The Human-Technology Interface and Nursing

      The Human- Technology Interface

The implementation of information technology systems into healthcare is inevitable. Health information technology is a way to create the free exchange of health information to improve the efficacy, quality and safety of care while still protecting patient confidentiality. EHRs offer a solution to the challenge of the large amount of people in the population with out healthcare access but also cuts the costs resulting from the over utilization of healthcare. EHRs reduce the duplication of tests, improve the use of interventions and clinicians can easily access information to complete a health assessment or compile patient history of care and medications.  

Patient engagement in their health has is the root of implementation of health information technology. The goals for the technology design have been to improve the availability of health information through electronic records and to integrate it in a meaningful way for patients. These efforts progress the need to achieve quality care while reducing costs. Giving patients access to EHR allows patients to view their appointments and medications, to input physiologic data such as blood pressure, weight or blood glucose values to promote health and disease awareness. Nurses are able to help create and educate patients in using these tools to promote patient engagement. 

With the interopability of electronic health systems all care providers and patients have access to health records. This allows increased communication between multidisciplinary health care teams and patients. A patient's problem list, allergies and immunizations are shared with other systems. If a patient is admitted to another hospital or sees a new provider their electronic information can be shared. The implementation of electronic health records creates standardized care plans and quality standards that allow nurses to provide high quality patient care. The goal of instituting technology in healthcare is not to benefit the technology but to create a more efficient and safe healthcare system. Error reduction can occur with the effective use of the information health systems and electronic provider entry. An example is bar code medication administration technology that can help in the prevention of medication errors by allowing nruses to double-check medications by scanning them before administration. Patient wristbands and the medication are verified by the system. This checks the accuracy of the "rights of medication administration," which are right patient, right medication right time and right dose. The electronic sharing of patient's health information results in better patient outcomes, reduced admission, better surveillance and monitoring, and decreased costs. Health care can be standardized. 

Health information technology allows for nurses to spend more time at the bedside completing patient care tasks or providing education. Nurses are the largest percentage of the healthcare workforce that will be involved with the selection, implementation and use of technology solution in patient care. At the front lines of health care the nurses, patients and technology all interact. Technology improves nursing productivity and satisfaction which in turn produces increased patient satisfaction. 

Well designed technology allows nurses to focus on care-giving functions and promoting the health of patients! 

Examples of human-technology interfaces the nurse might encounter include:

—  * Defibrillators

—  * Intravenous pumps

—  * Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps

—  * Physiologic monitoring systems- telemetry, pulse oximetry

—  * Electronic Health Records

—  * Cardiac Monitoring systems

—  * Telephones & Pagers

Here are some other examples of advances in hospital data input devices.

here are the five key trends in health care technology and the top technology trends in patient safety. 

REFERENCES:

Gephart, S. M., & Effken, J. A. (2013). Using health information technology to engage patients in their care. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 17(3). 

McBride, S., Delaney, J.M., & Tietze, M. (2012). Health Information Technology and Nursing. American Journal of Nursing, 112(8), 36-42.

Powerll-Cope, G., Nelson, A. L., & Patterson, E. S. Chapter 50. Patient care technology and safety: An evidence-based handbook for nurses, (3), 207-220.