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Introduction
Technologies are an integral part of coherent society as they penetrate all areas of human activity and drive radical changes. The modern digitalized world is also characterized by significant shifts in peoples mentalities and their perspectives on traditionally essential issues, such as healthcare. The scientific progress and the demand for improved quality of services provided to clients with diverse needs facilitate the integration of technologies into the functioning of hospitals. The central goal of this process is the achievement of higher effectiveness levels, reduction of risks and negative outcomes, and achievement of improved results. Multiple benefits that are associated with informatics in the healthcare sector make it one of the central aspects of care delivery.
The Current Role of Informatics
Today, the role of nursing informatics cannot be overestimated as it serves as the basis for further improvement and achievement of positive results. The term is defined as a science and practice integrating nursing and its knowledge with information and communication technologies aiming at the promotion of peoples health and improved cooperation at different levels (Cummins et al., 2016). The given description demonstrates the scope of the concept and its significance for the healthcare sector. In modern hospitals, the informatics nurse specialist acts as the person responsible for managing electronic health records, data analysis, and its classification, which is vital for the creation of a framework for better effectiveness and results (Cummins et al., 2016). At the same time, the list of competencies might include the provision of services remotely by using existing devices and methods such as telehealth or the Internet (Cummins et al., 2016). Because of the critical importance of these technologies and their contribution to data sharing, the role of these specialists increases, and the future development of the healthcare sector, along with its ability to meet modern challenges, is linked to the current state of nursing informatics and its capabilities.
Connected Health
The rise of technologies and the reconsideration of the approach to the provision of care give rise to the emergence of new methods to cooperate with clients, specialists, and care providers. Thus, connected health is an innovational socio-technical model for the delivery of health services via using new devices and tools to provide demanded care remotely (Cummins et al., 2016). It includes different projects of telehealth, remote care, chronic disease management, and emergent help by using specific networks and communication devices with the primary goal to enhance care and increase its availability and affordability to patients (Cummins et al., 2016). The rise of the concept of connected health is linked to the fast evolution of technologies and their ability to guarantee stable connection and data exchange between different individuals.
There are multiple examples of how this technology is employed nowadays. For instance, diabetes is one of the major concerns for the health sector today, as there are numerous patients with this disease. Under these conditions, monitoring glucose levels becomes vital in terms of managing diabetes. The Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system is one of the examples of connected health, which helps to accomplish this task (Greenwood, 2015). It helps to monitor the level of glucose via the electrode sensor under the skin and transmit information to a device that is linked to it. It can be a smartphone, a tablet, or specific applications (Greenwood, 2015). The major advantage of this system is that patients remain informed about their current states; however, it might also demand the use of specific equipment such as sensors to work appropriately.
The change in chronic disease management is another positive effect of health informatics. For instance, clinical-grade wearable trackers are created for patients living with cancer or pulmonary disease. The given technology provides specialists with an opportunity to measure sun exposure, undesired or abnormal health patterns, or other vital characteristics associated with chronic illnesses. The collected data contribute to better treatment outcomes and more effective plans and medical advice (Aktas et al., 2015). In such a way, using such tools, clients become involved in connected health and acquire multiple benefits, such as the chance of improving their states by providing data they were not able to collect themselves previously (Aktas et al., 2015). It is a significant step towards better chronic disease management, but it requires additional education of patients about how to use these devices effectively.
Finally, connected health is widely used today to monitor the state of patients who have been recently discharged from the hospital. Clients after complex treatment or surgeries might demand special care and conditions to recover. Additionally, it is vital to observe the treatment plan recommended by specialists. Under these conditions, care providers use such devices as smartphones, laptops, or tablets to remain in touch with patients, monitoring the adherence to recommendations and their states visually or by using sensors (Aktas et al., 2015). It helps to reduce the readmission rate and the recovery period as the inability to follow doctors prescriptions is one of the major causes of the deterioration of treatment outcomes. However, it might demand the creation of a specific environment characterized by access to the Internet, devices with web cameras, and sensors, which might be costly for some categories of clients.
Informatics and Public Health
The multiple examples of connected health provided above and the fundamental role of the informatics nurse in the modern healthcare sector demonstrate that technologies impact public health and drive positive change. One of the most obvious achievements is the improved availability of health services. The spread of the Internet means that people in areas with problematic access to hospitals can use their devices to acquire the needed information by consulting with care providers, discussing their symptoms, and waiting for recommendations to improve their states (Williams, Oke, & Zachary, 2019). At the same time, informatics improves patients data and information management, creating an environment beneficial for sharing experiences and discussing the most complex cases in teams consisting of specialists from different locations (Greenwood, 2015). It contributes to the emergence of multiple positive changes in contemporary public health.
For instance, the employment of electronic health records is one of the alterations in the public health sector preconditioned by the rise of technologies. The given system replaced the old one because of its increased effectiveness and opportunities for enhanced data management. Personal patients data is nowadays stored and managed by using special software, which helps to structure it and share with other specialists if there is a need for additional consultation or opinion of other specialists (Williams, Oke, & Zachary, 2019). It also helps to reduce the number of mistakes caused by the human factor and helps to attain better treatment outcomes by decreasing the level of medication errors.
Enhanced cooperation is another effect that can be observed in public health due to the impact of informatics. Because of the diversification of patients needs, health care becomes more specialized. It means that a single client can demand attention from more than ten different health workers during one hospital stay (Williams, Oke, & Zachary, 2019). This demand in specialists preconditions the need for improved cooperation and coordination, and health informatics is capable of achieving this goal. It provides specific networks that allow specialists to communicate and solve emerging issues in the short term. Additionally, it helps to manage information of patients such as tests results, and provide it to workers responsible for different areas.
Finally, nowadays, patients become active participants in their treatment process. They have electronic access to history, prescriptions, and doctors recommendations, which provides them with an opportunity to make informed decisions about a certain procedure or care (Williams, Oke, & Zachary, 2019). Additionally, the limitless access to data helps clients to educate themselves about their symptoms, their management, and the use of medications to attain desired outcomes. In such a way, individuals become a vital part of public health and teams responsible for their recovery, which increases their motivation levels and helps to achieve improved outcomes.
Conclusion
Altogether, health informatics can be viewed as a critical element of the healthcare sector today. It helps to drive positive change and improve outcomes by providing new opportunities for cooperation, data exchange, and patient participation. Moreover, connected health offers people a chance to acquire the needed information and services remotely by using innovative technologies, the Internet, and their devices. In such a way, it is possible to conclude that the informatics nurse plays a vital role in hospitals and guarantees enhanced results and better care delivery.
References
Aktas, A., Hullihen, B., Shrotriya, S., Thomas, S., Walsh, D., & Estfan, B. (2015). Connected health: Cancer symptom and quality-of-life assessment using a tablet computer: A pilot study. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 32(2), 189197.
Cummins, M., Gundlapalli, A., Gundlapalli, A., Murray, P., Part, H., & Lehman, C. (2016). Nursing informatics certification worldwide: History, pathway, roles, and motivation. Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 1, 264-271.
Greenwood, D. (2015). The connected health environment: New opportunities for diabetes educators. AADE in Practice, 3(3), 1212.
Williams, F., Oke, A., & Zachary, I. (2019). Public health delivery in the information age: the role of informatics and technology. Perspectives in Public Health, 139(5), 236254.
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