HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY & NURSING LEADERSHIP

FROM THE PAPER TO THE CLOUDS

IMPROVING HEALTHCARE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY & INFORMATICS

As the healthcare industry continues to grow and improve, so does the knowledge and expertise of healthcare technology and information technology by nurse leaders. Through the use of resources and sites such as HIMSS and AHRQ, nurses are equipped with the information to aide in the implementation and management of technology. Healthcare professionals in all domains of practice and at all levels, including clinical leaders, must be technology competent to be able to participate in decision making ad evaluation of health IT systems and their Meaningful Use. It is the nurse leaders responsibility as they work closest to the nurses and patients on a daily basis to serve as a resource to ensure the information systems are patient centered and support healthcare providers in information management, knowledge, development, and evaluation of evidence based innovative practice strategies (Szydlowski & Smith, (2009). 

 

 

 

 

The use of mobile devices by clinical leaders and other healthcare professionals has transformed the entire healthcare system. However, there are a vast number of facilities and organizations that have not adopted this use of technology. Through the use of mobile devices comes apps that assist healthcare professionals with daily task such as time and information management, health record maintenance and access, communications and consulting, reference and data gathering, clinical decision making, and education and training (Ventola, 2014). Cloud-based storage and file-sharing services that can be accessed using a mobile device are also useful for information management, since they allow users to store, update, and share documents or photographs with others without exchanging a flash drive or CD. Cloud-based information storage provides the additional advantage of permitting information to be accessed instantaneously from multiple devices, which allows people who are collaborating together to share materials quickly. Box is a cloud-based storage service that is reportedly compliant with both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act (Ventola, 2014). 

 

  

 

 

Nurse leader and nurse engagement is essential in regards to technological decision making. Nurses must be involved in selecting, implementing, and using information technologies as well as devices. It has be proven that technology can help nurses make better patient care decisions, promote the  healthcare organization's overall business of delivering care, and provide data about patient outcomes (Waneka & Spetz, 2010). Information technology systems and smart devices such as mobile devices, smart pumps, and sensors offer great promise if used properly to promote patient safety and increase quality of care. However, the implementation and management of these devices can not be made possible with the input and expertise of clinical health leaders.

 

References

 

http://www.rapidvaluesolutions.com/infographic-information-technology-in-healthcare-mobility-cloud-big-data/

Szydlowski, S., & Smith, C. (2009). Perspectives from nurse leaders and chief information officers on health information technology implementation. Hospital Topics, 87(1), 3-9.

Ventola, C. L. (2014). Mobile Devices and Apps for Health Care Professionals: Uses and Benefits. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(5), 356–364. Retrieved from, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4029126/

Waneka, R., & Spetz, J. (2010). Hospital information technology systems' impact on nurses and nursing care. Journal of Nursing Administration, 40(12), 509-514.