Hello,
I am glad to have read your post about healthcare technology trends. You have put across essential points regarding its benefits, risk, or potential challenges inherent in technology, healthcare trends, particularly in nursing practice and telehealth contributions to improve patient. From your post, I do agree that healthcare is dynamically evolving because of advanced technology. Notably, modern information technology (IT) and communication technology revolving around the healthcare system have enhanced and will further improve the healthcare system’s efficiency. The usage of innovation in healthcare has turned into a worldwide pattern. As we have seen, electronic healthcare technology is prevalent around and has an enormous impact on improving patient outcomes. Healthcare technology includes all medications, devices, procedures, vaccination, and systems that modernize healthcare operations that help improve healthcare facilities precisely and frugally to all the clients/patients. For instance, electronic health records help reduce healthcare personnel’s workload by plummeting the burn out among the caregivers, storing extensive information made available. As you have discussed, technologies add value to the customer–based care encompassing the following functions: virtual screening using devices that convey essential patient information, remote patient monitoring, early detection of diseases, and individual treatment plans.
Patient Challenges or Risk that Maybe Inherent in the Technologies
According to the commission, information technology may be riddled with inherent risks that can harm the patients. Poor health IT support, confusing human-computer interface, and design issues are among the potential challenges that lead to miscommunication. For example, in a survey conducted in 2013, the hospitals reported 120 health IT-related issues that participated in the study. The findings reported were about 33% resulted from the human-computer interface, 23 % had to do with data or design issues concerning clinical content, and 24 % were issues related to health information technology (Sabriya, 2015). You have also mentioned in your post on challenging factors and risk associated with IT, which encompasses poor software engineering exacerbating the digital divide and security breaches.
Benefits and risks associated with data safety, legislation, and patient care.
I agree with your opinion regarding computerized provider order entry( CPOE) systems and automated reminder systems. These systems reduce errors by eliminating illegible orders, checking inappropriate charges, improving communication, improving tracking orders, and reminding the professionals of actions to be taken. Proper utilization of these systems will prevent under, over, or misuse diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. The risk associated with IT includes downtime, not having fast response time, and having no easy to comprehend and navigate databases. Remarkably, cybersecurity is another crucial risk that should b addressed as it emanates from increasing the storing and sharing of patient information.
Healthcare Technology Trends in Nursing practice
Healthcare technology has impacted patient life positively. IT has improved accessibility in nursing practice. Electronic health records are a tool for reducing nurse’s burnout and enhances patient care since the nurses will have to review the data for accuracy and clarity of medical records and allow the healthcare professionals to access the information freely. Notably, IT devices are used to reduce the chances of human errors. For instance, automated IV pumps measure the specific dosage to be given to the patients. As from your response, it is one of the crucial medical devices in nursing practice. It is used in generating, collecting, analyzing, and transmitting data (Saudi, 2017). Therefore, the nurses will be able to reach all the patients despite their different geographical locations.
Telehealth has played a significant role in improving accessibility. It has enabled people from different geographical areas to access nursing care through live video conferencing, mobile health, and remote patient monitoring. In current society, people from remote areas can receive quality nursing care. It involves working healthcare workers and immediate family members in the management and provision of healthcare services.
References
Swati, Y Doug, M, Catherine, C, Kathryn Mc, and Tina, H (2017). Electronic health records and quality of care. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4902473/
Saudi. M, J(2017).The impact of health information technology on patient safety. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5787626/
Sabriya, R. (2015). Beware inherent healthcare information technology risk, Joint Commission warns. Retrieved from https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150331/NEWS/150339972/beware-inherent-healthcare-it-risks-joint-commission-warns