UTHSC: informatics

[kputman]

I will be posting weekly for University of Tennessee nursing students. Different groups will be required to reply to a post and also reply to each other.

Any one interested (outside the nursing school) is also welcome to reply. My goal is to exchange ideas and cause purposeful thinking.

Here will be the query for the week beginning March 21-March 28.

How do you see the rapid development of communication devices changing society in general? How is it changing Healthcare?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

are you the instructor?

[sadiemae1123]

Are you a student or instructor from that school?

[kputman]

I am an instructor.

[UTGH2-CS]

The number and sophistication of communication devices has erupted over the past decade. Apple, Inc., a leader in communication technology, has created user-friendly devices that are attractive to consumers throughout the world. These devices provide rapid transmission of data, information, and knowledge at our fingertips. Nevertheless, consumers and businesses alike are eager to send/receive information at rapid speeds. This is evidenced by the declining profits of the United States Postal Service. Yet, the explosion in the availability of handheld devices provides an ease in acquiring a large magnitude of information, which may be more harmful than beneficial in certain instances.

The development of communication devices also has an integral part in advancing current healthcare practices. These devices can provide crucial data/information, which may not have been readily accessible if stored by pen and paper (Sewell, 2013). Furthermore, the rapid development of these devices has challenged human knowledge to exploit the full potential of integrating such devices in order to efficiently and effectively advance our healthcare.

References

Sewell, J., & Thede, L.Q. (2013) Informatics and nursing: Opportunities and challenges. (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.

[UTGH1-BM]

Communication devices have changed the way society conducts itself today. With the increasing number of cell phones out there it is extremely possible for someone who is illiterate to lead a successful and productive life with the help of their smartphone (Ferren, 2011). Prior to the invention of smartphones and personal communication devices people were unable to simply search for whatever piece of information they wanted whenever they wanted it. Now, a person who might know nothing about the healthcare field can perform a simple search from their hand-held device and find online articles and journals regarding their diagnosis, treatment, and even standards of care for their hospital. This will put the pressure on the healthcare field to stay as up to date as possible when caring for a patient, and to stay prepared for any questions the patient might have. This rapid access to information will help to serve as the driving force behind the continued expansion and education in the healthcare field. UTGH1-BM

References:

Ferren, B. (2011). Have cell phones become more common than originally expected?. Retrieved from Have cell phones become more common than originally expected? - Curiosity

[kputman]

UTGH2- You are correct in the fact that the devices have changed the way we approach health care.

Additionally if you were not around when pen and paer was used and stored you have saved your self a head ache.

When a patient was admitted the physician would ahve to write (old chart to floor) to have a nurse or secretary retrieve the record form then medical records. You can imagine the time in having to search the records. Sometimes if the person was admitted at night, the records could only be retrieved when someones open medical records.

[kputman]

UTGH1- Not sue what you mean by successful and productive life with a cell phone. The phone can never take place of education. I guess it depends on what you mean by successful and productive. One still have to know how to spell and read for the smart phone to work. Being able to know 1-10 numbers also helps.

You are correct in that we now have a well enlightened public (or so they think) concerning personal health. We need to teach clients that everything that is out there is not evidenced based.

Kputman

[chogue18]

Communication has greatly changed in just the last few years with the growth of the internet, the advancement of social media, and the huge popularity of smartphones. It is now possible to communicate with others in only a matter of seconds with the touch of a finger, which makes slow communication much less acceptable in people’s social and professional lives. In a healthcare setting, fast communication is imperative and there is a constant struggle to up.

With the movement toward digital charting, it is now possible to access a patient’s chart in an instant from anywhere in the hospital. This can decrease the risk of errors and miscommunication among medical staff members. It can also provide others with pertinent information that would otherwise be less accessible with hand- written charting. The use of mobile devices is another tool that has positively impacted healthcare in recent years. During my clinical experiences, I have observed nurses using mobile devices, instead of pagers, as communication tools for patients and staff members. This allows nurses to not only see an alert, but call and communicate with others when needed.

From the American Nurse website, a nurse informaticist by the name of Patricia Dykes dives deeper into the issues of technology and communication by discussing the importance of communicating multiple ideas throughout a healthcare facility. Using her experiences at Partners Healthcare, Dykes worked with coworkers to create nursing prevention plans that were inspired by observations and techniques that came from multiple areas of a hospital. The plans would assess patients’ risks for falls on a computer and then print educational material that could be kept in patients’ rooms. This proactive system is just another way that communication and technology are effectively being utilized in healthcare for the purpose of improving patient care (Trossman, 2014).

References

Trossman, S. (2014). Behind the technology. Retrieved from Behind the technology | The American Nurse

[chogue18]

UTGH1-CH

Communication has greatly changed in just the last few years with the growth of the internet, the advancement of social media, and the huge popularity of smartphones. It is now possible to communicate with others in only a matter of seconds with the touch of a finger, which makes slow communication much less acceptable in people’s social and professional lives. In a healthcare setting, fast communication is imperative and there is a constant struggle to up.

With the movement toward digital charting, it is now possible to access a patient’s chart in an instant from anywhere in the hospital. This can decrease the risk of errors and miscommunication among medical staff members. It can also provide others with pertinent information that would otherwise be less accessible with hand- written charting. The use of mobile devices is another tool that has positively impacted healthcare in recent years. During my clinical experiences, I have observed nurses using mobile devices, instead of pagers, as communication tools for patients and staff members. This allows nurses to not only see an alert, but call and communicate with others when needed.

From the American Nurse website, a nurse informaticist by the name of Patricia Dykes dives deeper into the issues of technology and communication by discussing the importance of communicating multiple ideas throughout a healthcare facility. Using her experiences at Partners Healthcare, Dykes worked with coworkers to create nursing prevention plans that were inspired by observations and techniques that came from multiple areas of a hospital. The plans would assess patients’ risks for falls on a computer and then print educational material that could be kept in patients’ rooms. This proactive system is just another way that communication and technology are effectively being utilized in healthcare for the purpose of improving patient care (Trossman, 2014).

References

Trossman, S. (2014). Behind the technology. Retrieved from Behind the technology | The American Nurse

[cwilban]

Without a doubt, technology has greatly exaggerated our everyday communication. Today, when people wake up, one of the first things they do is check their text messages, emails, and various social media accounts on cell phones and tablets. These devices have virtually become a part of the human body's anatomy. Advances and availability of such technology has definitely led to more impersonal means of communication. Physical face-to-face communication is becoming increasingly less common. However, this is not always negative. With these tools, it is quick and simple to let someone know that you are going to be late or must schedule a meeting. They allow you to research things without pulling out encyclopedias and dusty text books. With Skype and FaceTime, one can conduct business interviews in a technologically enhanced face-to-face manner.

These advances in communication technology has improved methods of data sharing in the healthcare setting, which directly affects patient care (Sewell, 2013). With these developments, data bounces around the hospital floor-to-floor and is reviewed by various members of the health care team. Augmentation to the electronic medical record can be done anywhere and viewed by pertinent providers. This has allowed physicians and nurses to have more time with the patient. Without having to plunder through papers and notes, health care providers can access the patient's information and make changes to their plan of care in less time. According to a study on technology and productivity, providers in the hospital waste more than 45 minutes each day fumbling with outdated technology (The Ponemon Institute, 2013). This wasted time results in an estimated $1 million in hospital costs annually, with an estimated cost of $5.1 billion nation-wide. Imagine if more providers used text messaging and Wi-fi enabled tablets throughout their work day. This wasted time could be transformed into more face-to-face time spent with the patient.

UTGH1-CW

References

Sewell, J. & Thede, L.Q. (2013) Informatics and nursing: Opportunities and challenges. (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.

The Ponemon Institute. (2013). The Economic and productivity impact of IT security on healthcare. Traverse City, Michigan.

[Ssummer5]

Advanced communication technology has exploded over the past decade, causing lower cost and easier access to millions of buyers. Civilians of all ages and various businesses, including hospitals, have adapted to being able to find information or communicate with someone almost instantaneously – whether it be a coworker, best friend, or complete stranger. Because of this fast paced method of communication, society is becoming more interconnected on many different levels. Markets are expanding, product sales are growing, and special interests are thriving. Education has become more attainable through online classes with reduced cost and flexible hours. Dating websites and mobile apps are becoming more popular and socially accepted. Crime is even being targeted using geographic data processing systems that allow police to track the most troublesome and focus-needed locations in an area over time.

Healthcare has been greatly impacted by technology, which has changed the healthcare system by reducing medical errors, time spent between inpatient and outpatient services, and overall cost. One of the most influential and controversial pieces of communication technology is the electronic medical record. By transcribing a patient’s prescribed care and medical history into a computer system, patient information is made available for immediate retrieval. Access to more information reduces faulty decision-making and leads to improved quality of care and patient satisfaction (National Academy of Sciences, 2005).

Easy access does not come without a cost. Due to concerns of hacking, many fear their private health information will be compromised. Proponents assert there are safeguards in place, however. Physicians can access data only on their patients, information is encrypted when downloaded, and electronic systems track each time a user looks at a patient’s records. As electronic medical records become more widely used, many are easing privacy concerns in hopes of achieving an eventually safer healthcare experience for their loved ones (Walker, 2010).

UTGH1-SS

References

National Academy of Sciences. (2005). Information and Communication Systems: The Backbone of the Health Care Delivery System. Building a Better Healthcare Delivery System: A New Engineering/Healthcare Partnership, 4. Retrieved from Information and Communications Systems: The Backbone of the Health Care Delivery System - Building a Better Delivery System - NCBI Bookshelf

Walker, Andrea. (2010). Spread of electronic records raises privacy concerns. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved from http://phys.org/news/2010-11-electronic-medical-privacy.html