Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Essay

Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Essay

Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources

Chronic diseases can have immense pressure on the affected patients and significant others. The disease burden is attributed to factors that include frequent emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and the acquisition of the needed medications. The advent of health information technologies has reduced the impact of health information technologies on the population. Health information technologies have reduced the costs incurred in disease management and enhanced the coordination of chronic disease management. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the application of healthcare technologies in diabetes management.

Impact of Care Technology

Several technologies have been adopted for the effective management of diabetes and its comorbidities. The technologies provide patients and healthcare providers the opportunities to enhance self-care management of diabetes by patient empowerment. Technologies that have been adopted for diabetes management include Telehealth, automated bolus calculators, continuous glucose monitoring, implantable continuous glucose monitors/sensors, integrated systems, smartphone, applications, and wearable technologies(Alcántara-Aragón, 2019). The above technologies have enhanced diabetes self-management. For example, Telehealth has led to easy access to diabetes-related information and continuous access to healthcare provider support. Continuous glucose monitoring technologies ensure that the patient’s blood glucose level is kept at the optimal levels to minimize adverse events that include hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Smartphone technologies provide patients easy access to diabetes-related information required for the self-management of the disease (Han &Richley, 2020). Therefore, the existing technologies used in diabetes management enhance the overall treatment outcomes in the affected populations.

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Advantages and Disadvantages

The different technologies used in diabetes management are associated with several advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is the fact that the technologies reduce the costs that patients incur in disease management. Diabetes technologies reduce the need for unnecessary hospital visits. Technologies that include Telehealth enable patients to interact with their healthcare providers, which eliminates the need for unnecessary hospital visits. The technologies also reduce the risk of adverse outcomes associated with diabetes. Technologies such as continuous blood glucose monitors prevent the risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. As a result, they optimize the treatment outcomes. The technologies also contribute to patient-centered continuous care. Patients are assured easy access to the health information that they need and healthcare provider-support(Yoshida &Simoes, 2019). The consequences include optimum blood glucose management and patient satisfaction in the treatment process.

The technologies used in diabetes management are also associated with some disadvantages. One of them is the high cost of acquisition. Some of the technologies require high costs for the health organization and patients. The high cost limits its uptake among patients suffering from diabetes. The other disadvantage is the increased risk of data loss. Technologies that include smartphone applications and Telehealth are highly vulnerable to data access by unauthorized parties. Data loss increases the risk for legal and ethical issues due to privacy and confidentiality issues. The use of health information technologies also requires literate patients. Patients should have the knowledge and skills of using the technologies to optimize the treatment outcomes(Han &Richley, 2020). Therefore, the above issues should be considered before the adoption of health information technologies in diabetes management.

Potential Barriers

The adoption of technologies for use in diabetes management may face some barriers in healthcare. One of the barriers is the high cost of its adoption. Health organizations may have to incur significant costs in adopting technologies for use in diabetes management. Since health organizations exist to make a profit from their activities, considering technology use in diabetes may not be possible. The other barrier is high workload and staff shortages in healthcare organizations. Technology use in healthcare places additional roles on healthcare providers. The adoption process may be a challenge in cases where organizations experience an acute shortage of staff. The last barrier is the ethical and legal issues associated with technology use in healthcare. Health organizations are held responsible for ensuring data integrity. Technologies are prone to unauthorized data access by third parties, which increases the risk for lawsuits to the involved institutions(Walker et al., 2021). Therefore, the barriers limit technology use in diabetes management.

Care Coordination and Utilization of Community Resources

Care coordination and utilization of community resources can be used to address the health needs of Mr. Y. Care coordination entail the organization of patient care activities alongside information sharing among the healthcare providers involved in the care process. Care coordination promotes the prioritization of the patients’ care needs in the decision-making and patient involvement in assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating the care interventions (McLendon et al., 2019). Community resources can also be used to meet Mr. Y’s health needs. Community resources that include social support systems are essential in facilitating optimum treatment outcomes. Community resources facilitate the patient’s coping with the disease process and his incorporation into the social systems used in chronic disease management (Morrison &Arjyal, 2021).

Benefits of Care Coordination and Utilization of Community Resources

Care coordination and utilization of community resources in diabetes management have several advantages. One of them is patient-centeredness in the care process. Care coordination ensures that the healthcare providers involved in the patient care process develop care plans that address both the actual and potential needs of the patient. They also involve patients in making treatment-related decisions, hence, patient-centeredness. Care coordination also contributes to patient satisfaction with the treatment and their empowerment. Patients are encouraged to play a proactive role in exploring decisions related to their care and participating in the implementation of the treatment plan. The outcomes include their empowerment in diabetes self-management and satisfaction with the treatment process (McLendon et al., 2019). Community resources promote coping by the patient with the disease process. Community resources such as support groups for patients with chronic illnesses would help Mr. Y identify effective ways of coping with the disease and its effective management. Community resources and support also promote patients’ incorporation into the community by eliminating barriers to care such as social isolation and stigmatization (Morrison &Arjyal, 2021). Therefore, care coordination and community resources are important in chronic disease management.

Barriers to the Use of Care Coordination and Community Resources

Barriers to care coordination and community resource use in diabetes management exist. One of them is staff shortage. Staff shortage hinders care coordination due to the increased workload for the existing staff involved in the care of patients with chronic illnesses(Williams et al., 2019). The other barrier is the lack of an effective reimbursement model for the healthcare providers involved in care coordination. Healthcare providers should be reimbursed for the care given through the care coordination model based on a developed model. The USA currently lacks a defined model, which affects reimbursement of the healthcare providers by different insurance payers (Willgerodt et al., 2020). The barriers to the use of community resources in diabetes management are resource inadequacy. Resource inadequacy hinders the optimum utilization of community resources to achieve optimum outcomes in chronic disease management. The other barrier is the need for the active involvement of community stakeholders, which may not be achieved due to the complex nature of community relationships(Morrison &Arjyal, 2021). Therefore, healthcare providers should be aware of the barriers for them to develop responsive strategies to address them.

State Board of Nursing Practice Standards and Organizational Policies

State board of nursing practice standards influences technology use in diabetes management. State boards of nursing develop regulations that ensure the safe use of health information technologies by nurses. Nurses must develop competencies related to the use of information technologies in healthcare. They should be able to promote data privacy and confidentiality in the use of technology in the care process. Nurses should also be competent in using information technologies to access the needed information for planning the care needs of patients they serve. Organizations also develop policies that guide the use of technologies in chronic disease management. The policies include those related to access and use of patients’ data and the role of the healthcare providers in the process. The government also develops policies that guide the use of health information technologies for diabetes management(Savage & Savage, 2020). An example is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which was adopted to promote data integrity. The policy requires health organizations to adopt measures that protect sensitive patient data from access by other parties without seeking patients’ consent.

The board of nursing practice standards, organizational, and government policies will guide my actions in utilizing technology in diabetes management. One of the ways will be ensuring the protection of data integrity and privacy. I will strive to ensure that the access to patient’s data is protected. I will also ensure that informed consent is obtained from the patients before sharing their data. The standards and policies will also inform my advocacy roles in healthcare. I will advocate the adoption of health information technologies that are effective and efficient in the patient care process(Savage & Savage, 2020). Therefore, nursing scope of practice, local, state, and federal policies will affect the care given to Mr. Y.  Accordingly, I will provide the care that aligns with my scope and standards of practice. I will also ensure that the patient’s rights in the care process are protected. I will ensure the policies that govern the use of health information technologies are considered in the care process.

How Ethics will Inform My Approach

Ethics will inform my approach to diabetes management and its complications using technology, care coordination, and community resources. First, I will strive to promote safety in the care process. I will ensure that the adopted care decisions have optimum patient benefits and minima harm. I will also ensure the patient’s right to autonomy is protected by seeking informed consent before sharing his information. I will also ensure that patients play an active role in the decision-making process(Cruz et al., 2018). I will ensure the protection of the patient’s data to ensure privacy and confidentiality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, health information technologies can be adopted in the care of patient with diabetes and congestive heart failure. Health information technologies have advantages and disadvantages that affect their use in the care process. Healthcare providers should adopt measures to address potential barriers associated with technology use in diabetes management. Board of nursing practice standards, organizational, and government policies affect technology use in diabetes management. Therefore, I will incorporate them into my practice to ensure ethical care in diabetes management.

References

Alcántara-Aragón, V. (2019).Improving patient self-care using diabetes technologies.Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10, 2042018818824215. https://doi.org/10.1177/2042018818824215

Cruz, D. S. M. da, Silva, K. de L., Souza, J. T. B. de, Nóbrega, M. M. L. da, Reichert, A. P. da S., Marques, D. K. A., & Collet, N. (2018). Experiences of adolescents with diabetes mellitus from the perspective of the ethics of alterity.ActaPaulista de Enfermagem, 31, 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0194201800020

Han, C., &Richley, M. (2020).Advancing technology in diabetes management. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/advancing-technology-in-diabetes-management

McLendon, S. F., Wood, F. G., & Stanley, N. (2019).Enhancing diabetes care through care coordination, telemedicine, and education: Evaluation of a rural pilot program.Public Health Nursing, 36(3), 310–320. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12601

Morrison, J., &Arjyal, A. (2021). A funfair without the candy floss: Engaging communities to prevent diabetes in Nepal. Public Health, 193, 23–25.

Savage, M., & Savage, L. C. (2020). Doctors Routinely Share Health Data Electronically Under HIPAA, and Sharing With Patients and Patients’ Third-Party Health Apps is Consistent: Interoperability and Privacy Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(9), e19818. https://doi.org/10.2196/19818

Walker, A. F., Hood, K. K., Gurka, M. J., Filipp, S. L., Anez-Zabala, C., Cuttriss, N., Haller, M. J., Roque, X., Naranjo, D., Aulisio, G., Addala, A., Konopack, J., Westen, S., Yabut, K., Mercado, E., Look, S., Fitzgerald, B., Maizel, J., &Maahs, D. M. (2021). Barriers to Technology Use and Endocrinology Care for Underserved Communities With Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care, 44(7), 1480–1490. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-2753

Willgerodt, M., Johnson, K. H., &Helmer, C. (2020).Enhancing Care Coordination for Students with Type 1 Diabetes.Journal of School Health, 90(8), 651–657. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12912

Williams, M. D., Asiedu, G. B., Finnie, D., Neely, C., Egginton, J., Finney Rutten, L. J., & Jacobson, R. M. (2019). Sustainable care coordination: A qualitative study of primary care provider, administrator, and insurer perspectives.BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-3916-5

Yoshida, Y., &Simoes, E. J. (2019).Health Information Technologies in Diabetes Management. In Type 2 Diabetes—From Pathophysiology to Modern Management. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83693

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Assessment #3 in a series of same diabetes/CHF patients:

In a 5-7 page written assessment, determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. In addition, plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group you’ve chosen to work with and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form. Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

Introduction
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you’ll be positioned to maximize the use of technology to achieve positive patient outcomes and improve organizational effectiveness. Providing holistic coordination of patient care across the entire health care continuum and leveraging community resource services can lead both to positive patient outcomes and to organizational improvements.

Preparation
In this assessment, you’ll determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the health problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 direct practicum hours working with the same patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also choose to consult with subject matter and industry experts.

To prepare for the assessment:

Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
Conduct sufficient research of the scholarly and professional literature to inform your assessment and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.
Review the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF], which provides guidance for conducting this portion of your practicum.
Note: Remember that you can submit all, or a portion of, your draft assessment to Smarthinking for feedback, before you submit the final version. If you plan on using this free service, be mindful of the turnaround time of 24-48 hours for receiving feedback.

Instructions
Complete this assessment in two parts.

Part 1
Determine how health care technology, the coordination of care, and the use of community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also consult with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form. Use the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF] provided for this assessment to guide your work and interpersonal interactions.

Part 2
Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

Whom did you meet with?
What did you learn from them?
Comment on the evidence-based practice (EBP) documents or websites you reviewed.
What did you learn from that review?
Share the process and experience of exploring the effect of the problem on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
Did your plan to address the problem change, based upon your experiences?
What surprised you, or was of particular interest to you, and why?
CORE ELMS
Update the total number of hours on the NURS-FPX4900 Volunteer Experience Form in CORE ELMS.

Requirements
The assessment requirements, outlined below, correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

Analyze the impact of health care technology on the patient, family, or population problem.
Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the advantages and disadvantages of specific technologies, including research studies that present opposing views.
Determine whether the evidence is consistent with technology use you see in your nursing practice.
Identify potential barriers and costs associated with the use of specific technologies and how those technologies are applied within the context of this problem.
Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address the patient, family, or population problem.
Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the benefits of care coordination and the utilization of community resources, including research studies that present opposing views.
Determine whether the evidence is consistent with how you see care coordination and community resources used in your nursing practice.
Identify barriers to the use of care coordination and community resources in the context of this problem.
Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health care technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form.
Explain how these standards or policies will guide your actions in applying technology, care coordination, and community resources to address care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
Describe the effects of local, state, and federal policies or legislation on your nursing scope of practice, within the context of technology, care coordination, and community resources.
Explain how nursing ethics will inform your approach to addressing the problem through the use of applied technology, care coordination, and community resources.
Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form.
Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
Additional Requirements
Format: Format your paper using APA style. APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is provided to help you in writing and formatting your paper. Be sure to include:
A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
Appropriate section headings.
Length: Your paper should be approximately 5-7 pages in length, not including the reference page.
Supporting evidence: Cite at least five sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old. Provide in-text citations and references in APA format.
Proofreading: Proofread your paper, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on its substance.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

Competency 4: Apply health information and patient care technology to improve patient and systems outcomes.
Analyze the impact of health care technology on a patient, family, or population problem.
Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Core Elms Volunteer Experience Form.
Competency 6: Collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population outcomes.
Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address a patient, family, or population problem.
Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.