We Can but Should We? Coursework Example

Introduction

Technology is of critical importance in enhancing patient safety under a variety of conditions. These alternatives must be examined with a critical eye because they may be effective contributors to quality of care for patients. Most importantly, the effectiveness of these tools must be examined more closely in order to determine if patient safety is enhanced or compromised. Patient care outcomes are dependent on existing technological frameworks to ensure that patient health and wellbeing is protected when the chosen technologies are useful and appropriate. The selection of these technologies for implementation in the community is dependent upon existing knowledge of the technologies, their appropriateness for the population, their cost, their level of safety, and their value to the community. Each of these factors must be taken into consideration when selecting technologies to aid in a variety of important situations, including emergencies. In the example provided, it is important to identify the resources that are necessary to determine if QR codes are the appropriate form of technology for the county in question. Perhaps most important to the discussion is the understanding of the function of these QR codes and whether or not they will be sufficient in identifying individuals in the event of an emergency. No technology is foolproof; therefore, all possibilities must be considered in order to determine if this technology is worth the investment. During the pilot phase of the collaboration with Lifesquare, it is important to determine if the QR coding system is sufficient and appropriate for the county in case of emergency situations.

QR Codes: Function and Relevance

QR Codes, or Quick Response Codes, is a bar code that enables access to a web page when a mobile tagging application is used (PC Mag, 2013). This code possesses many different applications, including the development of technologies to accommodate medication concerns during emergency situations in Marin County. Current applications include obtaining health information and educational materials using websites, as well as the ability to access electronic health records in a mobile environment. The Lifesquare pilot study has incorporated the QR Code technology as a means of improving the response to medication needs in the event of an emergency. This pilot does require the acquisition of personal health information as its primary function, and some of the residents of Marin County who are targeted for this pilot study, elderly persons, may not be willing to share this information due to privacy concerns. Therefore, the program has raised some questions regarding the sharing of personal health information relative to medications with others.

Other Alternatives for Marin County

In addition to the alternative posed by Lifesquare, other options are also available to Marin County residents to manage emergency situations more effectively. For example, a company known as ID Amber offers a scannable security code that is provided on a tag to obtain medication information. Also, ScanMedQR.com has established a silicon bracelet, wallet cards, and necklaces with QR codes to obtain easy access to important health information. Patient identification tools such as QR codes may not be entirely secure; therefore, it is important for these tools to be examined prior to making a decision in order to ensure that patients are protected at all costs. All measures that are available to manage residents during emergencies should be comprehensive, appropriate, efficient, and cost effective. At the same time, they should function properly in settings where an emergency has occurred. Regardless of the choice that is made, the residents of Marin County should be comfortable with said choice and the decision-makers should examine a number of key variables in order to determine which option is most feasible for the county and its people.

Characteristics to Consider

Each technology that has been presented has its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is important for county leaders to obtain input that will be useful in making a practical and responsible decision for all residents. For example, there are a number of ethical considerations that must be made to ensure that the personal health information of local residents is protected at all costs and is not compromised for any reason. For any type of health-technology where personal information is collected, it is important to identify the resources that are necessary to protect data from any and all breaches as best as possible. With the QR Code system by Lifesquare or with the other alternatives, the county should consider how medication information will be protected and secured so that third parties are not able to view this information under any circumstances. Ethical standards must be adopted and implemented for these technologies so that residents feel comfortable sharing their information in this manner (Sittig and Singh, 2011). Furthermore, those who hold the data should maintain the utmost security measures so that it is not stolen or breached while under their care (Cushman et.al, 2010). Under these conditions, residents might be willing to participate in a pilot program in order to determine whether it not a larger rollout would be successful. Regardless of the choice that is made, local residents must be comfortable enough with the technology and its features to participate and to share their information in this manner.

A pilot study conducted by Lifesquare requires a commitment from local residents to determine if the technology is useful. However, some residents are likely to refuse to participate on the grounds that the technology is not fully proven. In addition, they are required to share their personal information with others, which may pose a risk to the community in the event that the collected data is breached. Nonetheless, it is critical to convince county residents that one of these alternatives should be chosen as a means of providing greater protections and life-saving measures in the event of an emergency. It is the responsibility of the community to conduct an assessment regarding the value of the technologies and their potential value to the community. The use of the Lifesquare technology should be considered primarily as a result of the partnership that has already been established. Convincing residents to participate requires a critical understanding of the technology and its potential impact in regards to data protections and actual emergencies.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In Marin County, only one technology of those described may be chosen for implementation and testing. Therefore, residents must be provided with the knowledge and facts that will enable them to make informed decisions regarding the appropriate technology and how it will improve their wellbeing in the event of an emergency. The alternatives must be taken seriously because they may prove to be beneficial in supporting local residents in times of crisis. The chosen tool must be considered for its merits for the community. It is also necessary to establish a greater understanding of the costs of the implementation effort beyond the pilot phase versus the benefits that are available. County residents must recognize that whichever technology is chosen will likely save lives during a disaster. As a result, it should be implemented beyond the pilot phase if deemed successful. Life-saving technologies are integral as part of a larger widespread emergency and disaster management plan; therefore, the Lifesquare technology should be considered in the pilot phase in order to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks and that the investment is worthy of consideration over the long term. This evaluation will provide a greater understanding of the challenges associated with emergency management and the protection of local residents and their health.

References

Cushman, R., Froomkin, A.M., Cava, A., Abril, P., and Goodman, K.W. (2010). Ethical, legal, and social issues for personal health records and applications. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 43(Suppl 5), S51-S55.

PC Mag (2013). Definition of: QR Code. Retrieved from http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/61424/qr-code

Sittig, D.F., and Singh, H. (2011). Legal, ethical, and financial dilemmas in electronic health record adoption and use. This paragraph is from the guidelines. (I added the bold.)