementing this change would be an excellent way to begin doing just that, and securing the health and wellbeing of millions of patients to boot.
Just as medical software has been used to help dermatologists and doctors identify and treat skin diseases more quickly and effectively than in the past, similar programs are helping physicians diagnose stomach ailments in patients. Two married doctors in Oregon, Dr. Shakuntala Krishnamurthy and her husband Dr. Gerbail T. Krishnamurthy, have developed a specialized kind of software that will help patients who are suffering from liver and gallbladder disease – a source of pain for more than 20 million Americans. The computer program, which is FDA approved, helps doctors measure and monitor levels of gallbladder and liver function. With accurate access to such specific information, doctors are better equipped to understand what’s behind a patient’s abdominal aches and pains.
Frequently, the source of stomach pains can flummox and confuse physicians. But with this and other similar types of medical software, the mystery is gone, and patients can receive better and less invasive care. In fact, the software may even help reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries performed – great news for patients (and insurance companies) on both the health and financial fronts. According to Dr. Gerbail Krishnamurthy, close to 1 million people have their gallbladder removed each year. The cost of all those operations? Nearly $6 billion! Now, doctors can determine whether or not the organ actually needs to be removed before proceeding with surgery.
In addition, patients who had unexplained stomach pain that didn’t seem to point to their gallbladder can now receive the care they need. For instance, many patients are mistakenly diagnosed with reflux disease and suffer for years without relief. Now, thanks to the Krishnamurthy-pioneered software, they can have a simple test to determine how well their gallbladder is functioning, and then make the decision to remove it if necessary. Already, these new advances in medical software have greatly benefited patients all over the world who have been struggling with stomach pain in silence.