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NURS-6051N Module 4: Week 6: Discussion healthcare information technology trends sample post 2
NURS-6051N Module 4: Week 6: Discussion healthcare information technology trends sample post 2
Main Post
Healthcare Information Technology Trends
Several technology trends have been observed in the healthcare industry in recent years. One trend is the use of electronic health records (EHR). EHRs are electronic versions of a patient’s medical history that are used to store, manage, and share information about a patient’s healthcare. Healthcare providers can access EHRs to view a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medication, and other plans of care (HealthIT.gov, 2018) NURS-6051N Module 4: Week 6: Discussion healthcare information technology trends. Our organization uses Cerner, which is excellent as it allows access to information from different healthcare workers, allowing for better patient management. Another healthcare technology trend in our organization is telemedicine, which allows patients to access healthcare services remotely through video calls or other technologies (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022). Telemedicine can benefit patients who live in remote areas and those needing consultation for services not readily available at one local point of care.
Challenges and Risks
One potential risk associated with EHRs is the possibility of errors in data entry. Incorrect information entered on EHR or medical errors due to overreliance on technology could lead to incorrect diagnoses and treatment recommendations, which could severely affect the patient’s health (Vanderhook, S., & Abraham, 2017). Another potential challenge is the risk of data breaches and privacy violations, as EHRs contain sensitive personal and medical information. If this information is not adequately secured, it could be accessed by unauthorized individuals leading to risks such as identity theft, financial fraud, and damage to a patient’s reputation.
A potential challenge associated with telemedicine is the risk of technical issues disrupting the quality of telehealth sessions. NURS-6051N Module 4: Week 6: Discussion healthcare information technology trends For example, if there are problems with the videoconferencing platform or internet connectivity, it could make it difficult for the patient and healthcare provider to communicate effectively. There is also the reimbursement issue as some insurances may decline to reimburse patients for tele visits as they would in-person visits.
Benefits and Risks with Data Safety, Legislation, and Patient care
A potential benefit of EHRs is that they can improve patient care by providing healthcare providers with more accurate and up-to-date information about a patient’s health. This can help healthcare providers make more informed treatment decisions and improve patients’ outcomes. Telemedicine on the other hand, can improve access to care for patients who may have difficulty traveling to a healthcare facility. This can be especially important for patients with mobility issues, the elderly, and those who live in rural areas where advanced healthcare is not readily available. It could also help triage patients for further treatment as necessary (McGonigle & Mastrain, 2022).
One potential risk associated with both EHRs, and telemedicine is the possibility of security breaches where hackers or unauthorized individuals could access sensitive information if not properly secured. This could lead to lawsuits against healthcare organizations. Wrong data entry in the EHRs could lead to misdiagnosis and poor health outcomes for the patient. Telehealth faces many legal and regulatory hurdles, such as different rules and guidelines for practice causing a lot of confusion in patient management (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). An example is the lack of multistate telehealth licensure
Promising Healthcare Technology Trends
The use of wearable devices and telemedicine can potentially improve patient care outcomes, efficiencies, and data management. With the availability of more advanced wearable technology, user acceptance of these devices has increased, enhancing physiological monitoring (Loncar-Turukalo et al., 2019). Both technologies can help healthcare providers access essential patient information more quickly and easily, improving the accuracy and efficiency of care. They can improve access to care for patients who may have difficulty accessing health care services in person, leading to improved patient outcomes. Using telehealth also reduces in-person visits, potentially reducing the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. It could also improve efficiencies by allowing providers to see more patients in a shorter time; for example, a Nurse practitioner could use telehealth to consult with patients remotely, freeing up time to see more patients in person. With EHRs, data can be stored and readily available instantly and securely for authorized users (HealthIT.gov, 2018).
References
Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218-221.
HealthIT.gov. (2018c). What is an electronic health record (EHR)? Links to an external site.Links to an external site.Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-electronic-health-record-ehrLinks to an external site.
Loncar-Turukalo, T., Zdravevski, E., da Silva, J. M., Chouvarda, I., & Trajkovik, V. (2019). Literature on wearable technology for connected health: scoping review of research trends, advances, and barriers. Journal of medical Internet research, 21(9), e14017.
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2022). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Vanderhook, S., & Abraham, J. (2017, June). Unintended consequences of EHR systems: a narrative review. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care (Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 218-225). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
sample response
Thank you for sharing your discussion post with us. In the review of your post, I found the section regarding promising healthcare trends of particular interest. Several years ago, I was gifted my first Apple Watch; in turn, I gave one to my husband, and we ended up using them to track things like the steps we took in a day and compete on calories burned, etc. It became a fun exercise with the added benefits of sending and receiving messages and telling time. It wasn’t until this past year that I fully realized the benefits associated with the watch itself. The health monitoring technology in the watch alerted our family to a severe medical condition that was occurring and likely saved my husband’s life.
What happened with my family is, of course, not an anomaly. The rise of smartwatches and other “wearable technology” has been instrumental in alerting potential medical concerns that may otherwise go unnoticed, presenting as silent threats or killers. Research suggests that wearable devices such as smart watches can be highly effective as a novel screening method for recognizing potential cardiac concerns such as atrial fibrillation (Raja, 2019). The utilization of smartwatches in health informatics has presented a growing trend in the healthcare industry (Avnish Singh Jat & Tor-Morten Gronli, 2022). Their increasing use, paired with the value of their health monitoring capabilities, makes the wearable technology in smartwatches an essential tech for a continuous and remote health assessment (Avnish Singh Jat & Tor-Morten Gronli, 2022). Despite their remarkable ability, it is notable that a possible risk associated with a smartwatch is the user may feel a false sense of health and safety if the alert does not properly indicate the concern. It is noted that the use of the device does not take the place of a medical provider NURS-6051N Module 4: Week 6: Discussion healthcare information technology trends.
References
Avnish Singh Jat & Tor-Morten Gronli. (2022, June 8). Smartwatch for smart health monitoring: A literature review. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-07704-3_21Links to an external site.
Raja, J., et al. (2019, September). Apple Watch, wearables, and heart rhythm: Where do we stand? Annals of Translational Medicine. Retrieved January 4, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6787392/ NURS-6051N Module 4: Week 6: Discussion healthcare information technology trends