Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends Essay

Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends Essay

Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends Essay

Description of Technology Trends

The use of healthcare technology continues to impact nursing practice in different ways. The general technology trends in nursing practice are varied and include the increased use of telehealth, use of wearable devices to help patients with chronic conditions enhance self-care management, telemedicine to link patients and health care providers over a long distance, cloud-based databases, and storage for ease of access on mobile and portable devices, electronic health records (EHRs), and increased adoption of smart hospitals and artificial intelligence to enhance care delivery (Han et al., 2018). The use of EHRs allows nurse practitioners and physicians to share vital patient information in multidisciplinary teams for better care plans and inter-professional collaboration and decision-making.

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Telehealth facilitates diagnosis, consultation, education, management of care, patient education, and treatment, especially for patients in remote locations (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). Self-care management is a critical aspect of evidence-based practice (EBP) and patient-centered care. These technologies like EHRs and telehealth as well as wearable devices are a critical component of enhancing patients’ self-care for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Challenges to Inherent to the Technologies

Inherent challenges associated with these technologies include the need for sufficient and well-trained manpower and staffing to run the system, monitor them, and maintain its functioning effectively. These systems are also vulnerable to human manipulation and require strong backups if the primary infrastructure experiences problems that require extensive repairs and replacement (Kruse et al., 2017). Further, the collection of big data by these systems may lead to potential hacking attempts, which impact the privacy of confidential patient information.

Potential Benefits and Risks

The potential benefit linked to data safety, legislation, and patient care associated with the above technologies is the easy access of patient health information that improves the overall access to health care services (Laureate Education, 2018). Interoperability allows providers to share data and make effective decisions to ensure that patients and health populations access health care within the shortest time possible. Policies like the Affordable Care Act contain mandates for data safety, guarantee access to healthcare using the best technologies most safely, and require health care providers to offer patient care fast based on value (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2017). The risk to patient safety, legislation, and patient care associated with these technologies is potential hacking and access to patient health information by unauthorized persons or individuals. However, the use of these technologies should not be assumed to impact care or be associated with less care (Kruse et al., 2017). These technologies offer immense benefits to patients and providers despite the inherent risks that they may pose to the care process.

Promising Technology to Impact Healthcare Technology in Nursing Practice

The disruptions caused by emerging and reemerging infectious diseases that are leading to pandemics like the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, implore healthcare providers and stakeholders like the government to invest more in wearable technologies, telemedicine, and telehealth. Further, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and leveraging on smart hospitals aided by the adoption of telehealth will enable more patients to access care even in remote locations (Bhaskar et al., 2020).The use of smart equipment and smart devices will be critical for patients with chronic conditions as the population continues to age and place more demand on health care resources.

Contribution to Patient Care Outcomes, Efficiencies, and Data Management

These promising technologies will enhance patient outcomes, efficiencies, and management of data in different ways. For instance, increased adoption of smart devices and smart hospital equipment based on artificial intelligence will improve patient care outcomes as more patients in remote locations will have access to care. These technologies will enhance efficiency as physicians and other providers will attend to patients fast and provide necessary diagnostics and consultations (Rao-Gupta et al., 2018). A core aspect of these technologies is the deployment of big data. Through these technologies, hospitals and providers will manage data well by focusing on protection protocols to guard against any potential hacking.

References

Bhaskar, S., Bradley, S., Sakhamuri, S., Moguilner, S., Chattu, V. K., Pandya, S., … & Banach,

708. (2020). Designing futuristic telemedicine using artificial intelligence and robotics in the COVID-19 era. Frontiers in public health, 8, 708. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.556789

Han, J. H., Hyun, Y. G., Chae, U., Lee, G. H., & Lee, J. Y. (2020). A Study On the Healthcare

Technology Trends through Patent Data Analysis. Journal of Digital Convergence, 18(3), 179-187. https://doi.org/10.14400/JDC.2020.18.3.179

Kruse, C. S., Frederick, B., Jacobson, T., & Monticone, D. K. (2017). Cybersecurity in

healthcare: A systematic review of modern threats and trends. Technology and Health Care, 25(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3233/THC-161263.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). Public Health Informatics [Video file]. Baltimore, MD:

Author

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge

            (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Rao-Gupta, S., Kruger, D. Leak, L. D., Tieman, L. A., & Manworren, R. C. B. (2018).

Leveraging interactive patient care technology to Improve pain management engagement. Pain Management Nursing, 19(3), 212–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2017.11.002

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Discussion: Healthcare Information Technology Trends
In this Discussion, you will reflect on your healthcare organization’s use of technology and offer a technology trend you observe in your environment.

To Prepare:
• Reflect on the Resources related to digital information tools and technologies.
• Consider your healthcare organization’s use of healthcare technologies to manage and distribute information.
• Reflect on current and potential future trends, such as use of social media and mobile applications/telehealth, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled asset tracking, or expert systems/artificial intelligence, and how they may impact nursing practice and healthcare delivery.

Write a brief description of general healthcare technology trends, particularly related to data/information you have observed in use in your healthcare organization or nursing practice.

– Describe any potential challenges or risks that may be inherent in the technologies associated with these trends you described.

– Then, describe at least one potential benefit and one potential risk associated with data safety, legislation, and patient care for the technologies you described.

– Next, explain which healthcare technology trends you believe are most promising for impacting healthcare technology in nursing practice and explain why.

– Describe whether this promise will contribute to improvements in patient care outcomes, efficiencies, or data management. Be specific and provide examples.