Lowry 1

Taylor Lowry
Mrs. Harrell
English 4 Honors
November 7, 2014

The Importance of Medical Technology

Imagine a world without the proper medical equipment to treat individuals who are in
dire need of help. They went to the hospital thinking they could be treated with exceptional
quality of care, but were mistaken due to the lack of technology being out dated. If this idea were
to ever come true in the health care fields our knowledge of health concerns would be unknown
and put patients at a disadvantage to their health. With illnesses and surgeries becoming more
complex in treatment and diagnoses, the advancement of medical technology has become even
more significant in todays health care industry. Improvements of medical technology in the
health care field has increased life expectancy for thousands of people, provided faster recoveries
from surgeries and sicknesses for patients, and allowed doctors to locate diseases more
effectively and efficiently than ever before.
Lengthening the amount of time a person has on earth is a major perk of the improvement
of medical technology. Due to all of these changes and accomplishments for medical equipment,
In 2006, the Congressional Research Service reported that life expectancy nearly doubled since
1900, from 48 years for women and 46 years for men, to 80 years for women and 75 years for
men(Medical Technology). Many years have passed since then so imagine a how much more
the life expectancy rates have risen since then. Due to the advancement of the equipment, less

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invasive surgeries have to be performed which decreases the risks of death. Individuals have had
the opportunity to experience a better quality of life and live a longer healthier life as well.
As we all know, nobody enjoys being stuck in the hospital any longer then they
absolutely have to. With the tremendous amounts of improvements in the technology being used
today, by the time a patient gets in the hospital for an injury or surgery, before they realize it they
are already being told they can leave to go home. Significant advances in the field of diagnostic
equipment, surgical and laboratory procedures, and non-surgical equipment have increased
hospital efficiency as well as patient comfort and safety( Esmail, Nadeem, and Dominika
Wrona). Things have now been made a lot simpler than before allowing doctors to be more
proficient with their work, which makes the recoveries for patients a lot shorter. This give
patients a feeling of relief knowing they can go home sooner than before.
Early identification is another major outcome of the importance of medical technology
and its improvements. The sooner things can be found, the more the patient benefits. Today,
new technologies help doctors find problems before patients even feel sick. Generally, the earlier
doctors can detect disease, the better the chances of treating it (Kowalski). Not only does it
allow the patients to be treated sooner but it also gives them a broader selection of treatment
options than there would be if there was late discovery. Early diagnosis has allowed cancer to be
spotted before it spreads through the body, blood clots and blockages can be treated before they
become life threatening, and it has helped lead to early treatment of other potential problems that
may occur.
As it has been proven the importance of medical technology is extremely significant to
our society as it has increased the longevity of life, shortened recovery times for patients, and
gave doctors the ability to detect and diagnose diseases and illnesses at a proficient rate. These

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improvements have provided a great quality of care for thousands and have progressed a long
way over a great number of years. How individuals use medical technology determines its
purpose in society and every person has a different set of values for it. Even today medical
technology is still being improved for health care fields and also for the patients best interest to
ensure a healthier life. Worrying about being treated with proper equipment and the thought of it
being up to date should be the least worrisome thought that runs through any individuals mind.

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Works Cited

Esmail, Nadeem, and Dominika Wrona. "Improved Medical Technology Leads to Better Overall
Health." Medical Technology. Ed. Carol Ullmann and Lynn M. Zott. Detroit:
Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "The Benefits of Medical
Technologies." Medical Technology in Canada. Vol. 5. 2008. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.

Kowalski, Kathiann M. "Will technology make you healthier? (Focus)." Current Health 2, a
Weekly Reader publication Jan. 2003: 6+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 30
Sept. 2014.

"Medical Technology." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 25 Sept. 2014