Digital Information Technology and Empowering Patients

Digital Information Technology and Empowering Patients

A few months ago, I decided to start eating healthy. As such, I usually use the internet and related technologies to connect with other healthy-eating enthusiasts and dieticians, among other entities. Over the recent past, digital information technology has triggered a revolution in every realm of society, such as marketing, shopping, education, transport, and politics, among others. The health care sector has not been left out in the ongoing revolution. This paper posits that digital information technology is an integral part of patient empowerment, and it operates through platforms, such as mobile apps and e-health portals.

Several definitions of patient empowerment exist. For instance, Akeel and Mundy (2019) argue that the purpose of patient empowerment is to ensure that clients are responsible and involved in their treatment. As such, this definition focuses on individuals taking responsibility and being involved in the process through which their health conditions are being handled. On the other hand, Rexhepi, Åhlfeldt, Cajander, and Huvila (2018) say that patient empowerment focuses on three dimensions which are “Patient knowledge, patient control, and patient participation” (p. 116). This definition focuses on clients having not only access to crucial information but also an opportunity to actively participate in their treatment process.

Digital information technology and patient empowerment are inseparable. This means that neither patient empowerment nor digital information technology is complete without the other (Akeel & Mundy, 2019). Most importantly, patient empowerment is an ongoing process. Technological tools are used to facilitate effective communication between healthcare providers and patients (Akeel & Mundy, 2019). Examples of digital information technologies used to increase patients’ involvement in the healthcare system involved web services that facilitate information sharing, remote data access, and interactive portals (Akeel & Mundy, 2019). For instance, a physician can interact in real-time with his or her patient via Skype, while the two entities are many miles apart. At the same time, digital information technologies are used to increase patients’ competence in various illnesses (Rexhepi et al., 2018). For instance, patients can easily find information pertaining to the diseases they have from the internet or mobile applications. Also, short message service can be used to relay periodic information pertaining to various health-related topics such as the management of diabetes or hypertension.

Besides, one of the technologies that are causing a revolution in the realm of patient empowerment includes mobile apps. Over the recent past, the number of Americans with smartphones has surged exponentially. This change means that more Americans have easier access to important services through apps stored in their mobile phones. When it comes to the healthcare sector, mobile apps serve numerous purposes. For example, the MedXCom app allows patients to request appointments, update their doctors on their progress, and store and manage their healthcare data (Akeel & Mundy, 2019). Before the advent of mobile apps, patients had to presents themselves physically to clinics for simple tasks, such as booking an appointment. As such, mobile apps allow an easier, faster and cost-effective way for patients and healthcare to interact.

Apart from mobile apps, the other digital information technology impacting the way in which patient empowerment occurs involves e-health portals. According to Rexhepi et al. (2018), e-health portals comprises of applications that enable patients to access health-related information that is under the management of healthcare institutions. E-health portals provide numerous services to patients, such as opportunities to perform specific administrative tasks, which include prescription refills and scheduling of appointments. Most importantly, this technology is used to offer secure massaging between healthcare institutions and patients.

To sum up, the implications of digital information technology in the healthcare sector cannot be ignored. In the modern era, digital information technologies such as social media, the internet and mobile apps are being used to facilitate more interaction and communication between patients and their healthcare providers. Most importantly, these technologies are pertinent in ensuring that patients have access to healthcare information and opportunities to participate in the process aimed at improving their health status.

References

Akeel, A. U., & Mundy, D. (2019). Re-thinking technology and its growing role in enabling patient empowerment. Health Informatics Journal, 25(4), 1278-1289.

Rexhepi, H., Åhlfeldt, R. M., Cajander, Å., & Huvila, I. (2018). Cancer patients’ attitudes and experiences of online access to their electronic medical records: A qualitative study. Health Informatics Journal, 24(2), 115-124.