improve clinical indicators
Respond to the post bellow, offering additional/alternative ideas regarding opportunities and risks related to the observations shared.
Initial Post
There is no doubt that the use of technology is increasing all around us. The health care field is no different. Technology now plays a major role in the health care profession. It is almost guaranteed to continue to develop at a rapid rate (Horn, 2017). From electronic heath records to patient portals, I have utilized technology since becoming a nurse, increasing significantly over the last decade. However, at my most current place of employment, we do not use much technology at all. In fact, much of technology is prohibited as I work in a prison. After relying on technology so heavily, it has been a major adjustment to return to the era of very limited technology use. In fact, the only technology we utilize is telehealth.
Telehealth is the “delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities” (Koivunen, & Saranto, 2018). This method of health care delivery is seen as a means in which to improve communication and enhance patient-centered care (Cipriano, 2011; Virji, Yarnall, Krause, Pollak, Scannell, Gradison, & Ostbye, 2006). As with all technology, there are both facilitators and barriers present with the use of telehealth.
According to the study conducted by Koivunen & Saranto (2018), nurses’ skills in telehealth application were seen as a facilitator to telehealth utilization. However, the same study identified some barriers present. Some of those barriers included nursing’s discomfort with the equipment utilized with telehealth as well as lack of basic computer skills present amongst nurses (Koivunen, & Saranto, 2018). In addition, negative attitudes along with lack of support and training were identified barriers (Koivunen, & Saranto, 2018). It is obvious that the change from traditional face-to-face nursing practice to telehealth requires much support for its users. There is certainly a learning curve with any new technology with experience and attitudes playing a major role in the successful implementation. However, if the proper steps are taken, telehealth can be a cost-effective way to address health care needs and has been shown to improve clinical indicators (Shulver, Killington, & Crotty, 2016).
