Predictive Medicine: How Technology Has Impacted Patients' Quality of Life

Personalized prevention and more precise treatment are some of the benefits of predictive medicine. Based on biomedical data, this approach predicts disease risks even before they manifest.

This is possible thanks to the combination of various fields of knowledge and technologies such as genomics, biomarkers, the microbiome, big data, and precision medicine.

Together, these fields contribute to clinical decision-making and better treatment outcomes. Below, you will gain a better understanding of what predictive medicine is and its applications in healthcare institutions.

Finally, learn about technologies that optimize processes and contribute to patients' quality of life.

What is Predictive Medicine?

Predictive medicine uses data and advanced analytics to foresee disease risks, the progression of medical conditions, and even pinpoint the origins of certain types of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer.

Predictive medicine is applied individually, contributing to personalized care with a focus on prevention and early treatment. For healthcare institutions, it is a way to reduce costs and improve clinical outcomes.

One example is the evaluation of chromosomal alterations in babies before birth, which can indicate syndromes such as Down, Edwards, and Klinefelter.

Curative Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Predictive Medicine: What Are the Differences?

Although they may seem similar, these fields of healthcare have some particularities. Curative medicine focuses on treating diseases and medical conditions once they develop, while preventive medicine seeks to reduce risk factors and promote healthy lifestyles.

Preventive strategies may include vaccination, health education, identification, and management of risk factors, among other interventions.

On the other hand, the goal of predictive medicine is to intervene in situations where individuals are at high risk of developing certain diseases.

From there, preventive measures can be taken to avoid or minimize the impact of the disease.

Applications of Predictive Medicine

Predictive medicine can be applied in various areas of healthcare, improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and disease management. Among its possible applications, we can highlight:

• Chronic disease prevention: Identifying individuals at high risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and respiratory diseases;

• Personalized oncology treatments: Selecting more effective targeted therapies and personalizing treatment for each patient, improving outcomes and reducing side effects;

• Genomic analysis to identify genetic predispositions: Conducted through whole-genome sequencing or sequencing of specific genome parts (exome sequencing or targeted gene sequencing).

See also: [Infographic] How Technology Ensures Patient Safety?

Is Predictive Medicine Still Something for the Future?

Far from it—predictive medicine already has practical applications.

Screening for chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart problems is one of them. This can be done using sensors that collect patient data in real-time and remotely.

This way, the medical team can provide guidance without the need for in-person consultations. Another application is reducing medical errors through the use of electronic medical records.

With a detailed and automated patient record, alerts can be generated for adverse prescriptions or medications, for example. This prevents serious complications for the patient's health and additional costs.

Main Challenges of Implementing Predictive Medicine

First and foremost, implementing predictive medicine requires a team that is up to date with scientific advancements. Additionally, tools and technologies that speed up diagnosis, personalize treatments, and ensure more accurate information are necessary.

Predictive medicine requires collecting and analyzing patients' clinical and genetic data. Managing a large volume of data can be a challenge in the hospital routine.

Therefore, the best way to address this challenge is by using medical software to manage data efficiently and effectively.

In addition to Predictive Medicine, Many Other Advances Are Transforming Healthcare

Learn more about this topic: Download the [Checklist] The Future of Healthcare: What Are the Priorities for Institutions in the Coming Years?

About Pixeon

Pixeon is the company with the largest software portfolio for the healthcare market.

Our solutions serve hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and imaging diagnostic centers, both in management (HIS, CIS, RIS, and LIS) and diagnostic processes (PACS and Laboratory Interface), ensuring higher performance and high-level management in healthcare institutions.

The HIS/CIS software for hospitals and clinics, Pixeon Smart, is comprehensive and integrates the entire institution into a single system, in addition to being certified with the highest level of digital maturity by SBIS (Brazilian Society of Health Informatics).

We already have more than 3,000 clients in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia, serving millions of patients annually through our platforms.

Do you want to know if Pixeon's technologies do everything you've always wanted for your hospital or clinic? Request a commercial contact and be surprised by everything our management system can offer.