Digital Health Technology is an Nursing Practices
Digital health technology is an advancing area. Nurses engage in digital health across a variety of platforms. However, there are many competing elements in the accessing and use of digital health for professionals and individuals. These impact upon the care provided. Nurses need to have an understanding of the forms of technology, the legal and ethical care required when using such systems and how digital health impacts upon patient outcomes.
Learning Outcomes- Analyse and evaluate the application of health technologies and strategies for nursing practice and diverse health contexts.
- Examine ethical, legal, socio-cultural and political factors impacting the uptake and use of digital technology in clinical practice for local, national and global health services.
- Evaluate and compare different informatic tools currently used in order to improve health outcomes.
- Demonstrate an introductory understanding of the opportunities and challenges digital technology creates for health professionals and patients and consumers across the lifespan in diverse population groups.
John is a 65-year-old man who lives in a rural area of Australia. John is a farmer and is reluctant to go to the doctor as it takes time out of his busy day on the farm. John will only engage in community health care if his wife drives him a 3-hour return trip once a fortnight to see the local nurse and doctor.John has developed co-morbidities and has had hospital admissions in the past 12 months for pneumonia, palpitations and complications of diabetes. John often forgets to fill his prescriptions and therefore often goes days without taking it.
John has been airlifted and admitted to a larger rural hospital after a fall, from his tractor, and he was found unconscious. The hospital that has admitted Joan has a combination of digital health programs (pathology, radiology) and paper-based systems. John has been reluctant to use the My Health Record due to concerns about who can access his information. The lack of information on his arrival causes delays in her treatment. It takes Johns's wife 4hours to drive to the hospital.
- Discuss and evaluate the general use of digital health technology such as My Health Record and other electronic health databases which are used in healthcare.
- Discuss the legal and ethical requirements of the registered nurse, when accessing digital health information.
- How can digital health technology improve Johns's health outcomes? Provide some examples of Digital health technology, that would support joins medical conditions. Address any factors that may impact upon the uptake of digital healthcare.
- How can you, as a Registered nurse, ease the concerns that John might have regarding confidentiality and accessing personal information. What information would you provide him?
