6 Nursing Healthcare IT Topics

2023 Is expected to strengthen the healthcare industry with several innovations and discoveries. Ideally, the trends in healthcare IT are expected to bring a strategic breakthrough and new mind-blowing capabilities.

As a nursing student, you are expected to know the trends and transformations in the medical field. Below is a compilation of the trending topics you should consider in health IT as a nursing student. These topics will help you to develop your project on the same.

Information Technology in Healthcare

Information technology in healthcare mainly focuses on boosting the quality and affordability of healthcare services and preventing diseases which help to improve patient outcomes.

Following the covid-19 pandemic, that has been continuous developments in the healthcare industry to improve health outcomes and deal with the challenges presented by the pandemic.

Patient-focused Initiatives

The healthcare industry has been moving towards developing technologies that are focused mainly on patients rather than providers. In this case, there has been increased personalized healthcare technology, which helps to address a specific patient’s needs rather than providing a generalized approach to patients with different needs.

For instance, healthcare organizations adopted remote patient monitoring following the pandemic to reduce the virus spreads. However, this approach has been effective post-pandemic to reduce the facilities’ operation costs and improve the patient’s health outcomes. 

In this case, there has been increased adoption of wearable devices and artificial intelligence to monitor the patient’s health markers remotely. Nonetheless, telehealth technology has made it easier for healthcare providers also to reach patients who are in isolated areas. As a result, the patient does not have physically report to the facility for health care services, which cuts costs and reduces mobility challenges.

Additionally, this technology has helped to reduce the number of emergency visits because providers can monitor a patient’s health condition and address any healthcare problem as soon as the signs appear.

Cyber security and Data Privacy

Healthcare organizations often store patient data which is prone to cyber-attacks. Additionally, with the rapid digital transformation in healthcare, hackers have been at the forefront of manipulating patient data, which may lead to medical errors or infringe on patients’ privacy.

For this reason, the facilities need to upgrade their systems to enhance data protection. For instance, organizations must enhance data security by protecting patients’ electronic medical records. In this case, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act rules (HIPAA) require healthcare organizations to protect patient privacy by continuously assessing the data controls and possible risks.

With the increased wellness apps, wearable technology, and the internet of things, protecting patient information is one of the top digital trends in healthcare that need a lot of focus.

Communication Technology

Ideally, providers from different specialties must communicate while providing patients with health care. However, in some instances, communication involves using different devices across different locations, which may affect the patient’s privacy.

However, healthcare facilities are adopting new internal messaging technologies, which can help increase healthcare employee engagement. It can also help disseminate critical information about a patient, improving health outcomes.

Nonetheless, electronic health records have been increasingly adopted across healthcare organizations. They allow healthcare providers to store information about patients, including their demographic and medical records, which eases patient care delivery. Additionally, they allow healthcare providers from different specialties to follow up on the patient’s records reducing the chances of medical errors, which is critical in providing healthcare. 

Cloud Migration

This trend has significant potential for future growth and is estimated to reach $89.4 billion by 2027. In this case, cloud migration can help to solve several challenges in Healthcare service delivery, such as remote care, reaching low-income patients, and record management.

Ideally, providers can use this technology to manage electronic medical records and emails more efficiently while making real things available to healthcare professionals. Additionally, it can improve patient engagement and streamline the resolution of issues that may occur in health care delivery.

Cognitive Automation

Cognitive automation is one of the next-level trends in Healthcare IT. This technology applies automation capabilities and machine learning algorithms to provide quicker decision-making capabilities in healthcare organizations. 

In this regard, it makes it easier for companies to process a large amount of data in the shortest time possible while providing decision-makers with recommendations backed up by real-time data. This technology mainly focuses on providing automation of the operational processes, which can increase the speed and accuracy of decisions regarding healthcare delivery. 

Big data and Analytics

Artificial intelligence has been highly adopted across different healthcare organizations to help in data analytics. Ideally, this technology has been made possible from real-time and long-distance analysis and measurement of patient data.

Most organizations feel this trend can help reduce operating costs while improving patient outcomes. While most healthcare facilities serve several patients, it is easy for healthcare providers to get lost in thousands of spreadsheets if they are processed manually. 

The presence of big data can help to process this information and provide real-time analytics, which can aid in decision-making. Analytics can predict the insights of previous patient interactions with healthcare organizations.

As a result, it is easier for these facilities to provide changes to improve health outcomes. Also, patients can get more accurate treatment plans and timely service, which improves patient satisfaction. In addition, healthcare providers can enjoy greater optimization, which increases their satisfaction.

FAQs

What is the main challenge facing nursing Informatics today?

One of the main issues affecting nursing informatics is the ability to analyze patient care more effectively.

What are the main issues in Healthcare today?

• The high cost of healthcare services
• Technology pitfalls
•  Healthcare provider shortage
•  Concerns about health equity

What are the main challenges of health IT?

• Data management and integration
•  Compliance with privacy laws
•  Telehealth infrastructure
•  Security and privacy
•  Seamless billing process 

Which trends have a significant impact on the future of healthcare delivery?

•  Blockchain technology
•  Electronic data management
•  Internet of medical things
•  Immersive technology
•  Digitized Healthcare
•  Cloud computing
•  Artificial intelligence

What is the role of the IT Department in a Healthcare facility?

The IT Department of a Healthcare facility is responsible for managing clinical software and keeping patient records.