Mhealth has reached the poorest of communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). More than 9 million patients email their physician in 2009 (Digital Health Care, 2010), because patients’ busy lifestyles do not allow time for an office visit for non-emergent health conditions. . In recent years, the expansion of mobile health (mhealth) technologies, including health text messaging, mobile phone applications, remote monitoring, and portable sensors, have changed the way health care is being delivered in the U.S. and globally (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Patients like the convenience of communicating with his or her physician through advanced technology.
monitored by medical professionals. According to McKnight (2012), “Studies indicate patients with telehealth care are noted to have a 25% reduction in the number of inpatient hospital days and a 19% reduction in the rate of hospitalizations” (p. 4).
The use of mobile technology in the healthcare industry has exploded in the last ten years. Mobile health or mHealth, provides an entire new aspect of the relationship between patients and their doctors and other medical providers. Mobile devices place important and critical information into a medical professional’s hands in real-time. Doctors can monitor a patient’s condition more frequently, allowing them to make better and more informed decisions and diagnoses.
Advances in modern technology surrounds us in our day to day lives, allowing conveniences and efficiency at our fingertips. Great strides have been made over the years with technology, and the healthcare industry along with many other industries have adopted this new way of functioning; electronically. The effects of technology have come to the forefront in where our government has acknowledged the benefits and opportunities. “The promise of Health Information Technology for improving quality and safety of health care while reducing costs has caught the eye of policy makers and other leaders in health care” (Hersh, 2006). It deeply affects how we connect, interact, and communicate internally and externally, but also gives us a sense of control on how we engage ourselves to the innovative software and systems.
Remote patient monitoring. Devices remotely collect, store, and communicate patient or client biometric health information to practitioners. “ (Stephens 2014)
Telehealth is the use of electronic information to support long distance clinical health care, patient education, and public health administration. Telehealth involves video conferences, internet, streaming media, and wireless communication to deliver health related services. It encompasses the preventative, promotive, and curative aspects of health care. This system exchanges health related data and other information between the patient and the health care professional to help with the diagnosis and management of conditions. It allows for conferencing between health care professionals and patients in “real time”, remote patient monitoring (such as the blood pressure monitor feeding results through the system), electronic consultation, transmission of medical data, health advice in emergency cases, and long distance patient education. Telehealth is great for monitoring a client in between doctor appointments in order to assess their progression. This benefits the clients because it reduces the need for hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room, while improving their quality of life.
Technology is the key to the future of health care and the world. Technology is doubling every few years and with these advancements of modern medicine, many lives will be saved. Our book explains one of these emerging technology advancements, Telecare. Telecare is “the remote delivery of healthcare services into the person’s home facilitated by communication technologies that include the use of person-centered reactive monitoring devices.”(Hebda & Czar, 2013, p. 506) This advancement in healthcare will allow patients who are house bound receive the care they deserve. In addition to telecare, electronic aspirin is another emerging technology.
A key element used to drive the nursing practice forward is the ability to adapt and incorporate new ideas and technologies with an open mind, and the use of a scientific approach. According to (HRSA, 2015) telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include video conferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications. When conducting research into what types of telehealth operations will be successful and beneficial one must look into certain areas of telehealth such as; right equipment
The solution that is chosen is telehealth; types of technology that will be used will need to be considered. The forms of technology that will be used with the telehealth program are video conferencing, digital scales, a remote monitoring devices like a biosensor, blood pressure monitors, automated medication dispensers, and a smart phone (Nelson & Stagger, 2014). An important aspect to remember is how these forms of technology can be used to help increase access to care. These types of technology can prevent un-needed trips to the doctor or ED, as well as increasing access to the provider.
As healthcare consumers, they expect to have the best quality of care and value the customer experience above all else. Under this new model, patients are empowered to closely monitor their healthcare spending and their own health, interact with the healthcare system outside the hospital walls, and employ the use of technology to improve their conditions.
Two informatics trends that I believe will positively affect the health care industry include tele health and electronic medical records. Telehealth is used “to provide interventions to improve medication adherence” (Shah, Simms, Barksdale, & Wu, 2015, p. #1). Having health care providers communicate with individuals who are in distant or remote areas can increase the amount of individuals who are getting the proper health, which can lead to health promotion; making individuals more aware of problems they can avoid. Informatics is made easy because the communication is often done in front of a T.V. or commuter
Telehealth is the monitoring via remote exchange of physiological data between a patient at home and health care professionals at hospitals or clinics to assist with diagnosis and treatment. As our society ages and health care costs increase, government and private insurance payers are seeking technological interventions. Technological solutions may provide high quality healthcare services at a distance, utilize professional resources more effectively, and enable elderly and ill patients to remain in their own homes. Patients may experience decreased hospitalization and urgent care settings, and out of home care may not be required as the patient is monitored at home. However, no study has been able to prove telehealth
The second option for the funding was the remote home monitoring system, this system would allow patients to be able to virtually talk to their provider from the comforts of their own home. There were various benefits of funding this project including satisfaction of care, increased
There are several forms of technology that is used to monitor, assist patients with self-care management, assist physicians with delivering care to their patients, including consultation with specialist, and overcoming barriers with transportation. “60% of the healthcare executives, physicians, and nurses in this inaugural survey said that telemedicine was a high priority for 2015“ (Vockley, 2015, para. 7) Telemedicine
There are numerous advantages accomplished with Medical Sensor Networks. To commence with, remote monitoring potential is the foremost advantage of MSN. With remote monitoring, the recognition of urgent situations for menace patients will become simple and the people with distinct degrees of processes and physical immobility will be facilitated to have a more sovereign and trouble-free life. The small kids and offspring will also be concerned for in a more protected way while their blood relations are away. The individual care givers reliability will be reduced.