The Future of Healthcare- Leveraging Emerging Technologies
Healthcare delivery might be more efficient overall, patient outcomes could be improved, and telehealth technology could address long-standing impediments. Patients in remote or underserved areas may find that telehealth, such as video conferencing, virtual visits, and remote monitoring, answers their access problems. Using this technology raises moral and legal questions, especially regarding patient privacy, data security, informed permission, and unequal access to technology. This essay examines the complex field of telehealth, looking at its possible advantages, moral and legal issues, nurses’ crucial role in informatics, and the significance of implementing telehealth comprehensively.
Overview of the Emerging Technology and Its Function in Health Care
Telehealth refers to a range of technologies enabling healthcare providers to communicate with patients in real time without seeing them in person. These technologies include video conferencing, virtual visits, and remote monitoring. By facilitating patient access for those living in remote or underdeveloped locations, lowering travel expenses, and boosting overall healthcare efficiency, this technology can remove obstacles to care. Improved patient outcomes can be achieved through telehealth to speed up consultations, monitor chronic illnesses, and improve preventative treatment (McElroy et al., 2020). Additionally, telemedicine encourages patient participation and adherence to treatment programs by facilitating regular communication between patients and healthcare providers, ultimately improving patient safety and quality of care.
Ethical or Legal Issues
A major ethical challenge is ensuring patient privacy and data security during remote monitoring and virtual consultations. Healthcare providers must follow strict guidelines to protect confidential patient information (Hulkower et al., 2020). Furthermore, concerns about developing a solid patient-provider connection in a virtual context and informed consent must be carefully considered. Healthcare professionals may need to traverse various state or international legislation when providing telehealth services, which may give rise to legal difficulties related to licensure and jurisdiction. Furthermore, upholding ethical standards depends on resolving inequalities in patient access to technology and guaranteeing that every patient can benefit from telehealth services.
Nurse’s Informatics Role Regarding the Technology
Optimizing the integration of telehealth into healthcare delivery involves nurses as crucial partners. They are essential in helping patients become comfortable and understanding when interacting with telehealth providers by teaching them how to use virtual platforms. Nurses play a critical role in gathering, processing, and managing patient data produced by remote monitoring devices, enhancing the overall quality of care coordination (Mishra & Singh, 2023). Nurses with an understanding of informatics work in interdisciplinary teams to improve telehealth procedures, resolve technical problems, and guarantee the confidentiality and integrity of patient data (Buam, 2021). Moreover, they aid in continuously evaluating and enhancing telehealth initiatives by offering insightful information on user experiences and pinpointing areas needing improvement.
The Role of Workflow Analysis, Human Factors, and User-Centered Design Concepts
Integrating telehealth technology successfully takes a complete strategy that includes workflow analysis, human factors, and user-centered design principles. To ensure a smooth integration into current healthcare procedures, workflow analysis is essential for comprehending and optimizing the order of tasks and interactions involved in telehealth consultations. It is necessary to properly assess human aspects, such as cognitive load and ergonomic concerns, to improve user experience and reduce the possibility of mistakes during virtual interactions. Furthermore, to promote user acceptability and happiness, user-centered design concepts highlight how crucial it is to customize telehealth platforms to match the requirements and preferences of patients and healthcare practitioners.
Conclusion
In conclusion, telehealth technology integration offers a viable way to solve healthcare issues, increase access, and enhance patient outcomes. Patients who live in remote or underdeveloped locations may need help to obtain healthcare. In this regard, telehealth, which includes modalities like video conferencing, virtual visits, and remote monitoring, provides an answer. Despite the apparent advantages, careful implementation is crucial for reasons related to ethics and law. It is critical to balance using telehealth’s benefits and protecting patient privacy, guaranteeing data security, and resolving access inequities.
References
Buam, F. N. (2021). Health Information Technology in Nursing: The impact of health information technology on the quality of nursing care. A literature review. Www.theseus.fi. https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/502119
Hulkower, R., Penn, M., & Schmit, C. (2020). Privacy and confidentiality of public health information. Health Informatics, 147–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41215-9_9
McElroy, J. A., Day, T. M., & Becevic, M. (2020). The influence of telehealth for better health across communities. Preventing Chronic Disease, 17(64). https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.200254
Mishra, P., & Singh, G. (2023). Internet of medical things healthcare for sustainable smart cities: Current status and future prospects. Applied Sciences, 13(15), 8869. https://doi.org/10.3390/
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Question
Write a 500-750-word brief. Include the following:
Provide an overview of the emerging technology and its role/function in health care. Consider its potential for improving access to care and promoting patient safety and quality.
Describe ethical or legal issues that would accompany the incorporation of the technology.
Explain the nurse’s informatics role in regard to the technology. Provide examples of the roles and job functions.
Outline the role of workflow analysis, human factors, and user-centered design concepts for your chosen technology example.
Refer to the topic Resources for samples and resources to help you construct your brief.
You are required to cite three to five sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.
Complete the “APA Writing Checklist” to ensure that your paper adheres to APA style and formatting criteria and general guidelines for academic writing. Include the completed checklist as an appendix at the end of your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
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