NUR 514 Assignment Emerging Technology Brief

NUR 514 Assignment Emerging Technology Brief

NUR 514 Assignment Emerging Technology Brief

One of the emerging technologies that the author believes will have a significant impact on barriers to healthcare is the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). Accordingly, IoMT refers to medical infrastructure that consists of software, sensors, healthcare IT systems and medical devices that are utilized in medical monitoring, testing, as well as diagnostics. The use of this infrastructure can help the healthcare provider a well as the patient to monitor and inform them on the actual data on potential issues that could result in health problems. Through it, potential health problems are averted before they occur (Balas et al., 2019). An example is the use of skin sensors for blood glucose where diabetic patients are installed with sensors that monitor their blood glucose levels. The sensors notify the patient and healthcare provider incidences of low or high blood glucose levels and the need for an immediate action. In some cases, the sensors deliver insulin depending on the blood glucose levels. Through this mechanism, health problems such as diabetic coma and hypeglycemia and prevented prior to their occurrence in patients suffering from diabetes.

The other way in which the technology could function in healthcare is the management of health problem that affect the elderly populations. The elderly are at a risk of problems such as cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory and memory loss problems. The technology proves significant to these populations. For instance, sensors can be used to monitor their blood pressure and immediate actions taken in case of any deviations from the normal range (Stegemann, 2016). Similarly, they can be used to monitor their adherence to medication and notifications sent to them in cases where they forget their medical regimen.

The use of IoMT technology in health is however associated with some legal and ethical issues. One of them is the issue of privacy. Scholars argue that the use of such emergent technologies might violate one’s right to privacy. The system information can be accessed by third parties, thereby, weakening their use in the modern world. The other issue is safety concern. The long-term effects of the monitors are yet to be established. There is the concern that too much monitoring might be unhealthy as it raises individual focus on slight health issues that might be of less concern to them (Keramidas, Voros & Hübner, 2017). Therefore, these issues need to be addressed for the emerging technologies to be relevant in the modern practice of healthcare.

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IoMT will improve access to care and patient safety in several ways. Firstly, it ensures that the patient and healthcare provider interact constantly on healthcare issues affecting them. The healthcare provider will always be in contact with the patient in case of a notification of an impending health problem (Le et al., 2018). The access to care is also enhanced due to the efficiency in which decisions are made. The easy availability of the patient’s data ensures that healthcare providers can collaborate with ease in determining the healthcare needs of the patients. The monitoring of the patient’s physiological status also promotes safety since health problems are identified before they occur. Besides, incidences of poor adherence to treatment are identified earlier, which leads to minimal occurrences of complications associated with the conditions being managed (Vermesan & Bacquet, 2017). Therefore, it makes it apparent that emerging technologies such as IoMT will eliminate barriers that affect the quality, access, and safety of care given to those in need in the society.

NUR 514 Assignment Emerging Technology Brief References

Balas, V. E., Solanki, V. K., Kumar, R., & Ahad, A. R. (2019). A handbook of internet of things in biomedical and cyber physical system. Cham: Springer.

Keramidas, G., Voros, N., & Hübner, M. (2017). Components and services for IoT platforms: Paving the way for IoT standards. Cham: Springer.

Le, D.-N., Le, C. V., Tromp, J. G., Nguyen, N. G., & Wiley InterScience (Online service). (2018). Emerging technologies for health and medicine: Virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, internet of things, robotics, industry 4.0. Beverly, MA: Scrivener Publishing.

Stegemann, S. (2016). Developing drug products in an aging society: From concept to prescribing. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Vermesan, O., & Bacquet, J. (2017). Cognitive hyperconnected digital transformation: Internet of things inteligence evolution. Delft: River Publishers.

Emerging Technology Brief

Modern health care is highly patient-centered and relies heavily on technology to enhance patient outcomes.  To respond to patient issues as deserved and predict illness patterns, health care providers need to store and secure the available data. As a result, the use of sophisticated and emerging technologies in health care is on the rise. As reviewed in this brief, cloud computing is among the emerging technologies with profound impacts on health practice.

Technology Overview and Purpose

A health care cloud represents a computing service that health care providers use to store, maintain, and back up health information. If differently stated, cloud computing has much to do with delivering computer services such as databases, networking, analytics, servers, and storage over the internet. Concerning the purpose of cloud computing, Gao et al. (2018) described cloud computing as a technology for optimizing data storage, management, and processing remotely instead of using typical servers. Democratization of data is more convenient through cloud computing, and the transition of artificial intelligence into mainstream health care processes is also easier through cloud computing.

How Cloud Computing Would Function in a Health Care Setting and Issues

In health care settings, cloud computing offers an avenue for managing and analyzing data. At a time when health care organizations deal with volumes of electrical health records and big data analytics, cloud computing enables health care organizations to store patient data as they avoid costly storage associated with physical servers. Dang et al. (2019) further mentioned that cloud computing is critical in boosting cooperation between health care providers to optimize patient care. Accordingly, its use would lead to a scenario where health care providers collaborate and work in teams as they share essential patient data conveniently. Despite these benefits, cloud computing is associated with legal issues. The security of patient data is a genuine concern as far as cloud computing is concerned (Smys & Raj, 2019). There is a widespread worry about having apps and patient data in third-party servers, considering that health care organizations should comply with regulations related to data portability and security, such as the US’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The use of AI as a powerful technology brings a whole new set of ethical and legal issues concerning different aspects like safety, privacy and preferences. Patients may not embrace this technology since it means that their information and data is accessible and can be interpreted for different purposes without their explicit authorization. Many patients are still apprehensive of the current COVID-19 monitoring and tracking apps that different health organizations and governments are using to access their movement. There will be some limits of patients who full do not understand how AI can help improve their health and confer benefits (OECD, 2020). The implication is that there is need for increased awareness among providers and patients on the critical role of AI in healthcare and how it can help in reducing adverse events for those with chronic conditions like diabetes. The legal aspects of AI also require streamlining to ensure that patients’ health information is not comprised and used for purposes other than health care improvement and quality care.

Informatics Nurse’s Role Concerning Artificial Intelligence

The informatics nurse plays a critical role in information dissemination and use of health information technologies for effective care delivery and innovation models. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is a demonstration of innovative models that providers and organizations are leveraging to enhance quality care outcomes for patients, especially at this pandemic time (Pee et al., 2018). Therefore, informatics nurses are experts who provide advice to their organizations and help in setting up systems to incorporate the AI technology for quality care and better services. The nurse informatics role is to ensure that facilities leveraging on AI adhere to the existing legal protocols and laws as well as embrace ethical values to protect patient information (Booth et al., 2021). Nurse informaticsts have a duty to use the most appropriate channels to offer better software and hardware to ascertain that AI works for patients and organizations based on the set goals and objectives.

Role of Workflow Analysis, Human Factors & User-Centered Design Concepts

Workflow analysis and human factors are critical to the overall success of artificial intelligence in health care. The analysis of the workflow allows providers to identify areas that need improvement and can benefit from AI technologies while human factors like human resource availability ensure that facilities have requisite abilities and expertise to roll out better technologies to improve care provision. The user-centered design concept means that AI should confer benefits to the users, especially patients and not the healthcare providers alone (Islam et al., 2021). In this case, the ultimate focus should be increased benefits for all stakeholders based on the features that AI provides when integrated into the health system and network.

Cloud Computing: Access to Care, Patient Safety and Care Quality

Present-day’s health practice is more patient-centered, data-driven, and value-based. Through cloud computing, health care providers can improve access to care by enabling remote interactions and access to patients (Gao & Sunyaev, 2019).  By fostering collaboration between doctors, departments, and health care organizations, cloud computing enables health care providers to save diagnosis and treatment time since data is quickly accessible. Quick response enhances patient safety. The quality of care also improves when collaboration is high and data accessible when needed to guide diagnosis, treatment, and self-management.

In conclusion, data is an essential component of safe and quality health care and should be secured and shared among the right professionals. Collaboration is essential to optimize patient outcomes. As modern health practice continues to be more data-centered, cloud computing is critical and should be adopted to enable safe data storage and make its management more convenient. It is among the emerging technologies in health care with profound impacts, primarily on issues to do with access, safety, and quality of care.

NUR 514 Assignment Emerging Technology Brief References

Dang, L. M., Piran, M., Han, D., Min, K., & Moon, H. (2019). A survey on internet of things and cloud computing for healthcare. Electronics, 8(7), 768. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8070768

Gao, F., Thiebes, S., & Sunyaev, A. (2018). Rethinking the meaning of cloud computing for health care: A taxonomic perspective and future research directions. Journal of medical Internet research, 20(7), e10041. doi:10.2196/10041

Gao, F., & Sunyaev, A. (2019). Context matters: A review of the determinant factors in the decision to adopt cloud computing in healthcare. International Journal of Information Management, 48, 120-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.02.002

Smys, S., & Raj, J. S. (2019). Internet of things and big data analytics for health care with cloud computing. Journal of Information Technology, 1(01), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.36548/jitdw.2019.1.002

The drastically advancing technology in the evolving world plays a significant role in solving healthcare problems and improving the quality of care provided at a reduced cost. Recent technology has not only been beneficial to the healthcare providers in their line of duty but also improves the well-being of the diverse population. Such advanced technology utilized in healthcare include genomics, robotics, wearable sensors, management system, and telehealth (Wang, & Kricka, 2018). One point of focus is the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) printing as an emerging technology that has displayed significant impact in overcoming current healthcare barriers.

Overview of 3D Printing

            The 3D printing technology, previously referred to as rapid prototype technology, enables customized fabrication of three-dimensional constructs based on images obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) or the computer-aided design (CAD) software. The main purpose of this technology in healthcare is the fabrication of anatomical replicas. Models produced by the 3D printing machines are currently utilized by healthcare professionals in enhancing disease diagnosis, treatment clarification, and practice in certain surgical interventions to enhance outcomes. The models also help in promoting patient education as clinicians utilize them in demonstrating certain medical conditions and the available interventions for the treatment of such conditions (Hornick, 2017). 3D printing is also utilized in orthopedics, in manufacturing custom-made prosthetic limbs which help in promoting movement hence improving the quality of life of the patient. The prosthetic ensures that the specifications of the model match the actual anatomical structure of the user.

Ethical Issues

            Despite the benefits associated with 3D printing in the current healthcare system, the technology tends to raise several ethical issues. The main ethical issue is justice and access, as most 3D products are costly, hence only affordable by the rich, such as prosthetic limbs. The other ethical issue is safety. Medical professionals are trained to adopt the evidence-based practice to enhance the safety of the patient and promote well-being (Ripley et al., 2017). However, limited studies have revealed the safety of custom-made prosthetics despite their effectiveness in solving current healthcare problems. As such, more studies need to be conducted to ascertain the safety of 3D products such as prosthetic limbs among patients across all ages, from children to the geriatric population.

Improving Access to Care, Patient Safety and Quality

            Several advantages are associated with 3D printing in the current healthcare system. However, with maximum utilization of this technology, patient safety and access to quality and effective care can be attained. For instance, enhancing pre-surgical practice using 3D models can help hasten the surgical procedure with increased accuracy and safety of the patient (Wang & Kricka, 2018). Additionally, the technology will help shorten theatre time per patient hence increasing the accessibility for more patients undergoing similar procedures. Lastly, 3D printing can help enhance the patient outcome, as demonstrations using actual models that are similar to the patient’s anatomical structure can help boost their understanding.

Conclusion

            The incorporation of technology in the current healthcare system has played a significant role in solving healthcare problems. Different forms of technology have been utilized in promoting the safety and quality of care provided at a reduced cost. For instance, the utilization of 3D printing has helped enhance diagnostic procedures, surgical interventions, and the use of prosthetic limbs for those who have undergone amputation. Further advancements are expected in the future to attain safe and readily accessible healthcare services.

NUR 514 Assignment Emerging Technology Brief References

Hornick, J. (2017). 3D printing in Healthcare. Journal of 3D printing in medicine, 1(1), 13-17. https://doi.org/10.2217/3dp-2016-0001

Liaw, C. Y., & Guvendiren, M. (2017). Current and emerging applications of 3D printing in medicine. Biofabrication, 9(2), 024102. DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/aa7279.

Ripley, B., Levin, D., Kelil, T., Hermsen, J. L., Kim, S., Maki, J. H., & Wilson, G. J. (2017). 3D printing from MRI data: harnessing strengths and minimizing weaknesses. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 45(3), 635-645. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.25526

Wang, P., & Kricka, L. J. (2018). Current and emerging trends in point-of-care technology and strategies for clinical validation and implementation. Clinical chemistry, 64(10), 1439-1452. https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2018.287052

Health information technology was introduced into hospitals to improve healthcare quality and provide quality, effective and efficient care to patients. Informatics plays a significant role in collecting data on multiple patients since providers get tired of getting information from many patients and find it hard to remember patients’ information (Denisco, 2021). At the same time, they try to diagnose and prescribe the medications. Information technology helps to store many patients’ information, and it is easy to access from any place. Combining a physician’s medical experience, and knowledge with computers never tire or forget information in health information systems to provide quality and effective patient care. In addition, computers give physicians a computerized decision support system (CDSS). With the help of EHR, physicians can enter patients’ medications at the workplace after they see the patient and it helps to reduce the consultation time and prevent delays in care. Also, EHR has a pop-up reminder if the physician orders any e-prescription to deliver to the patient’s pharmacy and if the patient is allergic to that medication. Moreover, it gives an alert if the patient needs a kidney function test or liver function test. So, physicians can order appropriate lab work through electronic health records on time. Clinical provider order entry (CPOD) and clinical decision support systems have both challenges and benefits for patient care. There are high benefits in medication errors, preventive care, morbidity, patient satisfaction, and cost of care, but are less mortality and health-related quality of care. Heuristic principles are essential in clinical information systems such as CPOE (Clinical Provider Order Entry) and CDSS because standardized design helps to share patients’ information between the organizations, and it provides collaborative care.