Throughout history, technological advancements have appeared for one purpose before finding applications elsewhere that lead to spikes in its usage and development. The internet, for example, was originally developed to share research before becoming a staple of work and entertainment. But technology—new and repurposed—will undoubtedly continue to be a driver of healthcare information. Informaticists often stay tuned to trends to monitor what the next new technology will be or how the next new idea for applying existing technology can benefit outcomes.
In this Discussion, you will reflect on your healthcare organization’s use of technology and offer a technology trend you observe in your environment.
BY DAY 6 OF WEEK 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days, offering additional/alternative ideas regarding opportunities and risks related to the observations shared.
RESPONSE 1
General healthcare technology trends observed in use in my healthcare organization.
There are several technology trends in the healthcare organization where I work, but two are primarily used. Electronic medical records (EMR) and telehealth are used daily. After reviewing the video in our required readings, I understand the reason for describing EMRs as electronic health records (EHRs). The outpatient facility where I work is still utilizing the EMR, which is outdated. We have IT working diligently to upgrade the programs, and we understand the importance of training the staff on those changes. “It is essential that EHR competency be developed if nurses are to participate fully in the changing world of healthcare information technology” (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2022, p. 294).
While the EMR is old, telehealth was incorporated during the pandemic and was very beneficial. The use of telecommunications helped improve the care and education of the patients. Staff members were able to provide more easily accessible, cost-effective care because of telehealth. A patient’s paper chart gets converted to digital form in an EHR. EHRs are patient-centered, real-time records that securely and promptly make information accessible to authorized users (HealthIT.gov, 2019). Although the EMR is outdated, it is a step in the right direction compared to paper charts.
Potential challenges or risks that may be inherent in the technologies associated with trends
Risks accompany the benefits of telemedicine. Data breaches are among the leading risks of technology. There is a greater chance that cybercriminals will intercept sensitive, confidential information sent online by more doctors and patients. There is a great need for robust cybersecurity to decrease the potential risk of a patient data breach. EMR software has advanced and becomes more intricate over time, allowing less time to be spent communicating with patients and more on tedious computerized “paperwork.”
A potential benefit and risk associated with data safety, legislation, and patient care for the technologies described
