Butterflies Are Here

The elderly gentleman had just returned from a trip to a beautiful location in the hills. The trip had enhanced his energy levels as visiting the place brought memories of earlier visits and finding that the forests with its trees and herbal wealth, flowing clean rivers and fantastic scenery quite intact even after several decades. When he shared this thrill with his friends who hailed from that area, they corrected him by pointing out that the forests were much thicker then, but many trees have been illegally felled over the years. The forests look intact from the roads, but when one ventures deep into them the real destruction brought in by the greedy man can be understood. This was indeed the real picture, but still whatever left in the nature was in itself a thrilling sight for a city dweller indeed. 

Visit was great in itself but the early morning winter chill of the hilly region had affected the throat and breathing was somewhat difficult. Ignoring the same would have been dangerous as the polluted city air was likely to contribute its own share and aggravate the trouble. He remembered the friendly and ever smiling Pulmonologist in the big hospital of the city, who had treated and brought him out of difficulty on an earlier occasion. The hospital reception gave an urgent appointment for the next day. He was glad that consultation from a familiar doctor would be available immediately.

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The large hospital was established some four decades ago basically to take care of serious road accident victims or other types of accidents, as well as those undergoing trauma due to various reasons. The hospital had made a great name in treating such patients very effectively. The morning hours were indeed very busy at the hospital with large inflow of patients. There were also emergency arrivals of accident victims. When we read about an accident in the. newspapers or watch on the TV, it is yet another news item for us. But for the ones who suffer the accidents, and their families and friends, it is indeed a vey difficult situation. We all know this by our experiences when someone in our close circles had such accidents. 

The supervisor at the reception hall was very efficient and moved around guiding her staff as well as patients. It was heartening to note that elderly patients received special attention. In fact, the overall awareness in society for providing preferential treatment to senior citizen appears to have strengthened in the last few years. The gentleman was guided through the formalities of registration etc. quickly and sent to the specialists enclosure in a few minutes. 

The specialist doctor remembered the patient and recalled the earlier medical history despite long gap and checked the lungs using a stethoscope and other usual test methods. In order to find the exact level of congestion in the lungs she advised a X-ray of the chest. X-ray section was in the same building but another floor. when the patient reached there for the x-ray, it was a rare sight indeed. Just as we have goods trains with several bogies one behind the other, there was a long line of patients on wheelchairs in different levels of bandages. The line moved, but moved  slowly as each patient x-ray required some minimum time. There were urgent cases in between and their interruption was well taken by all as it was quite understandable. 

The gentleman got his x-ray done and collected the report in minutes. The specialist was waiting for the report and could make a quick decision on the line of treatment by checking the x-ray. Rest was quick and the patient got fully well within two days.

There is nothing special in the above narration except that the whole process took more than two hours despite the efficiency of the system and personnel manning the proceedings. On the way home, the gentleman remembered a WhatsApp message he had received two days ago. It won't take this long if there is a similar requirement next time, he thought.  

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Laboratory tests required for diagnosis and deciding the course of treatment used to take a long time decades ago. Developments in technology has shortened the length of time between collecting samples and providing the results to the patient. Application of technology by medical service providers has obviated the need for patients to carry bulky files and papers of medical history as all the data of the patient is available on computers. Test reports are fed to the system and retrieved by the patient as well as the medical staff and specialists in real time. Prescriptions in many countries are sent directly to the Pharmacy online and by the time the patient or representative reach there, packets are ready for delivery. Some outlets have drive-in delivery counters for medications and there is not even the need for parking the car and pick up medication. Facilities are also available where medication is delivered to the doors of the patient in minutes. 

Diabetic patients remember that tey had to go to the lab on empty stomach and provide blood samples for blood sugar measurement and other blood analysis reports. Visit for taking blood sample and later for collecting reports cost money and time. Nowadays, in cities as well as in large towns, lab representatives come to the patient's house, collect samples at pre-appointed time and send the report by e-mail quickly. Now there is not even the requirement of drawing blood for mere blood sugar levels as methods for measuring sugar levels without the proverbial prick have arrived. Blood tests are not bloody at all now!

How wonderful it would be if the level of congestion in the lungs could be checked by a specialist by using a simple device at own desk instead of depending on a X-ray? A new tool for such simple method is already available in the market. The technology is similar to that of a smart watch. The instrument when moved on the organ of the patient would give images on the mobile, based on which course of treatment could be decided. Most of the cases could be disposed off without need for X-ray or other diagnostic tests! 

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Technology has brought in a new apparatus that is already replacing the stethoscope and this device will provide multiple applications that can be used by the specialist doctors at their desks. They will be able to see the inside of the many organs in the body directly without X-rays or imaging. A look at the video given above, which is widely circulated on WhatsApp, will explain the applications itself. 

The application will benefit the patients as well as the professionals for the following reasons:

• The specialist would be able to see the inside functioning of the organs just by moving the apparatus on the respective organ and study the image appearing on his mobile.
• The need for scans or X-rays is avoided resulting in saving of time in diagnosis and deciding the line of treatment. 
• There is saving of money for the patients in paying for the scans and X-rays. Of course, there may be a fee for use of the application, but it would be much lower than the scans and X-rays.
• Repeat visits to the lab for scans and collecting reports is avoided. 
• Most of the general ailments can be disposed at this level itself. In case of more detailed requirement of data, only such cases would be referred to the labs.
• There would be less pressure on the resources at scans and X-ray centre.
• Above all, patients will get quick relief due to faster treatment, cut in wait times and lower costs.

This application is given the name "Butterfly". There was a Broadway stage play by name "Butterflies are Free' which was later made into a movie with the same name in 1972. It brought a lot of name and fame for actress Goldie Hawn. This "Butterfly" apparatus may not be free,  but its advantages would definitely make the patients feel free to some extent.

Lets us look forward to a day when the applications gain wider usage!