Jimble

In response to UTGH1-CW: I agree with Cory about how improved methods of data sharing and the widespread use of electronic medical records can improve the quality of care that patients receive by allowing more collaboration between providers and eliminating the need to hunt for information hidden in paper charts. I wish I could share your optimism that the time that's saved using this new technology would translate into more face-to-face time with patients, but I feel that hospital administrators will use the time saved to cut staffing levels instead.

I think Sally makes a good point about the tension between maintaining privacy of your medical records and ensuring that providers have access to your health information so that you can be treated appropriately. It is absolutely essential that safeguards are in place so that a patient's medical records remain secure and that only authorized medical personnel can access this sensitive information.

UTGH2-JW The rapid adoption of smartphone and tablet technology over the last decade has changed many aspects of our lives including how we communicate as well as our sense of identity, community, and relationships (Boulos, Wheeler, Tavares, & Jones, 2011). The widespread adoption of this technology has encouraged us to constantly seek out new information and make connections, and made it much easier to keep in contact and share information with other people. This has made it easier for patients to seek out healthcare information and more actively participate in their care (Boulos et al., 2011). While this technology has increased access to information it can often make it difficult to sift through all of this to find appropriate, accurate, up to date information. In the healthcare setting, this technology allows healthcare providers to get information on their patients in "real-time" and to update their plan of care quickly when needed. It also allows providers to provide input and expertise without respect to geographical boundaries so that a radiologist in Cincinnati can give a consult for a patient in Des Moines. This will allow previously underserved populations such as in rural areas or smaller hospitals to have more access to specialist care that is often only available in larger cities and hospitals. Boulos, M., Wheeler, S., Tavares, C., & Jones, R. (2011). How smartphones are changing the face of mobile and participatory healthcare: an overview, with example from eCAALYX. BioMedical Engineering OnLine, 10(1), 24.