The role of technology in improving health care outcomes
Health care activities have undergone a significant change in the recent decade as nurses aim to improve the quality of health care services through information technology. During my placement, I worked under a different department in helping improve the patient care services offered in the hospital. I realized four vital roles of information technology to improve patient care services. First is improved commutations and coordination between the medical physician. The most patient medical journeys pass through a various process that increases the risk of miscommunication. The availability of electronic health record reduces the error and ensure the process are efficient and quick hence reducing patient waiting time.
The second thing I learned about the role of technology in improving patient care services is increasing patient-centered care services. I interacted with various information systems such as customer management systems, telemedicine, and electronic health records that positioned patients at the center of all the hospital activities. It’s increased patient compliance and satisfaction while they can easily access their medical history that improved patient convenience.
The third is reducing medication errors, which are common medical errors that may lead to severe complications. I was engaged in electronic prescribing that allowed nurses and doctors to send prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy section that helped minimize prescribing error experienced by most of the nurses. The electronic system was linked with the patient mobile phones that send notification of the type of medicines and a reminder of when to take medicine, reducing medication error, and improving patient safety. Lastly is cost reduction through automation of the major process. Information technology reduces the paperwork of the nurses, remove unnecessary process, and automate data storage hence reduce the cost. The use of information technology leads to an increase in operational efficiency that improves the overall quality of patient care services.