Patient Care Technologies, GCSE Coursework Example

Introduction

Technologies are used throughout healthcare environments in order to accomplish a series of objectives that involve direct and indirect patient care. Healthcare professionals must be properly trained in the use of technologies that will improve efficiency and enable their contributions to be successful. Therefore, it is important to identify the resources that are available to encourage healthcare professionals to use technologies effectively to support their primary roles. Many forms of technology are integrated into the healthcare environment, including direct patient tools, electronic patient records, and computer systems. Each of these technologies is instrumental in supporting productivity and greater quality of care for patients. These tools provide a level of efficiency and productivity that supports positive outcomes for patients in need of care and treatment. Integrating technology into the healthcare environment is a critical component of modern practice and supports the continued development of new strategies to improve outcomes and expand knowledge regarding productivity, communication, and greater quality of patient care.

Analysis

Healthcare technologies are integral to the processes and objectives of modern practice settings. Nurses play a critical role in shaping the utilization of these technologies and their efficient integration to improve patient outcomes. This requires a knowledgeable and experienced leadership team in place in order to achieve the desired results and to provide training resources to staff members in order to obtain the technical know-how and understanding of these tools (Gregory, 2013). These factors also support the ability of nurses and other staff members to recognize when technology is not functioning properly or has become outdated and inefficient (Gregory, 2013). Therefore, nurses must be able to use the technologies that are available, but also recognize when greater efficiencies might be identified that will support positive outcomes for an organization (Gregory, 2013).

Some forms of technology work in a capacity to organize information efficiently so that retrieval is simple and consistent (Bowens et.al, 2010). For example, electronic health records provide a framework for creating and storing patient information in a single location with easy access to records (Bowens et.al, 2010). This alternative is likely to have a significant impact on patient care outcomes because information is able to be shared quickly, and decisions regarding treatment plans can be made without difficulty or delays (Bowens et.al, 2010). These factors are relevant because they support improved workflow and efficiency in communication, as well as efficiency in accessing patient information in a timely manner (Bowens et.al, 2010). To be specific, technology “may improve health outcomes, reduce medication errors, augment chronic disease management, reduce health disparities, and offer substantial cost savings” (Bowens et.al, 2010). These factors are critical in supporting the continued growth and development of technologies as part of daily practice in healthcare environments (Bowens et.al, 2010).

Healthcare technologies introduce many forms of value to organizations, particularly as they promote efficiency and enhance the delivery of care to patients. This an ongoing phenomenon that supports the expansion of technology as part of the daily routine, as well as a means improving technology-based skills and capabilities for nurses (Lupianez-Villanueva et.al, 2011). In many ways, technologies in the healthcare environment enhance communication between nurses and other employees so that mutually beneficial objectives are identified (Lupianez-Villanueva et.al, 2011). These opportunities increase the potential for continued growth and development that will enhance care and treatment for patients, as well as provide a framework for expanding communication between professionals in an efficient manner (Lupianez-Villanueva et.al, 2011). These contributing factors are essential to the discovery of new frameworks to promote a work environment that is efficient, value-driven, and cost effective (Lupianez-Villanueva et.al, 2011). Technology also serves as a key factor in combining similar resources to become more efficient and effective in supporting longstanding frameworks that enhance the delivery of care over time (Spil et.al, 2011). The capacity of healthcare organizations to integrate technologies into their daily operations is a critical component of nursing practice and conveys their value through routine practice methods (Spil et.al, 2011). Technologies may also contribute to any number of problem-solving capabilities within healthcare organizations in order to achieve effective results in the form of improved quality of patient care, enhanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities, the efficient utilization of resources, and overall cost effectiveness (Spil et.al, 2011).

Conclusion

The integration of technology into the healthcare environment requires astute knowledge and expertise in order to achieve the desired results. Leaders and employees must fully support these objectives and strive to be successful promoters of technology as a viable opportunity to improve quality of care and efficiency throughout an organization. These contributions are critical to the success of organizations and the growth of technologies as a means of improving outcomes. Healthcare organizations also rely on technologies to improve communication and store patient information in a timely and efficient manner for future storage and retrieval. These tools require sufficient training and guidance in order to fully realize their potential and their ability to have a positive impact on organizational operations. These factors are critical to the continued development of healthcare organizations and the expansion of methods to promote quality and efficiency at all times.

References

Bowens, F. M., Frye, P. A., & Jones, W. A. (2010). Health information technology: integration of clinical workflow into meaningful use of electronic health records. Perspectives in Health Information Management/Ahima, American Health Information Management Association, 7(Fall).

Gregory, D. (2013). Perspective: A Nurse’s Take on the Role of Healthcare Technology Management. Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology, 47(5), 397-399.

Lupiáñez-Villanueva, F., Hardey, M., Torrent, J., & Ficapal, P. (2011). The integration of Information and Communication Technology into nursing. International journal of medical informatics, 80(2), 133-140.

Spil, T. A., LeRouge, C., Trimmer, K., & Wiggins, C. (2011). Back to the future of IT adoption and evaluation in healthcare. International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 12(1), 85-109.