Top 10 healthcare advancements over past 20 years

In honor of Medscape’s 20^th anniversary, the site polled experts and advisors to analyze the past two decades and tell them what the biggest healthcare advances have been. From that list, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 advances most impactful to ophthalmologists and why Medscape nominated each category as the best of the best.

10. Ophthalmology: Anti-VEGF therapy for macular degeneration

According to Medscape, one of the most important advancements for ophthalmologists and their patients has been anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for age-related macular degeneration for its fight against blindness.

9. Oncology: The cancer genome Atlas

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) has had a tremendous impact on nearly every aspect of cancer research, Medscape reported.

TCGA first debuted in 2006 and was completed this year.

“The Atlas is a compilation of the genomic changes in all cancers and is a ‘source book’ informing the practice of individualized medicine,” the site wrote.

8. Public health: Advancement of palliative care

Medscape called the advancement of palliative care “one of the biggest achievements in the past decade.”

7. Diabetes: Medications and monitoring

There have been many changes over the years to diabetes medications and monitoring, but Medscape calls out continuous glucose monitoring as the winner for this category due to its ability to inform patients and physicians about blood sugars in a non-traditional way.

6. Allergy and immunology: Biologics

Medscape says biologics has “revolutionized” care in many conditions, including allergic disease.

5. Emergency medicine: Ultrasound

First created in the 1980s, real-time ultrasonography was further advanced in the 1990s with 3- and 4-dimentional images. According to Medscape, ultrasound’s widespread use in emergency medicine has been the “single biggest advance in emergency care.”

4. Pediatrics: Vaccines as cancer prevention

Medscape calls vaccines for cancer prevention a “radical” healthcare advancement for its ability to prevent cancer, rather than treat after a diagnosis.

3. Primary care: The rise of corporate healthcare

There has been a swift consolidation of healthcare systems and payers over the past 20 years.

According to Medscape, this trend has caused too much reliance on venture capital, which resulted in the site naming the rise of corporate healthcare one of the largest challenges of the past 20 years.

2. Business of medicine: The information revolution meets healthcare

The creation-and vast expansion-of the Internet, as well as its impact on healthcare, was enough to warrant its nomination onto Medscape’s list.

“The expanded use of Web-based information and resources has fundamentally changed patient care, medical practice, and education,” the site wrote.

1. Neurology: Genomics

Genomics has had a huge impact on medicine and how it is delivered to patients.

According to Medscape, this field was nominated for exome and genome sequencing’s ability to allow the indication of the genetics causes of neurologic disease and potential to prevent or control these disorders.