Health Tech Trends and Risks
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Health Tech Trends and Risks
“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.”
The prevailing illustration of technological developments in healthcare is the implementation of electronic medical records (EMR). Electronic medical records facilitate gathering and evaluating data, thereby fostering long-term improvements in patient care and outcomes. An electronic medical record is a digital, secure, real-time patient documentation. The patient’s cumulative medical information, including but not limited to vital medical history, sign trends, prescriptions, medication allergies, and procedures, is stored in a chart that is readily accessible to authorized personnel (HealthIT.gov, 2018c). Every patient’s chart is stored on an electronic medical record (EMR) at my hospital. Staff from various departments and units can access the EMR simultaneously. Medical personnel can update the EMR with new information as the patient’s care advances. Additionally, patients’ records can be retrieved during subsequent visits. The medical records are readily accessible through a secure system login from the provider’s office.
“Describe any potential challenges or risks inherent in the technologies associated with these trends you described. Describe at least one potential benefit and one potential risk associated with data safety, legislation, and patient care for the technologies you described.”
One of the obstacles I have observed regarding our facility and the implementation of electronic medical records is the interdepartmental use of multiple systems. While I possess access to every system, most medical professionals are restricted to the documentation systems corresponding to their employment department. One such risk is the potential for cyber-attacks. Hospitals are susceptible to cyber-attacks that may compromise their health data and demand ransom. This occurred at Desert Valley Hospital in 2016. Although, fortunately, no privacy violation occurred, Desert Valley Hospital’s access to its electronic medical records was altered (Sharma & Patten, 2022). An additional issue pertains to the potential consequences of power outages or computer malfunctions, which would impede access to medical records, prevent the ordering of tests, and prevent viewing results. Once per month, we are obligated to perform mandatory downtimes, which prevent us from accessing the electronic medical records. Consequently, when the system is restored, we must scan the paper documents to create electronic medical records.
“Explain which healthcare technology trends you believe are most promising for impacting healthcare technology in nursing practice and explain why.”
Patients use the electronic medical charting system to maintain and manage their healthcare records; they can access them from any location using their mobile devices (Skiba, 2017). An exemplary instance is my grandson, for whom I bring up the point that whenever he visits a physician, they inquire about any developments in his care since his last appointment. I can access his complete medical record, including lab results, procedures, and everything else, by launching the MY UK HealthCare application on my smartphone. The rapid expansion of telemedicine in the healthcare industry since the emergence of the pandemic at the start of the year is the second (Dykes et al., 2017). Telemedicine facilitates access to providers who are typically inaccessible; for instance, mental health telemedicine is available at my facility. This period permits reduced human-to-human contact, thereby mitigating the potential for COVID-19 transmission.
“Describe whether this promise will contribute to improvements in patient care outcomes, efficiencies, or data management. Be specific and provide examples.”
In my opinion, the advantages of electronic medical records far surpass any potential drawbacks. Based on my professional experience, I can deliver superior patient care by promptly accessing their medical records via computer rather than frantically searching for a physical chart and navigating through it with the expectation that the laboratory findings and other pertinent information have been incorporated. By conveniently accessing a patient’s past visits, I can promptly monitor their care, thereby facilitating the provision of the most effective treatment. Furthermore, I can attest from personal experience that the convenience of readily accessible electronic medical records enables me to pursue medication for my children without the need to dash to various offices to retrieve medical records.
References
Dykes, P. C., Rozenblum, R., Dalal, A., Massaro, A., Chang, F., Clements, M., … & Bates, D. W. (2017). Prospective evaluation of a multifaceted intervention to improve outcomes in intensive care: the promoting respect and ongoing safety through patient engagement communication and technology study: critical care medicine, 45(8), e806.
HealthIT.gov. (2018c). What is an electronic health record (EHR)?Links to an external site. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-electronic-health-record-ehr
Sharma, P., & Patten, C. A. (2022). A need for digitally inclusive health care service in the United States: recommendations for clinicians and health care systems. The Permanente Journal, 26(3), 149. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/21.156
Skiba, D. (2017, September 15). Evaluation tools to appraise social media and mobile applications. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9709/4/3/32