Medicine in today's society

As I've read various articles on the topic of medicine and technology around the globe this semester, I've really really valuable information and beyond that, lessons about some misconceptions that I had about other areas of the world. First and foremost, from the beginning, I have been surprised and awed by the amount and caliber of the technology that exists in India. The medical education that occurs in India is incredibly structured, strict, and demanding, and I find it so interesting that they have on reputation among many people while they actually have a widespread and advanced medical system. One of the most interesting articles that I read this semester regarding India was the one that described the medical schooling that aspiring physicians have to endure in order to become doctors in India. In the United States, medical school is seen to be one of the most demanding types of graduate schools possible, along with Law School, but in India the curriculum is much more demanding, structured, and detailed. I think that the U.S. could stand to take a lesson from India in their medical school requirements because India is well known for producing exceptional physicians.

Aside from the places in the world that surprised me, certain parts of technology surprised me a great deal along the way as well. For example, the use of iTunes for medical games or other applications to be used on iPhones or other apple devices by physicians in the field was surprising and interesting for me to learn. The fact that society is utilizing resources not originally meant for purposes like medical education in order to educate and inform people of medical information, is a great testament to the ability to use technology in any aspect of life if used correctly. Another example of surprising technology was the use of mobile phones in places like Uganda and Malawi in order to deliver important information to health care professionals in those areas of Africa. I think the use of mobile phones in this way is so essential to the spread of potentially life-saving information to areas of the world where resources and knowledgeable individuals are lacking due to location or poverty. The lack of supplies and resources that exists in parts of Africa amazes me, and I think that with the use of technology, they are slowly making the forward progress needed. An important example of an improvement in the health care system of Africa, or at least in the awareness of the people of Africa, is the decrease in the number of people affected by AIDs throughout the continent. The spread of information is often done through the use of various technologies, and people are becoming more aware of the treatment and prevention of AIDs in Africa.

I'm currently reading a book about Dr. Paul Farmer, an infectious disease doctor who practices both in Boston and Haiti helping to cure infectious diseases. The book presents the stark contrast that exists between health care in Haiti and in the United States, and offers some examples of technology that Dr. Farmer has in Boston and lacks in Haiti. I've never touched on Haiti in any of my posts specifically, but I think the book brings a good point up regarding health care in various areas of the world. In one part of the book, he discusses a patient being brought to his clinic by "donkey ambulance" and the young, inexperienced doctors available to help her. Dr. Farmer successfully took over the spinal tap on the young female, but stressed that he wants to try and build a medical system that can work as well in his absence as when he is present. It is an interesting look into the differences that exist between a doctor's office in Boston and a clinic in Haiti, including many references to technology and availability of various resources. I look forward to continuing the book and am sure that I will have more to say about it in future postings.

When I started writing this blog, I thought that my focus would mostly end up being on devices used in medical offices and settings, like MRI machines and X-rays, and not on how other technology like mobile phones and social networking relate to medicine and it's advancement in different areas of the world. I've been surprised and I have learned a lot from the various articles that I've read throughout the semester. Through this blog, I was able to learn a lot about the technology integrated with the medical world, and I think that as I enter into medical school, I may continue writing on this blog new information that I learn about the use of new technologies in the medical discipline.