Healthcare Technology Trends
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
Healthcare Technology Trends
Sharing electronic data among healthcare workers and electronic prescriptions are some important trends in healthcare. Electronic health records (EHR), is one of the prominent healthcare technologies that help practitioners to readily access the information about their patients (Cowie et al., 2017). Electronic data is important since physicians can identify patterns about various health conditions. The technology improves the quality of care by reducing medical errors and improving the efficiency of prescribing medication (Cowie et al., 2017). EHR improves timeliness, patient-centered care, efficiency, and communication.
EHR presents various challenges including the cost of designing and implementing the system and security risks. Some healthcare facilities may face the challenge of implementing the system due to the significant cost (Rathert et al., 2019). Security breaches can expose the data to unauthorized persons. Another challenge is the interoperability between devices and existing computer systems in a healthcare facility (Balestra, 2017). The staff may take time before they adapt to using the system. Poor knowledge or negative attitude of the workers can increase the risk of medical errors.
Electronic data poses a security risk to data safety. Hacking and data breaches are common in the healthcare sector. The risks can expose the data to unauthorized people with negative intentions (Balestra, 2017). EHR is important since it improves the quality of care by boosting the timeliness and efficacy of care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) require healthcare workers to ensure the safety and confidentiality of electronic data (Kruse et al., 2018).
One of the promising healthcare trends is the use of electronic data. The approach is important in sharing data with diverse healthcare workers to boost health outcomes (Kruse et al., 2018). Sharing data is important in identifying trends and generating a quality response to health issues. The technology will improve patient outcomes, efficiencies, and data management (Balestra, 2017). EHR improves patient outcomes by providing accurate and up-to-date information and improving coordination in the provision of healthcare services. The technology improves the ability to diagnose conditions and prevent medical errors.
References
Balestra, M. L. (2017). Electronic health records: patient care and ethical and legal implications for nurse practitioners. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(2), 105-111.
Cowie, M. R., Blomster, J. I., Curtis, L. H., Duclaux, S., Ford, I., Fritz, F., … & Michel, A. (2017). Electronic health records to facilitate clinical research. Clinical Research in Cardiology, 106(1), 1-9.
Kruse, C. S., Stein, A., Thomas, H., & Kaur, H. (2018). The use of electronic health records to support population health: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Medical Systems, 42(11), 214.
Rathert, C., Porter, T. H., Mittler, J. N., & Fleig-Palmer, M. (2019). Seven years after Meaningful Use: Physicians’ and nurses’ experiences with electronic health records. Health Care Management Review, 44(1), 30-40.
