EFFECTS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

The Ultrasound Informed Consent Act (H.R. 4844) is one piece of the federal legislation
that has affected the use of medical technology in ultrasound (Briz-Ponce & García-Peñalvo,
2015). One of the contentious issues over the years is when life begins; some have argued that
life begins at birth while others say that life begins at conception. However, the recent
technological studies in sonogram imaging have given as an opportunity to see what is in the
womb. This is one technology that many parents who are expecting appreciate. The advancement
in the ultrasound technology has resulted in reduced cases of abortion. Recent research
established that about 80% of the women who were considering terminating their pregnancies
changed their minds once they saw the ultrasound image of their fetus. The abortion rates have
dropped in the states like Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Texas, where this legislation has been
passed.
We have the forced ultrasound laws that have been passed by the federal government that
requires the caregivers first to perform an ultrasound before a woman aborts (Briz-Ponce &
García-Peñalvo, 2015). This is one the requirements of undergoing an abortion as the woman
will be required to fulfill the informed consent requirements. Once the ultrasound image has
been obtained, the law requires the providers to show it to the woman and explain it to her to
fulfill the speech and display requirements. Gellert et al. (2015), infers that an ultrasound is a
medical procedure that is typically requested by a doctor to monitor or diagnose a problem with
the expectant mother. We have referred them to as the forced ultrasound laws because they
violate the medical discretion and guidance laws.

Medical Technology and Healthcare Costs

The new medical advancements affect the healthcare system in different ways. The
benefits of the latest medical technologies are well known, but it is the price that is associated
with it that determines its success. The new medical breakthroughs are typically welcomed since
they help in transforming and saving lives. Medical technology has made it possible to treat
some conditions that were once classified as terminal like cancer. Cardiac arrest was one of the
medical conditions that sent many people to their early graves. However, with the Implantable
Cardioverter Defibrillator system, the chances of survival have been boosted from five present to
98 percent (Briz-Ponce & García-Peñalvo, 2015).
It is possible also to manage terminal diseases like diabetes, thanks to technology.
Patients can effectively monitor the sugar levels in their body that will help them in avoiding
complications like blindness and peripheral nerve damage. Medical technology has also
enhanced the efficiencies in the medical facilities because they take less time to treat patients and
thus the quality of life has been improved.
It is no doubt that the new medical technologies and innovations have affected the
healthcare costs. When we look at the effect of the medical treatment based on the latest medical
innovations, we have to look at the expense of treating one patient. The cost of treating one
patient will depend on various factors like the existing technologies or the alternative technology
that is in place. These are some of the things that will determine whether the new medical
technology will increase or reduce the initial cost of treatment. The cost of medical treatment
might also increase since it will have a direct impact on the other services that are offered in the
hospital.

The level of use is another factor that will affect the cost of medical innovation (Cheston
et al., 2013). The value of treatment might be determined by the frequency of use of the
technology. When technology is frequently used the total cost of that medical innovation is likely
to be lower because of the economies of scale. Establishing the effect of the health cost is
complicated because a single technology may increase the cost in one area and increase in the
other.

Trends in Medical Technology

We have several patterns that have continued to impact the performance of the public
health and health care system in the United States. According to Briz-Ponce and García-Peñalvo
(2015), the medical technology remains critical in the delivery of various services and the
management of some medical condition. We explore the different ways in which the trends
impact the performance of the healthcare system in the United States.
Many American citizens get medical attention from the smaller health institutions that are
located in rural areas. These institutions not only offer significant challenges to the providers but
to the patients as well. It is estimated that rural hospitals provide medical attention to
approximately 57 million Americans (Gellert et al., 2015). The problems that the rural
institutions are facing are adequate funding as it is estimated that one in three medical centers are
struggling financially. If this trend continues, then 25 percent of the rural hospitals will close in
the next ten years. The other emerging trend in the rural areas is the decreasing number of
medical practitioners, lack of alternatives when it comes to the private exchanges, and the
exponential growth of the high-deductible health plans. There is thus, an urgent need to support

the rural healthcare of the United States through proper funding to avert a future crisis (Cheston
et al., 2015; Gellert et al., 2015).
The employment and promotion in the U.S. is undergoing tremendous change since the
equations that require higher education and training is on the rise. This is one of the things that
are motivating many workers to upgrade their skills. College education, technical training, life
experiences, and variation in skills are some of the things that are represented in the workplace.
These are some of the things that are creating challenges for the healthcare system.
Managing employees who belong to different generations is difficult. We have the
millennial, baby boomer, generation x, and generation Y just but to mention a few. There is a
need to improve communication in all the set of workers so that their voluntary benefits also
encompass the retail clinics, fitness centers, and the critical illness coverage. If the interaction
between the different groups of workers is managed, then the workers will get the right coverage
and treatment of some of the diseases that are rampant with their age.