The Role of Technology in Improving Health Care Outcomes-Nursing Essay Examples

The Role of Technology-Nursing Paper Examples

This week’s reflective journal focused on the role of technology in improving healthcare outcomes. I learned that technology has become an integral part of healthcare. The right technology can improve efficiency, care quality, and healthcare costs. One of the leading technologies in healthcare that are widely used in healthcare is Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Electronic Medical record facilitates communication between clinicians by compiling, storing, and maintaining the patient’s health information into one easily accessible record system (The Role of Technology-Nursing Paper Examples).

Technology is instrumental in improving patient safety, which is one of the goals of my evidence-based project. Adverse events such as HAIs compromise patient safety, although they are preventable. The infections lead to poor health outcomes, prolonged hospitalization, and financial expenses for the institution and the patients. However, Healthcare information technology allows health providers to automate tasks, use medical reminders and alerts, and improve diagnosis and consultation. Technology also reduces practice variation, intercepts medical errors, and manages patient data for improved patient outcomes (Astier et al., 2020) (The Role of Technology-Nursing Paper Examples).

One of the main technological strategies I learned was antimicrobial stewardship, using available databases and artificial intelligence. More so, to recommend appropriate antibiotics, doses, and duration for specific patients. Moreover, based on clinical guidelines that could curb unnecessary prescriptions (Voidazan et al., 2020). Furthermore, tracking local and global antimicrobial resistance patterns and previous hospitalization. In addition, prior antimicrobial therapy that creates awareness about nosocomial transmission will improve healthcare outcomes (The Role of Technology-Nursing Paper Examples).

One of my main strengths was the ability to integrate technology into my evidence-based change project. Besides, my project has proposed using ultraviolet-C devices that reduce the incidence of HAIs by 35%. More so, through the deactivation of DNA chains for pathogens (Verberk et al., 2021). However, one of the significant weaknesses of this proposal was that the adoption of the mentioned technology was uncertain since it is expensive and may lack support from the healthcare facility.

However, healthcare leadership can seek funding to acquire the required technology. Consequently, they can mobilize their staff to embrace change and continuous improvement. National policies should accelerate the uptake of health technology to improve care quality and patient safety (The Role of Technology-Nursing Paper Examples).

References

Astier, A., Carlet, J., Hoppe-Tichy, T., Jacklin, A., Jeanes, A., McManus, S., … & Fitzpatrick, R. (2020). What is the role of technology in improving patient safety? A French, German, and UK healthcare professional perspective. Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management, 25(6), 219-224. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2516043520975661

Verberk, J. D., van der Kooi, T. I., Derde, L. P., Bonten, M. J., de Greeff, S. C., & van Mourik, M. S. (2021). Do we need to change catheter-related bloodstream infection surveillance in the Netherlands? A qualitative study among infection prevention professionals. BMJ open, 11(8), e046366. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/11/8/e046366.full.pdf

Voidazan, S., Albu, S., Toth, R., Grigorescu, B., Rachita, A., & Moldovan, I. (2020). Healthcare-associated infections—a new pathology in medical practice? International Journal of environmental research and public health, 17(3), 760. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7036829/