NURS 6051 Healthcare Information Technology Trends

NURS 6051 Healthcare Information Technology Trends

Healthcare Information Technology Trends

Healthcare delivery has greatly evolved, allowing practitioners to revolutionize many aspects of care through data and technology. Common healthcare trends related to data/information that I have observed in nursing practice are telehealth, data analytics, and wearables. Independently and jointly, these technologies have enabled data-driven practice since patients and healthcare professionals can exchange crucial data in real-time. While underlining the importance of telehealth in data-driven care, Simpson (2020) noted that telehealth allows the remote exchange of patient data and continuous monitoring. Wearables also provide adequate and timely data for health monitoring and communication with healthcare providers. Data analytics helps healthcare professionals to observe trends to facilitate patient-centered care (Schulte & Bohnet-Joschko, 2022). As a result, they provide a massive opportunity for improving health outcomes for patients and populations.

Potential challenges inherent in technologies associated with telehealth, wearables, and data analytics include technological literacy and a robust infrastructure for supporting tech-driven care. In this case, patients and providers should be competent enough to use healthcare technologies effectively and safely. Potential benefits associated with data safety include quick and safe storage and retrieval. Electronic data can also be better secured from unauthorized access than manual data (paperwork). Concerning legislation, multiple laws regulate the use of protected health information (PHI). Regarding patient care, telehealth provides more access to healthcare services and facilitates monitoring and remote patient-provider interaction hence higher patient outcomes (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). Risks include cyberattacks, accidental data sharing, and erroneous interpretation of data, which can cause misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

As healthcare delivery evolves, more technology trends will impact patient care more than others. Due to the intensified use of data to guide decision-making, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) are some of the most promising for impacting healthcare technology in nursing practice. Their potential will increase since AI and big data analytics allow healthcare providers to analyze data to improve diagnosis and treatment (Davenport et al., 2019; Schulte  et al.,  2022). Their promise will contribute to better patient outcomes since data analysis to customize care according to patient needs typified patient-centered care hence more patient satisfaction. AI also helps to minimize medical errors, further indicating its potential for improving patient outcomes.

References

Davenport, T., & Kalakota, R. (2019). The potential for artificial intelligence in healthcare. Future Healthcare Journal, 6(2), 94–98. https://doi.org/10.7861/futurehosp.6-2-94

Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth Benefits and Barriers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners: JNP, 17(2), 218–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013

Schulte, T., & Bohnet-Joschko, S. (2022). How can big data analytics support people-centred and integrated health services: a scoping review. International Journal of Integrated Care, 22(2), 23. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.5543

Simpson, C. (2020). How telehealth can expand community clinic access and specialist capacity. HealthAffairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200131.184871/full/

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Healthcare Information Technology Trends

Throughout history, technological advancements have appeared for one purpose before finding applications elsewhere that lead to spikes in its usage and development. The internet, for example, was originally developed to share research before becoming a staple of work and entertainment. But technology—new and repurposed—will undoubtedly continue to be a driver of healthcare information. Informaticists often stay tuned to trends to monitor what the next new technology will be or how the next new idea for applying existing technology can benefit outcomes.

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

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

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.

By Day 3 of Week 6

Post 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.

By Day 6 of Week 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days, offering additional/alternative ideas regarding opportunities and risks related to the observations shared.

*Note: Throughout this program, your fellow students are referred to as colleagues.

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